Early Intervention Services
First Steps Program

First Steps is a family centered system that offers coordinated early intervention services to young children (age O to 3 years) with disabilities, special health care needs and developmental delays and their families. Early intervention services are services that enhance a child's potential for growth and development before the child reaches school age.

First Steps provides early intervention services in the settings where children and their families live, learn and play. These settings are the natural environments that include community settings typical for peers without disabilities such as child care centers, Moms Day Out Groups, Play Groups, Home, Zoos, YMCA etc. These services are designed to support the families' daily routines.

Children who have diagnosed conditions that will likely result in developmental delays may be eligible for First Steps. Also children who show significant developmental delays in one or more of the following areas may be eligible: ability to learn, ability to move, see, or hear, ability to communicate, ability to take care of daily needs, and ability to interact with others and express emotions.

A team of people, including the family, discuss information about an eligible child's developmental strengths and needs and the families concerns, priorities and resources. This team develops outcomes for the child and family. These outcomes are recorded in a plan called an Individualized Family Service Plan or IFSP. Children and their families may receive a combination of any of the sixteen early intervention services identified by the child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team that support the attainment of the outcomes. The identified early intervention services determined essential to meet the unique developmental needs for your child will be provided at no cost to your family.

To request more information about First Steps or locate a phone number to make a First Step referral, call the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Early Childhood Special Education (573-751-0187). Also, view the First Steps web site

Kansas City Regional Center, 821 East Admiral Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri, 816-889-3400 or 1-800-454-2331 to request an eligibility determination, habilitation assessment.

Department of Health, Bureau of Special Health Care Needs or TEL-LINK (1-800-835-5465) Missouri Department of Health's toll free number for maternal, child and family health services. It will provide information and referrals to Missouri residents concerning a wide range of health services. Callers are given referrals and then transferred immediately to the appropriate agency.

Parent Link General parenting questions 1-800-552-8522