top of page

Services

Eligibility for Early Intervention Services​

​

Upon referral to Helping Hands Early Intervention program one staff member will be assigned as the Service Coordinator for your family. The Service Coordinator will arrange for a comprehensive developmental evaluation of your child. This includes screenings and professional evaluations to determine if your child is eligible. 

 

Eligible children include those between birth and three years of age who were born with a disability or health condition that impacts and delays their development. Children who were born prematurely; have feeding, vision or hearing issues; are slow to crawl, sit, walk, talk or do things for themselves; have behavior or attention difficulties or have been identified as having environmental risk factors may also be eligible.

 

A child with a disability is one who has been diagnosed with physical or mental condition.

 

A child with a developmental delay means that the child is behind in at least one area of development including:

​

  • PHYSICAL - includes vision and hearing, gross, fine motor

  • COGNITIVE - play skills, attention, memory, problem solving, sorting skills and visual perception

  • COMMUNICATION - how the child understands what is said and how the child uses sound, words or gestures to let others know what she/he wants

  • SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL - includes the child’s experience, expression, and management of emotions and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with family members, their peers, and others.

  • ADAPTIVE - self help skills such as feeding and dressing skills​

​Services and the "IFSP"​

​

If your child is found eligible, a Service Coordinator will assist the family in determining the needs of your child - utilizing all available resources to help a family meet the special needs of your child in the most natural environment.

 

The Service Coordinator will then facilitate an "IFSP" meeting for the purpose of developing an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) with the family.

​

The IFSP includes the family’s desired goals for their child and early intervention services to be provided. Examples of services may include:

​

  • Family Training

  • Home visits and workshops

  • Hearing, vision and medical services for evaluation purposes

  • Speech Therapy

  • Occupational Therapy

  • Physical Therapy

  • Social Emotional / Behavioral support

  • Service Coordination

​

The IFSP also includes the planning for transitioning your child to the next program once your child turns three years old.

 

The IFSP is re-evaluated annually or more often as needed to ensure your child is receiving the most appropriate services.

​

​Who Can Make a Referral
​

Professionals must refer babies and toddlers to the Helping Hands Early Intervention Program if there is a concern about the child’s development.

​

As a parent, you can also refer your child to the Helping Hands Early Intervention Program if you have a concern about your child’s development. Parents must give permission to have a child evaluated.

​

How to Refer

​

To make a referral you can either use our referral form or simply go to the Contact Us page and send us the following information:

  • Your name

  • Phone number 

  • Child's name

  • Child's date of birth 

  • Reason for referral

  • Contact information 

  • Background/notes

​

A referral can be submitted using any of the methods below:

  • Phone:  684.699.6962, 6963

  • Office:  7:30am - 4:00pm (Ottoville Professional Building in Ottoville across from Cost-U-Less)

  • Email:   Contact@helpinghands-as.org

  • Mail:     HELPING HANDS Early Intervention Program, PO BOX 7477, Ottoville, American Samoa  

  • Contact Us  page to submit online

​

bottom of page