Early Steps is Florida’s early interven-
on system that offers services, to eligible
children, birth to 36 months, with significant
developmental delays or a condion
likely to result in a developmental delay.
A developmental delay is when a child is
not reaching developmental milestones
as expected, compared to other children.
There is no income requirement to qualify
or out of pocket costs to families.
Private insurance and Medicaid will be
billed with consent. A doctor’s referral is
not required but is preferred. Parents,
caregivers or professionals who feel a
child has a developmental delay should
call 407-317-7430, opon 3, the Early
Steps voice mail referral line, and provide
the following informaon: name and
relaonship to the child, the child’s full
name, the child’s date of birth and a
phone number with preferred mes to be
contacted. The message will be returned
within five business days by an Intake
Coordinator.
Once contacted by the Early Steps
program, the family will be asked a series
of quesons about the child’s developmental
skills and the concerns of the
family. If needed, an appointment, will be
given for the child to have an evaluaon
either virtually or in person. Infants and
toddlers are assessed in the following
developmental domains to determine
eligibility: physical (gross and fine motor
skills), cognive (play and problem
solving), adapve (feeding and independence
skills), social-emoonal (social interac
ons and awareness of the environment)
and communicaon (sounds/words
used and listening/following direcons).
An Individualized Family Support Plan,
(IFSP), is created based on concerns and
areas of need, and goals are developed
for every child who qualifies for Early
Steps. A Primary Care Provider with
experse in the areas of need is assigned
to the family to coach them in ways to
support their child and encourage milestone
achievement. This coaching is to
assist in ways to support their child and
encourage milestone achievement.
Services are provided where the child
lives, learns, plays, either in person or
virtually. Early Steps families also have
access to free workshops, music therapy
playgroups, resources, connecons to
community supports and assistance with
transion opons, including the public
school system, for children needing
supports aer their third birthday.
Early Steps of Central Florida, also
known as the Developmental Center for
Infants and Children, serves families in
Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counes.
On January 1st, 2000, Orlando Health
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
brought together core programs to help
children, heal families and build communi
es at the Howard Phillips Center for
Children and Families. As one of the six
core programs, the goal of Early Steps of
Central Florida is to provide culturally
appropriate support to help families
strengthen their child’s intellectual,