Early intervention because...Babies Can't Wait [2010]

B abies Can't Wait (BCW) is a program in Georgia that provides and coordinates services for very young children who have disabilities or who have significant delays in their development.
Children, from birth to their third birthday, regardless of income, may be eligible for Babies Can't Wait in one of two ways:
1) Children are automatically eligible if they are diagnosed with certain mental or physical conditions, including but not limited to: Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and autism;
OR
2) Children who are experiencing significant delays in their development may be eligible. For example, children who are very far behind their peers in learning to turn over, crawl, walk and talk, and children with emotional, speech, and hearing problems.
BCW provides evaluation and assessment, at no cost to families, to determine eligibility and the scope of services needed. BCW also provides service coordination at no cost to families, which assists families in accessing services and identifying resources to help pay for services.
Early intervention services are provided in places where children live, learn, and play to increase opportunities to practice new skills

within the family's routines and activities. These services may be made available to children and families enrolled in BCW: assistive technology, audiology, family training & counseling, certain health services, medical diagnostic services, certain nursing services, nutrition services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychological services, social work, special instruction, speechlanguage therapy, vision services, and transportation to services. State funds may be available to assist families with paying for these early intervention services.
NOTE: Children between the ages of three and five may be eligible for special education services. For more information, please call the Department of Education, Division for Exceptional Students, at 404-656-3963.
Georgia Department
of Human Resources
DPH Tracking #DPH99.11H
For more information, or to make a referral to Babies Can't Wait, call:
1-800-229-2038
or 770-451-5484 in Atlanta

Early Intervention Because...
Babies Can't Wait
"As a parent of a child born very prematurely, I was filled with doubts and fears concerning my son's future... When I learned of the Babies Can't Wait Program, all those fears and doubts changed to hope and understanding."
Walter Black, Parent

H ere are some signs to look for at each stage of your baby's early growth and development. Remember, babies grow and learn at their own speed. If you have concerns about your child's development, he or she may need some extra help. It is important to get help early because babies learn the most in the first three years of life.
At 3 months, does your baby:
turn head toward lights and bright colors? follow moving object with eyes? respond to loud sounds? wiggle and kick legs and arms? smile? make sounds? lift his/her head while on stomach?
At 6 months, does your baby:
reach for toys and pick them up? move toys from one hand to the other? roll over (both ways)? play with feet? babble? help hold bottle while feeding?

At 9 months, does your baby:
sit up with back straight? say "mama" and "dada"? pick up things with fingers? crawl and try to stand up?
At 12 months, does your baby:
pull self to standing position? crawl on hands and knees? drink from a cup? wave "bye-bye"? play peek-a-boo and patty cake? say 1 or 2 words?
At 18 months, does your baby:
pull off his/her shoes and mittens? feed self some? walk without help? like to look around? use 8-10 words that are understood? turn pages in a book?

At 24 months, does your baby:
use sentences? say names of toys? run? point to eyes and nose? play alone? stack blocks? take clothes off?
At 36 months, does your baby:
walk up steps? know own name? wash hands? play with other children? use toilet? hop on one foot? use 3-5 word sentences? open door? name colors?