CALLER: I’m concerned because my grandson is not reaching some milestones like I think he should. But so far his mom doesn’t seem concerned. She says, “Everybody’s different. Just give him some time.” But he’s almost 15 months now and barely pulling up. All four of my children were walking or starting to walk by age one. He was born prematurely, and I wonder if he may need some help. Don’t we have early intervention in this state? I’m going to see them this weekend in Carthage, and I want to talk to his parents — my son and daughter-in-law — and give them the number they can call.
PATHFINDER: We have got just what you need.
Anyone can call and make a referral for a child to Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS). And by knowing what county the child lives in, we can give you the correct Tennessee Early Intervention Services (TEIS) district number to call. There are nine TEIS districts in the state and Carthage, in Smith County, is in the Upper Cumberland district. Here’s their informational page in our Pathfinder database:
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), Upper Cumberland
Although hospital staff and pediatricians often make TEIS referrals, anyone who is concerned about a child can. At Pathfinder we have had calls from directors and instructors of daycare agencies, friends of the family, relatives of the child, and especially parents. After referral, TEIS will arrange a developmental evaluation to determine eligibility and service coordination if needed. Services starting and when services stop (within the program parameters) are always up to the family.
You can Call Pathfinder to get the contact information for the district the child lives in. There is also an online referral form here https://stateoftennessee-cvlyz.formstack.com/forms/teis_referral
The form is also on the MYTN app, or one can call the TEIS toll-free number (800) 852-7157. Someone making a referral will need the child’s name, date of birth, county of residence, parent information (if someone other than the parent calls), and the reason for referral.
Although using TEIS services is completely voluntary, early intervention is proven to help children reach their optimal development. Indeed, the earlier the intervention, generally the better the outcome. TEIS, which is a program under the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) states in its FAQ:
Early intervention plans focus on helping children become more social, independent and reach their optimal development. Many children who are involved with early intervention are ready to start kindergarten with minimal or no special education supports.
According to the web page https://www.tn.gov/didd/for-consumers/tennessee-early-intervention-system-teis/frequently-asked-questions.html
A child may have a developmental delay if they are far behind other children their age in one or more of the five major skill areas:
- Motor (crawling, walking, using their hands to play)
- Communication (babbling, indicating wants and needs, talking)
- Cognitive (thinking skills including making choices and problem solving)
- Social (playing near or with other children or adults)
- Adaptive (taking care of one’s needs)
Since Oct. 15 last year, TEIS started an Extended Services plan, whereby they can work with a child up until the start of school after their fourth birthday if the child is eligible for Special Education services from their local district. TEIS will still work with the family for transition planning, but the family can decide whether their services continue through TEIS or the local school district. Previously TEIS transitioned all children at age 3 to the local school district.
Want to learn more about the TEIS Extended Option? You’ll find the story, slides, and videos here.
| Questions and scenarios found in the Call Pathfinder column represent questions received by Pathfinder but are not taken from actual Pathfinder calls. Actual resource information provided varies based on the specific situation and needs of each individual. |