Early Intervention
Early intervention services are family-centered services and supports that help and assist families in meeting the overall developmental needs of an infant or toddler (birth to three years old) and the family.
On Guam, a program under the Guam Department of Education, called the Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) provides the following Diagnostic, Family Support, and Intervention services and support to infants, toddlers, and their families:
- Newborn Developmental Screening
- Developmental Evaluation
- Hearing Evaluation
- Speech/Language Evaluation and Services
- Physical/Occupational Therapy
- Play-Based Therapy
- Social Work Services
- Nursing Services
- Transition Services
- Assistive Technology
- Family training, counseling, and home visits
- Medical Services (only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes)
- Health Services
- Nutrition
- Special Instruction
- Vision Services
- Transportation and related costs that are necessary to enable a child eligible under Part C and the child's family to receive early intervention services
Overview of the Steps to Receiving Early Intervention Services
First Steps: Getting Started in GEIS
- Intake / Screening
- Referral
- Evaluation / Assessment
- Eligibility
An intake is an initial contact made with the family or other community members who have a concern about the development of a child. A doctor is required, by law, to refer a child to GEIS within two days if a delay is suspected.
Information is gathered about the child, and parents’ consent to evaluate the child is obtained.
An evaluation or assessment is conducted to determine if the child is eligible for services. The family is involved with the evaluation process.
The evaluation(s) will be reviewed and eligibility for the program will be determined with the family.
- Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Meeting
- Delivery of Services
An IFSP is a written plan for providing early intervention services for your infant or toddler. This plan is required within 45 days of the referral.
- Need for Change in Services or Re-Evaluation/Assessment and Ongoing Delivery of Services
The child begins to receive services, as written in the IFSP. A 6-month and annual review of IFSP is conducted to determine if the plan needs to be updated and to review the child’s progress.
For more information about the Guam Early Intervention System, click on the logo below.
