If you suspect or know that your child has a special need...

  1. Have them evaluated by a qualified doctor while you make a referral to...
  2. Early Intervention Services/First Steps for infants and toddlers (Birth up to age 3 years) who are
    experiencing or are at risk for developmental delays. Program is covered under special education law.
    IDEA-Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Part C). View intake map for contact or call 800-441-
    7837 for more information.
  3. If your child does not qualify for Early Intervention Services, contact: Head Start/Early Head Start which
    is a comprehensive health, nutrition, education, and social services program that promotes school
    readiness in low-income children. Services may be provided to pregnant women and children from birth
    to 5 years. Contact 317-233-6837
  4. Learn as much as you can about the condition
  5. Meet with other caregivers who can help you through the process
  6. Find out what programs they may be eligible


Indiana Association for Infant and Toddler Mental Health (IAITMH)'s mission is to advance the conditions
which provide an early start toward optimal mental health. Contact 317-638-3501

Zero To Three is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals,
policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Our mission is to
promote the health and development of infants and toddlers.
Baby brain map-find out how a baby's brain
develops during period of brain growth and what you can do to enrich a very young child's development.

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) A service of the Office of Head Start. Mental Health
Needs.

Early Childhood Community of Practice (Listserv) provides an opportunity for discussion, collaboration, and
the exchange of ideas and resources related to young children between the ages of birth to 8 who have
mental health challenges and are currently being served by system of care communities.

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center vision is to strengthen state and local service systems
to ensure that children with disabilities (birth through 5 years) and their families receive and benefit from
high-quality, evidence-based, culturally appropriate and family-centered supports and services.

Early Head Start National Resource Center (EHS) is a DHHS federally-funded community-based program for
low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women. Its mission is simple: to promote healthy
prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, to enhance the development of very young children, and to promote
healthy family functioning.

Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) translates research in healthy mental
development into materials tailored to the needs of each of the target audiences, and makes them available
on this website. The Center translates research in healthy mental development into materials tailored to the
needs of each of the target audiences, and makes them available on this website.

Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) takes the research
that shows which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for,
delays or disabilities and creates FREE products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers, and
service providers apply these best practices in the work they do every day. Most of these free products are
available right here on our website for you to view, download and use.

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on promoting the
social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5.
  • Infant/Toddler Training and PreSchool Training-Promoting Social and Emotional Competence-The
    content is consistent with evidence-based practices identified through a thorough review of the
    literature that would be most useful in addressing the social-emotional needs of young children.

Bright Futures is a national health promotion initiative dedicated to the principle that every child deserves to
be healthy and that optimal health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, the child,
the family, and the community as partners in health practice.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has offered a national, voluntary
accreditation system to set professional standards for early childhood education programs, and to help
families identify high-quality programs.

Early Childhood Meeting Place is a gateway to information, services and resources for Indiana's early
education professionals and families.

Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is one division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). DEC is
especially for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs, birth through age eight,
and their families. Mission promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and
enhance the optimal development of young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays and
disabilities.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of pediatricians committed to the attainment of
optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young
adults.
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Child Abuse and Neglect. Adolescent Health. Council on
Children with Disabilities.

SpecialQuest Multimedia Training Library supports the inclusion of young children with disabilities birth–five
and their families, in early care and education settings. The SpecialQuest materials and approach have been
used with over 5,000 participants nationwide, refined over the past ten years, and have been shown to
create and sustain change. SpecialQuest Birth-Five provides these materials at no cost with funding from the
Office of Head Start.

Get Ready to Read (GRTR) from NCLD is a national program to build the early literacy skills of preschool
children. GRTR brings research-based strategies to parents, early education professionals, and child care
providers to help prepare children to learn to read and write. Includes online screening tool to keep track of
the child's score.

Do2Learn!-Website provides games, songs, communication cards, print resources and information for special
needs.

You Can Ask addresses a broad range of issues children commonly face-loss, fear, bullying, and relating to
others-and offer materials that would help families talk through tough times in an age-appropriate way. It
shows parents that no matter what sort of problem a child is experiencing, they can help ease a worried
child's mind.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library-Provides a free book to children ages 0-5 in participating areas.

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is a central and trusted source of scientific evidence for what works in
education from the U.S. Department of Education. WWC publishes intervention reports that evaluate
research on curricula and instructional strategies for 3- to 5-year-old children with disabilities.

Miscellaneous:


Education Links have been moved to
Education Resources.

.
Early Childhood: Birth through 7 years
Educational/Interactive Websites for Kids:

PBS Kids Play! is a personalized learning service for kids ages 3 to 6 that is designed to enhance school
readiness. It offers all new educational games that adjust in difficulty based on each child’s skill level. It also
features easy-to-use parental tools which enables parents to track their child’s learning progress and more.

MyPyramid for Preschoolers is for children 2 to 5 years of age to help your preschooler eat well, be active,
and be healthy.

NetSmartz Kids is an award-winning, interactive, educational safety program that teaches children how to be
safer on- and offline.

NIH: Open Wide and Trek Inside!-Grades 1-2. Beyond the traditional “brushing and flossing” curriculum, this
module focuses on the science of the oral environment, and major scientific concepts relating to oral health.

PBS Kids Go! empowers kids to discover themselves, define the diverse world around them, explore new
relationships and embrace a love of learning.

***Additional links can be found by going to the
Youth Site Index.