If you have been questioning whether your baby should be sitting up, reaching for things, starting to make sounds, or responding more to sounds around him or her, you may want to speak to your physician about it. Your doctor can answer any questions you may have about your child's development. If you still have concerns, you or your doctor could make a referral to the Orange County Department of Health's Early Intervention Program where you choose from a team of evaluators to work with you and your child to answer your concerns.

Once evaluations have been completed, an Initial Service Coordinator at the Department of Health will meet with you and discuss the results and start the process of arranging the services your child has been determined to need. You don't have to struggle through this maze of unkown services and providers alone. There is an agency available to help you every step of the way: Family Empowerment Council.

At Family Empowerment Council, you and your child are our top priority. We have assembled a team of Service Coordinators and evaluators that balances the expertise of Master's level educators and seasoned professionals with the empathic caring of parents and family members of children with special needs. Some of our coordinators have successfully managed the maze themselves and are ready to help you do the same. Our bilingual staff is helpful in minimizing additional obstacles often experienced by multi-cultural families.

Family Empowerment Council's caring and concerned Ongoing Service Coordinators and evaluators can help you secure the help you need. We are there to connect you and your child with the service providers who can best meet the needs outlined in your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) which you worked on with the Orange County Department of Health Early Intervention Initial Service Coordinator and evaluators.

We are available to coordinate services whether your child needs:

• Speech/Language Services
• Occupational Therapy (OT)
• Physical Therapy (PT)
• Nutritional Intervention
• Special Education Assistance
• Services for the Blind, Deaf, and/or Hearing Impaired
• Nursing Intervention
• Adaptive Equipment
• A Group Developmental Model
• Respite Services
• Counseling/Social Work Intervention
• Parent/Child Play Group

A Family Empowerment Council Ongoing Service Coordinator can help you find the right people/group to provide these services at no cost to the family.

Family Empowerment's EI Service Coordination is an independent service coordination program. We pride ourselves on our family-oriented focus, established and overseen by families and professionals who have themselves been through the EI program with their children. We realize that this is a time when a family wants to focus on getting the best for their child but are often faced with confusion and what may seem like overwhelming decisions that have to be made quickly. A Family Empowerment Council Service Coordinator can help you conquer that confusion and will get the information you need to make an informed choice.

As a person-centered program, we are dedicated to knowing the personal preferences and desires of the individual and families we serve. It is our intention to help them reflect on and improve their quality of life. We ensure that you are satisfied with the supports and services you and your child will receive. And, we listen to you and your family, and help you build a more positive future for your child.