In 1987, New York State joined a new federal program under Part H of the Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA) to assist states in implementing statewide, family-centered Early Intervention Programs for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. A statewide Early Intervention Program, including an entitlement to early intervention services for eligible children and their families, was established in Public Health Law (PHL - Title II-A, Article 25) in 1992 and has been fully operational since July 1, 1993.

The New York State Early Intervention Program offers a variety of therapeutic and support services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, including, family training, counseling, home visits, and parent support groups; special instruction, speech pathology and audiology; occupational therapy; physical therapy; psychological services; service coordination; nursing services; nutrition services; social work services; vision services; and assistive technology devices and services. To be eligible for services, children must be under three years of age and have a confirmed disability or established developmental delay in one or more areas of development. Major provisions of the PHL which govern the program provide for:

• identification and referral of children at risk or suspected of disability by primary referral sources;
• periodic developmental screening and tracking of at risk children;
• service coordination services for eligible children and families;
• a multidisciplinary evaluation provided at no cost to parents to determine eligibility;
• Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) for eligible children and families;
• provision of early intervention services in the IFSP at no cost to parents; and,
• delivery of services in natural settings in the community where age peers are typically found, to the maximum extent appropriate.

The Early Intervention program is administered locally by a municipal Early Intervention Official (EIO) designated by the chief elected official of the municipality. Each municipality has a Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council (LEICC) - an advisory group comprised of public and private providers and parents appointed by the Early Intervention Official. LEICCs advise and assist EIOs in local implementation and quality improvement. Contact your EIO for information about your local program or refer a family. For information about the statewide program, contact the NYS Department of Health, Bureau of Child and Adolescent Health, (518) 473-7016.

Call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline at 1-800-522-5006 for the phone number of your local EIO. In NYC, call 1-800-577-BABY.

Thea Griffin
Director, Division for Children with Special Needs
County of Albany Department of Health
175 Green Street
P.O. Box 678
Albany, NY 12201
phone: 518-447-4683
fax: 518-447-4649

Christine Johnson
Director of Patient Services
Allegany County Department of Health
Courhouse – County Office Building
Belmont, NY 14813
Phone: 716-268-9250
Fax: 716-268-9264

William S. Davenport, Ed.D.
Director, Division of Child Development
Broome County Health Department
1 Wall Street
Binghamton, NY 13901
Phone: 607-778-2813
Fax: 607-778-2864

Susan R. Bubbs
Public Health Director
Cattaraugus County Health Department
1701 Lincoln Ave, Suite 4010
Olean, NY 14760
Phone: 716-373-8050
Fax: 716-375-5994

Susan Barrette
Supervising Public Health Nurse
Cayuga County Health Department
160 Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021
Phone: 315-253-1459
Fax: 315-253-1156

Marcia Clark
Director of Community Health Nursing
Chautauqua County Health Department
7 North Erie Street
Mayville, NY 14757
Phone: 716-753-4491
Fax: 716-753-4794

Anne Jernigan
E.I./ I-CHAP Manager
Chemung County Department of Social Services
Human Resource Center
425-447 Pennsylvania Avenue
P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902-0588
Phone: 607-737-5568
Fax: 607-737-5304

Ann Callahan
Early Intervention Manager
County of Chenango Department of Public Health
County Building
Norwich, NY 13815
Phone: 607-337-1660
Fax: 607-337-1709

Kathy O'Connor
Children's Service Coordinator / EIP
Clinton County Department of Health
133 Margaret Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: 518 - 565-4798
Fax: 518 – 565-4509

Alice Engel
Director of Children with Special Needs
Columbia County Department of Health
71 North Third Street
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518-828-4278
Fax: 518-828-0124

Jacquelyn H. Gailor
Deputy Director of Public Health
Cortland County Health Department
60 Central Avenue
P.O. Box 5590
Cortland, NY 13045-5590
Phone: 607-753-5135
Fax: 607-753-5209

Catherine Feuerherm
EI/ I-CHAP Coordinator
Cortland County Health Department
60 Central Avenue
P.O. Box 5590
Cortland, NY 13045-5590
Phone: 607-756-3439
Fax: 607-753-5209

Mary Taylor
Supervising Public Health Nurse
Delaware County Public Health
Nursing Services
P.O. Box 162
Hamden, NY 13782
Phone: 607-746-3166
Fax: 607-865-7865

Beverly Allyn
Early Intervention Coordinator
Dutchess County Department of Health
387 Main Mall
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: 914-486-3507
Fax: 914-473-5302

Romella Hart O'Keefe
Early Intervention Manager
Erie County Department of Youth Services
95 Franklin Street, Room 828
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 716-858-8944
Fax: 716-858-6892

Judy Mercurio
Supervising Community Health Nurse
Essex County Public Health
100 Court Street
P.O. Box 217
Elizabethtown, NY 12932-0217
Phone: 518-873-3513
Fax: 518-873-3539

Katrine Kretser
Public Health Director
Franklin County Nursing Service
63 W. Main Street
Malone, NY 12953
Phone: 518-481-1710
Fax: 518-483-9378

Regina Scrocco
Public Health Director
Fulton County Public Health
2714 County Highway 29
P.O. Box 415
Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: 518-736-5720
Fax: 518-762-1382

Charlotte Lacatelli
Early Intervention Manager
Fulton County Public Health
2714 County Highway 29
P.O. Box 415
Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: 518-736-5720
Fax: 518-762-1382

Linda Van Linder
Coordinator, Handicapped Children's Services
County of Genesee Health Department
3837 West Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020-9406
Phone: 716-344-8506
Fax: 716-344-4713

Katherine Izzo, RN
Service Coordinator Manager
Greene County Public Health Nursing
159 Jefferson Heights, Suite A201
P.O. Box 771
Catskill, NY 12414
Phone: 518-943-6591 (Ext: 227)
Fax: 518-943-0316

Beth B. Ryan
Public Health Director
Hamilton County Nursing Service
White Birch Lane
P.O. Box 250
Indian Lake, NY 12842
Phone: 518-648-6141
Fax: 518-648-6143

Arlene Brouillette
Public Health Nurse
Herkimer County Public Nursing Service
257 N. Main Street
P.O. Box 672
Herkimer, NY 13350
Phone: 315-866-7122
Fax: 315-867-1262

Larry D. Tingley
Director, Community Services
Jefferson County Community Services
175 Arsenal Street
Watertown, NY 13601
Phone: 315-785-3283
Fax: 315-785-5182

JoAnn Seiler
Public Health Director
Lewis County Public Health Agency
Medical Arts Building
7785 N. State Street
Lowville, NY 13367
Phone: 315-376-5449
Fax: 315-376-5435

Cindy Sheflin
Supervising Public Health Nurse
Livingston County Health Department
2 Livingston County Campus
Mt. Morris, NY 14510
Phone: 716-243-7290
Fax: 716-243-7287

Cathy Baksa
Asistant Director of Patient Services
Madison County Health Department
County Office Building
P.O. Box 605
Wampsville, NY 13163
Phone: 315-363-1014
Fax: 315-361-1476

Joyce Pearson
Coordinator, Early Intervention Program
Child and Family Health Services
691 St. Paul Street
Rochester, NY 14605-1798
(716) 530-4274 (work)
(716) 530-4272 (fax)
jpearson@monroecounty.gov

Victoria Holley
Early Intervention Official
Montgomery County Public Health
County Annex Building, Park Street
P.O. Box 1500
Fonda, NY 12068-1500
Phone: 518-853-3531
Fax: 518-853-8218

Carol Lasalle
Director of Community Health Services
Nassau County Department of Health
240 Old Coutry Road
Mineola, NY 11501-4250
Phone: 516-571-2254
Fax: 516-571-1665

Kathleen Walsh
Director, Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs
Nassau County Department of Health
240 Old Country Road
Mineola, NY 11507
Phone: 516-571-3440
Fax: 516-571-2866

Angela M. Gedeon
Early Intervention Official
Niagara County Health Department
Physical Handicapped Children's Program
P.O. Box 428, 301 Tenth Street
Niagara Falls, NY 14302-0428
Phone: 716-278-8498
Fax: 716-278-8497

Sandra Ginsberg
Acting Assistant Commissioner
NYC Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcohol Services
93 Worth Street, Room 910
New York, NY 10013
Phone: 212-219-5580
Fax: 212-219-5586

Larry Morales
Assistant Commissioner
NYC Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services
93 Worth Street, Room 413
New York, NY 10013
Phone: 212-219-5268
Fax: 212-219-5313

Theresa Kapes
Early Intervention/PHCP Supervisor
Oneida County Department of Health
800 Park Avenue
Utica, NY 13501
Phone: 315-798-5277
Fax: 315-798-5022

Cynthia O'Connor
Assistant Director of Patient Services
Onondaga County Health Department
Bureau of Special Children Services
375 West Onondaga Street, Suite 15
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315-435-3230
Fax: 315-435-2678

Martha J. Allen
Director of Community Public Health
Ontario County Health Department
Children With Special Needs Program
3019 County Complex Drive
Canandaigua, Ny 14424
Phone: 716-396-4546
Fax: 716-396-4551

Sheila D. Warren
Director of Intervention Services
Orange County Department of Health
124 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: 914-291-2333
Fax: 914-291-2341

Christine A. Covell
Early Intervention Program
Orleans County Health Department
14012 Route 31 West
Albion, NY 14411
Phone: 716-589-2777
Fax: 716-589-6647

Tammy Thompson
Early Intervention Specialist
Oswego County Health Department
70 Bunner Street
P.O. Box 3080
Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: 315-349-3510
Fax: 315-349-3537

Kathryn S. Abernethy, MPH
Public Health Director
Otsego County Health Department
197 Main Street
County Office Building – Annex
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Phone: 607-547-6458
Fax: 607-547-4385

Jacqueline Morini
Early Intervention Manager
Putnam County Department of Health
6 Geneva Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Phone: 914-278-6014 (Ext: 170)
Fax: 914-278-6648

Mary Fran Wachunas
Director of Children's Services with Special Needs
Rensselaer County Department of Health
Health Building
1600 Seventh Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
Phone: 518-270-2665 (Ext: 2623)
Fax: 518-270-2638

Harriet Blecher
Director, Social Services, Public Health
Rockland County Department of Health
Sanatorium Road
Pomona, NY 10970
Phone: 914-364-2626
Fax: 914-364-2093

Wendy Stoddart
Director of Patient Services
St. Lawrence County Public Health Department
P.O. Box 5157
Potsdam, NY 13676
Phone: 315-265-3768
Fax: 315-265-5050

Terry Stortz
Supervising Public Health Nurse
Saratoga County Public Health/ Nursing Services
31 Woodlawn Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone: 518-584-7460
Fax: 518-583-2498

Maureen Sullivan
Director of Programs for Children with Special Needs
Schenectady County Public Health Services
107 Nott Terrace, Third floor
Schenectady, NY 12308
Phone: 518-386-2815
Fax: 518-386-2822

Paul F. Bashant
Early Intervention Official
Schoharie County Department of Health
Main Street, P.O. Box 667
Schoharie, NY 12157
Phone: 518-295-8705
Fax: 518-295-8786

Marcia Kasprzyk
Public Health Nurse
Schuyler County Home Health Agency
105 9th Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Phone: 607-535-8140
Fax: 607-535-8157

Janet Lynch
Supervising Public Health Nurse
Seneca County Department of Health
31 Thurber Drive, Suite 1
Waterloo, NY 13165-1660
Phone: 315-539-9294
Fax: 315-539-9493

Helen Brutsman
Administrative Officer
Steuben County Department of Special Children's Services
3 E. Pulteney Square
Bath, NY 14810-1560
Phone: 607-776-9631 (Ext: 2146)
Fax: 607-776-9631

Janice K. Orland, Ed D.
Bureau Chief, Services for Children with Disabilities
County of Suffolk Department of Health Services
415 Oser Avenue, Suite 2
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone: 516-853-3130
Fax: 516-853-2300

Joseph Todora
Early Care Coordinator
Sullivan County Public Health/Nursing Service
Infirmary Road
P.O. Box 590
Liberty, NY 12754
Phone: 914-292-0100 (Ext: 2700)
Fax: 914-292-1417

Eileen Slofkosky
Supervising Public Health Nurse
Tioga County Health Department
231 Main Street
Oswego, NY 13827
Phone: 607-687-8600
Fax: 607-687-2916

Ellen Brazauskas
Supervising County Clinical Nurse
Tompkins County Department of Health
401 Harris B. Dates Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850-1386
Phone: 607-274-6644
Fax: 607-274-6648

Grethchen Giles
Early Intervention Service Coordinator
Ulster County Department of Social Services
1071 Development Court
Kingston, NY 12401-1959
Phone: 914-334-5251
Fax: 914-334-5225

Patricia Auer
Director of Public Health
Warren County Health Services
Warren County Municipal Center
Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: 518-761-6415
Fax: 518-761-6562

Patricia Munoff
Director of Public Health Service
Washington County Public Health
Nursing Service
County Annex Building
Lower Main Street
Hudson Falls, NY 12839
Phone: 518-746-2400
Fax: 518-746-2410

Amy R. Nicholson
Supervisor, Children with Special Needs
Wayne County Children with Special Needs
1519 Nye Road, Suite 200
Lyons, NY 14489
Phone: 315-946-5460
Fax: 315-946-5767

Lorraine Chun
Assistant Commissioner, Services for Children with Disabilities
Westchester County Department of Health
145 Huguenot Street, 8th floor
New Rochelle, NY 10801
Phone: 914-637-4795
Fax: 914-637-4798

Patricia A. Hughes
Youth Bureau Director
Wyoming County Youth Bureau
5362 Mungers Mill Road
Silver Springs, NY 14550
Phone: 716-786-8850
Fax: 716-786-8832

Lauren Snyder
Director of Public Health
Yates County Nursing Service
431 Liberty Street
Penn Yan, NY 14527
Phone: 315-536-5160
Fax: 315-536-5149