How are services provided in NH Birth to 3?

NH Birth to 3 services are provided in a child’s natural environment. This means any place where young children live, work and play. This includes, but is not limited to, your home, a child care setting, a park, and/or the grocery store and more.

You may have heard other families talk about their child having therapy 3 times a week at a clinic or hospital. This is called a “medical” model of treatment and is very different from the services you will receive through NH Birth to 3. One of the goals of NH Birth to 3 is to show you, the parent, ways to best meet the developmental needs of your child. NH Birth to 3 will combine their skills with your knowledge of who your child is and how your family works and share ways to implement support for your child’s developmental needs into your daily routine.

What happens if my child no longer needs NH Birth to 3 services?

Frequently Asked Questions

The IFSP team will look at all of the following supports and services that may help your child achieve the IFSP goals:

  • Service coordination
  • Special instruction
  • Speech-language pathology
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Family training, counseling and home visits
  • Health services that enable a child to benefit from the other supports and services provided by NH Birth to 3
  • Medical services for diagnostic and evaluation purposes only
  • Assistive technology- including evaluation for, providing the acquisition of, and training for the family and child
  • Audiology services- including evaluation, medical referrals and prevention of hearing loss
  • Psychological services
  • Social work services
  • Vision and mobility services
  • Transportation and mileage reimbursement when appropriate to receive early intervention services

For more information on these options, please contact The Parent Information Center on Special Education for more information.

The philosophy of how NH birth to 3 delivers services is a family centered approach – making parent participation critical. You will have the opportunity to learn specific treatment techniques as well as what milestones to look for as your child progresses. As a member of the IFSP team, it is important that you understand the process and feel comfortable working with the other members of your team. If you do not understand something, you are encouraged to ask questions. Here are some things to think about:

  • During your visit, make a list of questions that you may have while participating in the session.
  • Do you understand everything that is being explained?
  • Do you know why they are doing a particular activity with your child?
  • Would it be helpful for you to receive handouts describing how to do a technique with your child?
  • If you do not feel comfortable performing something that a specialist showed you, ask for another demonstration.
  • Practice strategies with your therapist during the visit. How do you learn best?
  • Ask for examples of ways that you can incorporate the strategies and techniques into your day and how to make it fun.
  • Do you want to involve other family members? Ask how to do this.
  • Try out what has been suggested. What is working? What needs some refining? What is absolutely not working?
  • How do you feel watching another person work with your child? Express feelings to the therapist.

Because NH Birth to 3 is provided in natural settings, some children may receive their services while they are at child care and you are not available to participate. Each time a NH Birth to 3 provider works with your child, the provider will write notes to show what your child has been doing and the progress your child has made. Copies of these notes may be provided to you. Ask your NH Birth to 3 Service Coordinator for a copy of these notes. You can get these notes even if you are there during the session. You should feel comfortable asking your NH Birth to 3 Service Coordinator and/or providers for handouts describing how to do a technique with your child or other information so that you may continue to support your child at home.

Each time an NH Birth to 3 provider works with your child, they are assessing your child’s abilities and providing services and supports to help your child continue to grow. The provider will write notes to show the progress your child has made. As your family changes and your child is capable of doing new things, you may also want to change the outcomes that you are working toward.

There is a formal review of the IFSP every six months where the IFSP team will have an opportunity to discuss the IFSP and make any changes that are necessary to facilitate the achievement of developmental milestones and goals. At any time, you or any other member of the IFSP team can request an IFSP meeting/review. The IFSP team can review the current IFSP; discuss any changes, and how the changes affect your child and family’s goals. Updated goals and plans will be added to the IFSP for you to review and sign.