First Steps is Missouri’s Early Intervention system for infants and toddlers, birth to age 3, who have delayed development or diagnosed conditions that are associated with developmental disabilities.
First Steps works with families by ensuring that coordinated services are provided as conveniently as possible. Participation in First Steps is voluntary and is intended to help families of children with disabilities:
- Understand their child’s special needs
- Obtain the help they desire to deal with situations that could interfere with their child’s growth and development.
- Provide the best conditions for their child’s growth and development.
Referral
Parents may be referred to First Steps by their child’s doctors, hospital staff, social-service agency caseworkers, the Parents as Teachers program or other public health entities. Parents may also contact First Steps directly if they are concerned about their child’s development.
When a referral is received by the System Point of Entry (SPOE), a service coordinator is assigned. The service coordinator contacts the family within two business days and schedules an appointment to discuss concerns and family priorities.
To find your local office call: 1-866-583-2392
Eligibility
Eligible children must be between the ages of birth and 36 months who either:
- have a diagnosed physical or mental condition associated with developmental disabilities (such as Down syndrome, spina bifida or cerebral palsy), or
- have a condition with a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay or disability (such as a very low birth weight child who has experienced intracranial bleeding or ventilator dependency), or
- are functioning at half the developmental level expected for a child of equal age in one or more of the following areas: communication, adaptive, physical (including vision and hearing), cognitive or social/emotional.
Eligibility is determined through an initial evaluation and assessment. This includes the service coordinator collecting information about the child’s birth, medical and developmental history and/or an evaluator administering a test to determine the child’s current abilities. The evaluation is typically conducted in the family’s home or another natural environment.
If Your Child Doesn’t Qualify
If parents do not agree with the eligibility determination decision there are options available to them (see sidebar).
In addition, there are various programs offered throughout the state that may be able to provide services to children, depending upon if the child meets the eligibility criteria, including:
- MO Department of Health
- Medicaid ESPDT program
- Early Head Start
- Parents as Teachers (PAT) offers parent education to all families, from prenatal to kindergarten, even if there is no disability present.
- Local philanthropic groups may also sponsor services for children in their community where there is no other state or federal program to serve them.
- Services prescribed by the child’s primary physician.