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Family Information Page
About the Birth to 3 Program
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In Dane County,
- Bridges for Families serves children living within the Madison Metropolitan School District boundaries
- Birth to 3 Connections serves children living in outlying areas of Dane County
The Birth to 3 Program is
- A statewide network of programs, administered by counties
- Family-centered
- Based in the child's natural environment (where s/he is most familiar)
- Designed to provide information and support to parents to enhance their ability to meet the developmental needs of their children with delays or disabilities
The Birth to 3 Program is focused on
- The developmental growth of the child in all areas of development
- The child as part of the family
- A partnership with the family; educating and encouraging the family in their own abilities to support their child's development
- Planning that is individualized to the child and the family
- Visits in places where the child is familiar and comfortable
- The planning team which includes the parents and other important caregivers as well as a Birth to 3 service coordinator and early interventionists
Eligibility for children under the age of three is
- A significant developmental delay, noted through Birth to 3 evaluation or other records, or
- A diagnosis with a high probability of delay, or
- Atypical development (such as asymmetrical movement, variant speech & language patterns, delay in achieving significant interactive milestones)
- Not based on any income guideline
The early interventionist
- Who visits the child and family to enhance a child's development might come from a background like
Communication,
Early childhood special education,
Family education,
Health or nursing services (to enable the child to benefit from other early intervention services),
Motor therapies,
Psychological and social work services, and
- Promotes all areas of the child's development – just like parents do
- Offers parents suggestions and activities to practice during the time between visits. It is during everyday life that all the changes will take place.
"Tell me & I will listen;
Show me & I will try;
Involve me & I will do it myself."
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