Youth and Family Services

This statewide program ensures that children (birth to three years of age) who may be at risk for delays receive the help needed to enhance early growth and development. The goal is to ensure that children under age three are engaged in primary health care and receive appropriate developmental tracking and screening through their primary health care provider.

The Early Intervention Program focuses on early identification and follow-up of children (ages birth through two) with developmental delays. The program provides evaluations of your child’s abilities at no cost to your family and with your full participation. A service coordinator will work with your family to identify your concerns and priorities for your child and will refer your child for needed services based upon a plan, otherwise known as an Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) developed for your child.

If you live in Broome County and have any questions about an infant or toddler, please call us at 607-778-2851.

2026 LEICC Meetings:

April 15, 2026 @ 1pm

October 14, 2026 @ 1pm

Through an agreement with Guthrie-Lourdes we offer free home visiting services to support families – we come to you! You can enroll anytime from pregnancy up to when your baby is three months old. Services are available until your child turns 5 years old. Healthy Families Broome provides information on prenatal care, parenting guidance, bonding, attachment, child brain development, child growth, and so much more! We can also provide connections to community resources.

You may be eligible for this free program! Click here to fill out the form and to learn more.

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyFamiliesBroome/

PACT Program 

Healthy Families Broome – Prenatal Brochure.pdf

 
The Education for Handicapped Children’s Program (EHCP) is for children (age 3 through 5) with suspected or confirmed delays that will affect learning. This program is directed through the New York State Department of Education to transition identified children into the formal school system. The EHCP process will determine placement opportunities and services to benefit your child and your family at no cost to you.

Click here to visit our WIC page.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Sports and Children with Special Needs: 

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=160&contentid=20

Adaptive Sports Programs for Children with Disabilities:

https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/occupational-therapy/adaptive-sports-programs

Including All Children: Health for Kids with Disabilities:

Including All Children: Health for Kids With Disabilities

Autism Speaks – Recreation:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/activites-children-autism

The Outreach Program for Soccer, designed for children with disabilities ages 5 to 21: http://www.nyswysa.org/topsoccer

Special Needs Articles and Events for the Greater Binghamton Area:

https://binghamton.macaronikid.com/search

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

New York State Department of Health, Disability and Health Program – Find helpful tips and practices to be inclusive of everyone.

• Disability Etiquette: Treat Everyone with Respect – also available in Spanish.
• Quick Disability Etiquette Tips  English    Spanish

Move United: Disabled Sports USA and Adaptive Sports USA recently merged to become Move United. Check out (below) their newly combined resources for live and recorded adaptive fitness classes.

Special Olympics New York Offering a virtual program and resources for athletes.

Special Olympics School of Strength – Offers a whole new way to exercise, featuring WWE superstar Becky Lynch. Three levels of videos for beginners to master athletes.

Adapt to Perform – Ben Clark is a You Tuber that has created video workouts adapted for people with mobility disabilities.

Teach Me To Talk – An excellent resource for therapists and families of children 0-5. This was previously sold on DVD, but has been made available to view via You Tube for FREE!

Zensational Kids Emergency Tool Kit – Free videos for parents and educators – Mindful Tools to Help Parents Stay Sane and Create Calm

TOPSoccer  Program details and registration information for a safe and inclusive soccer program to teach and play soccer with children with special needs, run by Binghamton University students.  

GiGi’s Playhouse – Offers free educational, therapeutic-based and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community, through a replicable playhouse model

Early Intervention Facebook Group for Families – Welcomes parents and caregivers of children in the Early Intervention Program from around New York State that want to connect with other parents/caregivers, share ideas, ask questions, and provide support to one another.

Described and Captioned Media Program – The nation’s leading source for accessible educational content, providing services for students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Families and school personnel with early learners through Grade 12 students can register for free access to over 6,000 Educational Media titles on-demand and on DVD.

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program – Information regarding community resources for Developmental Disability, Family Support, Mental Health, and Transition from Adolescence to Independence

Help Hub for Families – Find health, education, human services, and disability information for newborns through age 22.

Resource Directory for Children and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs – Available in English / Chinese / French / Italian / Korean / Polish / Russian / Spanish

NYS Early Intervention Program – Offers a variety of therapeutic and support services to eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families

Developmental Disabilities – NY State agencies who assist individuals with developmental delays or disabilities and their families

Families Together in NYS – Working to ensure that all children and youth have the support they need in order to succeed; represent thousands of families across the state whose children have been involved in many systems, including mental health, substance abuse, special education, juvenile justice, and foster care

Family Support – State agencies that offer family support services

Literacy Volunteers of Broome/Tioga County, Inc. – provides free reading and math help for adults who test at or below an elementary level – also help for individuals over 16 seeking to pass a High School equivalency exam or English lessons for speakers of other languages

Mental Health – Local Mental Hygiene Services

Prevent Child Abuse New York – Being a parent is hard. Be brave. Get Help. Find parenting resources right now.

Child Passenger Safety – Car seat safety information

HEALTH CARE & HEALTH INSURANCE

Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network – Facilitated Enrollment for Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid

New York Medicaid Waiver – Medicaid waivers help provide services to people who would otherwise be in a nursing home or hospital to receive long-term care in the community, including those with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and Autism

How Can I Get the Best Health Care for my Child? – Explains the importance of having a medical home. Available in English / Spanish / French / Russian / Chinese

Immunization Information – Immunize.org – Offers information and videos for health professionals, coalitions and the public

Birthright of Binghamton – Provides a variety of services and also refers for many more; free pregnancy tests and support

Broome County Dental Society – Represents more than 145 dentists in th Broome County area

Broome County Health Department – Links to: Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Clinic Services & Disease Control, Environmental Health, Maternal Child Health & Development, WIC, Children with Special Needs, Emergency Preparedness, Broome Opioid Abuse Council, Research and Publications

Family Planning of South-Central NY – Our mission is to advocate and provide individuals, families and organizations in our region with information, education and health care services pertaining to human sexuality and reproductive health in a private and confidential manner, respectful of all beliefs, supporting individual freedom of choice and responsibility.

Life’s Choices – Free support for unplanned pregnancy – whether you’re considering abortion, parenting, or just need someone to talk to.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Broome County Early Intervention Program – The Early Intervention Program is a statewide program that provides many different types of services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Early Help Makes a Difference!

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! – A coordinated effort to encourage healthy child development, universal developmental and behavioral screening for children, and support for the families and providers who care for them

Healthy Children Texting Program – Sign up to receive important, age-based text messages for your family from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Early Head Start – Comprehensive child and family development services for low-income pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers ages birth to three years.

CONDITION/DIAGNOSIS SPECIFIC

Autism Resources for Families – National Autism Center

Autism Speaks – Enhancing lives today and accelerating a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow, across the spectrum and throughout the life span

Rochester Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder – Sponsored by the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities

Sesame Street Autism Resources for Families 

See Amazing in All Children, a nationwide initiative aimed at communities with children ages 2 to 5. Developed with input from parents, people who serve the autism community, and people with autism, See Amazing in All Children offers families ways to manage common challenges, to simplify everyday activities, and to grow connections and support from family, friends, and community.

Operation Autism – Directly supports U.S. military families touched by Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism – Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

Cerebral Palsy Guide – A guide for helping children with cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy Guidance – Guidance and assistance to parents of a child with cerebral palsy

Congenital Heart Disease – Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening

TRANSITION

Transition from Adolescence to Independence – Information for individuals with disabilities who are transitioning from youth to adulthood

Healthy Transitions – Information regarding moving from pediatric to adult care

Parent Center Hub – Transition to adulthood for students with disabilities

SPECIAL EDUCATION

NYS Education Department – Special Education

Special Education Guide – The special education process explained

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) – The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities, birth through 21, By providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.

Friendship Circle – 5 Items that can help your child with special needs on the first day of school

Wrights Law – Accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.

FAPE – Free and Appropriate Public Education

ADDitude Magazine – Strategies and Support for ADHD & LDHD

Achieving Success at School – Organizational strategies for moms and dads with ADHD trying to manage school children with ADHD.

Advocates for Children of New York– Protecting every child’s right to learn

IDEA – The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities

STIC – Education Advocacy  guides families through the complexities of securing special education services for their child, offering support and expertise without providing legal advice.

STIC – Family and Community Engagement Center A resource for families, schools, and communities who are working to support children and youth with disabilities from birth to their 22nd birthday,  across the Southern Tier.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS & SERVICES

2-1-1 – Connection, at no cost, to critical health and human services in your county

Boys and Girls Club of Binghamton

Broome County Children and Family Services – Broome County Child and Family Services Plan and Forum, Daycare Unit, Family Services Unit, Central Intake Unit, Protective Services for Adults

BroomeINCLUDES – a county-wide initiative aimed at making sure everyone in need of assistance gets the help they need.

Broome County Department of Social Services – Assistance and support programs for children and families

Broome County Healthy Homes Programs – Do you or someone you know have issues with indoor air quality, lead-based paint, fire hazards, slips/trips/fall prevention, or pest control in the home?

CHOW – Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse

Catholic Charities of Broome County – Youth, Family and Community Services

Cornell Cooperative Extension – Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being. Rooted in every county of the state, we bring local experience and research-based solutions together, helping New York state families and communities thrive in our rapidly changing world.

CreateABLE – Life is Washable: provides programming designed to complement services and support for individuals and families with a special needs diagnosis, creating opportunities for all to be ABLE to connect in their communities

Crime Victims Assistance Center – Compassionate support and education, enhancing the community’s ability to prevent and respond to victims of crime

Family & Children’s Society – Provides help, care and counseling services for people in all stages of life

Family Enrichment Network – Supportive services for the optimal development of children and families

Family Resource Network– Offers programs and services that help parents do their best possible job while offering unique learning and growth opportunities for kids, teens and adults alike

FEMA – Designed to educate Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters

HCA – A non-profit organization that provides programs and services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families

Healthy Families New York – services include helping families access community resources and services, educating families on parenting and child development, connecting families with medical providers, and assessing children for developmental delays

Institute for Child Development – To help excel children in our community challenged by developmental and learning disorders

Mom’s House – Celebrating Life and Empowering Parents Through Education and Child Care

OPWDD – Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

Greater Opportunities  – Assists individuals and families with services that include emergency assistance, advocacy, early education, and safe and affordable housing

Parent-to-Parent of NYS – Addressing special health care needs in the IEP

RISE – Assists families who experience or are threatened with domestic violence

Rural Health Network – The health and well-being of rural people and communities of South-Central New York

Social Security Administration – Application and eligibility information

Women, Infants and Children – Health assessments, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and counseling, as well as referrals and vouchers for healthy foods to pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants and children up to age five

YMCA – Programs for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility

YWCA – Services for women, including housing, cancer screening, childcare and clothing for job interviews

Broome County Health Department nurses no longer make home visits to families of newborn babies. However, we do call the family of every new baby born in Broome County. If you get a call from us, we are just checking in to make sure you have everything you need and to answer questions you might have about your baby.

We realize this may be very overwhelming, take a deep breath and call us. We can help send you in the right direction to the next steps that will help both you and your child.
Please call us at 607-778-2851 for more information.

Use the NYSDOH link below for more information.

https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/3059

Here are some helpful links:

The Early Intervention Program, A Parent’s Guide

https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0532/index.htm

NYSDOH EIP  

https://www.health.ny.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention

NY Connects: Early Intervention & Child Find 

https://www.nyconnects.ny.gov/services/early-intervention-and-child-fin…

Qualifications
1.Your child is under three years old AND has a disability or developmental delay. Disability means that a child has a diagnosed physical or mental condition that often leads to problems in development. (Such as Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, vision, or hearing impairment)
2.You and your child must be residents of Broome County to participate in this program

Learn the Signs. Act Early. Check out the CDC’s Developmental Milestones webpage.