Early Intervention

Early intervention is a general term for a very broad array of program, services, systems, and supports for children during the early years of life, designed to promote development and well-being or to prevent or ameliorate the impact of problems, challenges, delays, or disabilities. Research generally supports the importance of intervening early in the life span to promote health and development and to prevent future difficulties later in life. This entry explains why early intervention is important and how variations in services play out for children and their families. Among the topics discussed are who gets help, who provides it, how it is provided, and what is its focus.