What is EarlySteps? A Primer for Parents

Are you the parent of a child with a developmental delay? Whether your little one experiences motor, cognitive, vision, communication, hearing, social-emotional, or adaptive development delays, there is support out there for your family. Keep reading to learn the basics of Louisiana EarlySteps, including eligibility, the application process, offered benefits, and more. 

What is EarlySteps? 

EarlySteps is an LA Medicaid-backed program that provides services to children from birth to 3 years old who have a qualifying disability. The program’s purpose is to improve short- and long-term developmental outcomes for children in need by filling gaps in necessary care and services. Eligible services will be provided wherever your child is in the community. For instance, if you keep your child at home, they’ll receive services there. 

Services Provided Through EarlySteps Louisiana

Not every child will receive the same services from EarlySteps. The types of services will depend on your child’s age, the type of developmental disability they are experiencing, and more. But in general, you can expect services like those outlined below: 

• Assistance with communicating your child’s needs and understanding your family’s rights pertaining to EarlySteps. 
• Help improving your child’s learning and development. 
• Providing the following services and more: 
  • Nursing services
  • Speech-language services 
  • Occupational and physical therapy 
  • Vision services 
  • Audiology services
  • Social work services 

*This isn’t a full list of services offered under the program. For a more complete list, read this LDH resource. 

Could Your Child Be Eligible for Louisiana EarlySteps?

The only way to know whether your child may be eligible for Louisiana EarlySteps is to go through the eligibility process. Here’s an overview: 

1. You’ll call your local system point of entry (SPOE) to get things started.
2. EarlySteps will gather information about your child, your family situation, and any EarlySteps services that might be helpful. 
3. You’ll meet your team, and your child will undergo any applicable developmental screenings. 
4. There’ll be an evaluation where EarlySteps reviews all applicable information about your child.
5. The eligibility results will be communicated to you. There are two possible outcomes: 

1. 1. If your child is eligible, the next step is to develop an IFSP (a service plan) and determine which types of support your child needs. 

1. 1. If your child is NOT eligible, EarlySteps will direct you toward other resources to consider.

How Long Does it Take to Get Started With EarlySteps?

The EarlySteps eligibility process is very in-depth. Because of this, it takes about 45 days from start to finish. Between information gathering, interviews, developmental exams, and more, time does add up. That said, the process for you and your child could be slightly longer or shorter, depending on the situation. 

So, there you have it – everything you need to know about Louisiana EarlySteps in a nutshell. To gain even more insight, we invite you to speak to a Community Outreach Specialist, a helpful contact who can offer insider knowledge about the program. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you take steps toward securing the services your child needs.