The Kentucky Early Intervention ​​Syste​​m provides services to children from birth to age 3 and their families. There are three ways that a child may be eligible for services.

1. Developmental delay - A child may be eligible for services if an evaluation shows the child is not developing similarly to other children in at least one of five different skill areas: communication, cognition, physical, social and emotional, or self-help.
   
2. Established risk condition​ - A child may be eligible for services if diagnosed with a physical or mental condition likely to result in a developmental delay such as Down Syndrome.
3. Informed clinical opinion - A child may be eligible for services if the clinical evaluation and expertise of a multidisciplinary team of professionals determines the child is in need of services.

How much will services cost?

All families enrolled in the Kentucky Early Intervention System are assessed for their ability to pay for early intervention services and for their health insurance coverage, including private insurance and Medicaid.

Most families recieve services at no cost to them, but some families with the highest incomes are asked to share in the cost of services for their child.

Families are informed of their rights to refuse any service, to have the their income assessed and to refuse consent for billing any private health insurance.

• KEIS Family​ Rights
• KEIS Family Rights-Spanish​

​Family Share​

Families sharing in the cost of providing services to their child participate in Family Share.

The Family Share fee is calculated using a published sliding fee scale, which ranges from no cost to $400 per month. Fees are based a single child, regardless of how many siblings are enrolled in Kentucky Early Intervention System, and is not related to how many or how often services are provided.

Families with both a Family Share fee and private health insurance may choose to waive the Family Share participation fee as long as consent is given to bill insurance. If the consent to bill insurance is withdrawn, the Family Share fee is required.

• Family Share Chart

How are Kentucky Early Intervention System services provided?

The Kentucky Early Intervention System contracts with specialized early intervention providers to deliver services that actively involve the parent in visits. Visits are usually conducted where a child spends their time (home, childcare, playground) and typically differ from services provided in a therapy clinic or medical center.

Providers in the Kentucky Early Intervention System use a coaching approach to help families and other caregivers support their child's learning and development.

Kentucky Early Intervention System provides support and services for families with children birth to 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities.

Research shows that the first three years of a child's life are the most important time for developing and learning. By providing needed services and support during this time, families can better help their children with special needs develop to their full potential and may decrease the need for additional help later in life.

Early developmental intervention builds on and provides supports and resources to help family members and caregivers enhance children's learning and development through everyday learning opportunities.

The program follows six standards:

Standard 1: Family-centered

• Families identify the Individualized Family Service Plan outcomes that determine early intervention services, resources and supports and actively participate during intervention visits.

Standard 2: Individualized

• Early intervention services are individualized to meet the identified needs of the child and family.

Standard 3: Evidence-based

• Early intervention services are evidence-based to enhance the family and child's learning and development in relation to the Individualized Family Service Plan outcomes.

Standard 4: Natural environment

• All families receive early intervention services in places where families and children participate in daily life.

Standard 5: Team-based

• Kentucky Early Intervention System provides a statewide, team-based early intervention program for families of eligible infants and toddlers.

Standard 6: Transition

• Children and families have a smooth, seamless transition into, within and out of early intervention.