Early Intervention Services

The Early Intervention Services provided by The Florida Center employ a comprehensive, family-centered team approach to support the development of infants, toddlers, and young children. Helping them achieve their highest potential requires time, patience, sensitivity and resources. Thanks to our many generous supporters, we are able to provide high quality services to many of the children and families who need us.

Early Childhood Education/Developmental Therapy:
Our classrooms are designed to meet the needs of both typically developing children and children with special needs. Staff Developmental Therapists provide speech-language therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy services to develop and enhance specific skills to support the foundation of early learning. Annually, more than 400 children participate in our Early Childhood Education Program and/or receive Developmental Therapy services. Over 9,000 developmental therapy sessions are provided each year to support classroom and outpatient needs. Ninety percent of our parents participate in learning about classroom curriculum, assessment and intervention services for their children.

Community Outreach:
Our Child Development Specialists provide technical assistance, consultation and professional training to child care providers in the Sarasota community. Developmental screenings, trainings, mentoring, and early intervention services are provided to assist teachers in understanding the special needs of their children and to increase their awareness of community services.

Esperanza:
These specialized outreach services for Hispanic families include parent education, translation and service coordination. Families participate in this program which enables them to understand child development and to learn about child and family services available in the community. The Florida Center received a grant of $12,000 in December 2005 from the Jane B. Cook Trust to support the Esperanza program.