Programs for Children
Livingston Center
Early Intervention
Mission Statement
The mission of the Groden Center Early Intervention Program (EIP) is to provide families of children in the birth to three year old age range who have a diagnosis of autism, PDD, or other behavioral/developmental challenges with appropriate services as specified in their Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs). IFSP goals for children and families focus on enriching development, fostering appropriate communication skills and behavior, and promoting independence.
Connecting Children and Families
- Connecting families to a caring community with services and information about how best to help your child’s individual needs.
- Connecting children to experienced therapists who focus on fostering communication skills, social interactions, play skills, and helping children learn to transition, separate, and manage emotions.
- Connecting children to the skills necessary for friendships and success in preschool through fun, small, structured playgroups.
- Connecting families to experienced home visitors who will work directly with your child and help you learn how to teach the skills you identify as important
- Connecting parents to other parents to share information, resources, stories and laughs.
What is the Groden Center Early Intervention Program (EIP)?
We are a specialty service provider within the Department of Human Service’s Early Intervention network of full-service EI programs. Since 1980, we have specialized in providing services to families with children under three years of age who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), or other language, social-emotional, and/or behavioral disorders. A child need not have a specific diagnosis in order to receive services from the Groden Center EIP.
How does the Groden EIP work and how do we connect to the full-service EIPs?
The Groden Center EIP works in collaboration with the nine full-service provider EIPs in the state. For a child to participate in the Groden EIP, he or she must be enrolled in one of the full-service provider EIPs. Together, the programs provide a range of services to address the goals the family has identified on the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). By providing supplemental services, Groden Center EI services complement the services of the full-service provider.
What services does the Groden Center EIP provide?
The intensity and type of services a family receives is based on child and family need and the family’s IFSP. Services may include:
- Home Visits – One to two per week to help families promote communication skills, positive social interactions and emotional development and to help manage behavioral difficulties.
- Structured Playgroups – Small groups (average ratio of 3 professionals to 5 children) to develop skills in communication, attending, imitation, social interaction and play.
- Parent Education and Support Group – Parent groups meet each time a child attends a playgroup.
- Community Education – EI staff work with families and children in natural environments in the community on an individual basis or with small groups during community outings.
- Consultation – EIP staff also provide consultation to day care centers or other programs as requested.
Information & Referrals
If you have questions about the Groden Center EIP, you are welcome to call Cindy Akers, M.Ed., Groden Center EIP Clinical Supervisor, at 401-525-2380.
Additional information is available in our Frequently Asked Questions document – Click here to download. (To view a PDF, you must have Adobe Reader – Click here to download.)
Families interested in participating in the program should contact their full-service EIP service coordinator. If the parent and the service coordinator together determine that Groden Center Early Intervention services would be helpful, a referral will be made. As soon as the Groden Center EIP receives the referral information, we will contact you and schedule an appointment.
