Birth to Three Services
WV Birth to Three is a statewide system of services and supports for children under age three who have a delay in their development, or may be at risk of having a delay, and their family. The Department of Health and Human Resources, through the Bureau for Public Health and the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health, WV Birth to Three , as the lead agency for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), assures that family centered, community based services are available to all eligible children and families.
In West Virginia services are provided by a system of three service components; Regional Administrative Units (RAU) that determine eligibility; agencies that provide direct services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, educational service, etc.; and agencies that provide Service Coordination (case management).
As part of the structure of services the Children’s Home Society provides Service Coordination statewide. The Service Coordinator provides support for families in order to assist them to learn more about their child’s growth and development and in order to help families make decisions about what they need to support their child’s development. Each family works with a team to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), which lists the services and supports needed to each the child and family’s goals at no cost to the family.
To be eligible for West Virginia Birth to Three services, an infant or toddler under the age of three can either have a delay in one or more areas of their development, or be at risk of possibly having delays in the future.
If you are interested in referring your child for services or would like more information about the Birth To Three Program in West Virginia call 1-800-642-8522 or visit the Birth To Three website http://www.wvdhhr.org/birth23/.
A Client’s Birth to Three Experience
A mother in a rural county noticed that her two-year old son
had trouble telling her what he wanted and also did not always understand
what she said to him. There appeared to be no medical problems such
as hearing loss. He was referred to the West Virginia Birth to Three
Program, received a multidisciplinary assessment, then the family
chose a service coordinator and began to receive services from therapists
and a developmental specialist.
The development specialist uses toys and household items to
stimulate the child’s desire to learn new things. She encourages
him to group these objects by color and shape. The family is involved
in order to encourage learning as a part of their everyday routines.
He has begun to use more words that his family can clearly understand.
As a part of the West Virginia Birth to Three Program, the
boy’s Service Coordinator, working with the family, will plan transition
to a preschool program through the West Virginia Department of
Education when he is three years old.
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