Disclaimer :: My Health My Resources (MHMR) of Tarrant County sponsored this post and crafted this post about early intervention and other mental health support services.
Have a concern about your child? Early Childhood Services at MHMR of Tarrant County can help.
Have you wondered about your child’s development? Do you compare your child to other kids his or her age? You can check developmental milestones by clicking here and do a FREE screening here. Or you can call MHMR of Tarrant County (at 844-NTX-KIDS), and its staff can help.
MHMR’s team of professionals are incredibly dedicated and caring people. Their passion is to meet the needs of the youngest children in our society. Early Childhood Services provides services to children from birth to age six in both the Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Supports (HOPES) and the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) programs.
More About Early Childhood Intervention
MHMR helps families with children who have developmental delays and disabilities in these 12 counties: Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise, and now also Cooke County.
The ECI team provides supports and services including:
- Audiology/hearing
- Assistive technology
- Behavioral intervention
- Case management
- Counseling
- Family education
- Health services
- Infant massage
- Nursing
- Nutrition and feeding
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Social work
- Specialized skills training
- Speech & language therapy
- Transition to services beyond ECI
- Translation/interpretation
These services are provided in places familiar to the child: where he or she lives, learns and plays — such as the home, childcare, or community setting. That means they come to you.
Is Early Childhood Intervention like Therapy?
ECI is different from other therapies. ECI provides comprehensive case management, therapy, and counseling for young children and their caregivers. Using an evidence-based primary provider approach to teaming and adult coaching, ECI works with the parent to build the capacity to meet the child’s specific needs within the daily routines of the family and child. You’ll learn more about our approach as they develop your plan.
How to Get Started
Anyone can make a referral. And there are several ways to get started.
- Do a screening at http://earlyisbestnorthtexas.org/screening/, and staff will call you to discuss the results.
- Call MHMR to set up an initial appointment.
MHMR professionals will determine if your child needs services and is eligible to receive them. You — the family — will be involved in the evaluation, assessments, and planning next steps.
How It Works
Hear from other moms by reading the success stories here.
At your first visit, the ECI team will determine if your child is eligible for services. Then they make a plan; an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) will be developed for you to receive services.
Once you start, services are provided by ECI licensed and/or credentialed professionals. ECI professionals and family members work together to help the child learn new skills through everyday activities. Services are coordinated with others in the community. Your child’s progress will be reviewed regularly, and the ECI team is available to discuss at each visit.
Still have questions? Check out the FAQ.
Early Childhood Services provides resources and in-home support to families of children age zero to six in Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, and Ellis counties. (Services are available to families of children age zero to three in Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise, and Cooke counties.) Early Childhood Services also offers free child screenings. Early Childhood Services is a division of My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, which has served families in Tarrant County for nearly 50 years. If you want more information, call 844-NTX-KIDS or visit www.EarlyIsBestNorthTexas.org.
