Babies Can’t Wait is designed for children from birth to age 3 years who need early intervention services and supports because they are experiencing a significant delay in one or more of the following areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social/emotional or adaptive.

To be eligible for BCW, children must meet one of the criteria below:

  • Established condition: A child with a diagnosed mental or physical condition that is known to result in a developmental delay, even when no delay exists at the time of the referral.
  • Developmental delay: A child with a significant developmental delay that is confirmed by a qualified multidisciplinary team.
Transition

Some children will leave BCW before or at the age of 3 years and participate in programs and activities with or without any specialized assistance and services.

All children leaving BCW must have a plan for their “transition” from early intervention. The service coordinator will assist the family and serve as a link between BCW and whatever is to follow in order to ensure a smooth, seamless transition to other services or systems appropriate for the child and his/her family. This process begins at least 6 months prior to a child’s third birthday and enables the family to become familiar with their public preschool special education personnel, private preschool opportunities, Head Start and other options in their community.