Service coordination is provided for all children and families receiving Early Intervention services, (birth-3 years). Since infants and toddlers with disabilities require a comprehensive array of services that may be provided by multiple agencies or individuals, federal and state laws require a service coordinator who is responsible for ensuring communication, collaboration, and coordination among providers of service to eligible children and their families.
Early intervention service coordination combines the traditional case management activities of organizing and coordinating needed services with the philosophy of family-centered care. A major goal of service coordination is to create opportunities for collaborative, family-centered, community-based services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Service coordinators help families identify and prioritize concerns, assist parents in developing plans and strategies to meet the needs of their children and family units, and strengthen families’ competencies and sense of control over life events.