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Early Development Network
Program helps local families through early intervention services
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Deciding which direction to take for your child’searly intervention services can be overwhelming.
Early intervention services aredesigned to support development in areas such as speech and language, gross motor skills and social and behavioral skills. With so much information and services available, it can be difficult to sort through it all.
The Early DevelopmentNetwork (EDN) through the Nebraska Department of Educationworks in partnership with school districts to make the navigation of services as easy as possible.
The Early DevelopmentNetwork provides coordinated services for Nebraskafamilies. The program helps families to understand their child’s development and provides assistance in dealing with situations that may interfere.
Research shows that the first three years arethe most important time for learning in achild’slife. Providing developmental support and services early improves achild’sability to develop and learn. Also, it may prevent or decrease the need for special help later.The goal of early intervention in Nebraska is to open awindow of opportunity for families to help their children with developmental needs to develop to their full potential.
Once areferral to the program has been made, aservices coordinator will be assigneddirectly to your family. From the first phone call through your child’sevaluation and services, the services coordinator is therefor support, completely free of charge.
The services coordinator will help parents: •Find services to meet developmental, educational, financial, health care, child care, respite careand other needs. •Work with multiple providers to make sureservices areprovided as needed. •Empower parents to become coordinators of servicesfor their own children in the future.
Christina Didier,anEarly Childhood Special Education teacher in Ralston Public Schools, conducted astudy on the Early Development Network as part of her graduate research. In Didier’sstudy, the program was frequently described as helpful, caring and responsive. Parents explained that the process was simple, free of obstacles and allowed families to be supportedinthe ways they needed.
Aparent participant in the study said: “I could not imagine being here without (EDN) support.Beopen and communicate. Ask questions. Take it one day at atime.”
Other parents commented that the program not only helps children develop, but it can also help the growth of the entirefamily.
Regardless of whereyour child is at, the Early Development Network can help you and your child incorporate early intervention services into your everyday activities. Families in the program agree: Getting started is easy and the Early Development Network is heretosupport you.
Visit omahaedn.esu3.orgorcall 402-597-4936 or for moreinformation.
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