Early Intervention (EI) provides services and supports to help families with children who have disabilities or developmental delays. Children from birth to three years of age with a significant delay in one or more areas of development, a physical disability, a hearing or vision loss, or a known condition which has a high probability for developmental delay, are eligible for services. Depending on need, services include special instruction for language, motor, cognitive, self help, social developmental; physical, occupational, speech, vision and hearing therapies; nutrition services; social work; and family training. Services are provided in the child's natural environment (the child's home, child care center, playground, grandparent's house, etc.)
Children with an open case with Children and Youth Services and who are at risk of developing a delay are served through the Right from the Start (RFTS) program. Services offered by the program include home visits by a Child Development Teacher with an evaluation of the child's development. Additionally, parents receive information about child development, child care, nutrition and, as needed, in-home parenting classes and referrals to other appropriate services.
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a program to promote healthy development of young children birth to three years of age. Services offered by the program include home visits by a certified Parent Educator with an evaluation of the child's development. Parents receive information about child development, child care, parent and nutrition and, as necessary, referrals to other appropriate community services. Parent educators support and encourage parents to help their children develop to their full potential.
Parent Child Home Program (PCHP) is an early literacy program open to two and three-year-olds living in Cambria County. The program is a home-based, school readiness program designed to strengthen verbal interaction and educational play between parents and their preschool children. Parents are assisted in engaging their children to learn through books and toys. Parents receive information about child development, child care, parenting, nutrition and, as necessary, referrals to other appropriate agencies. Children receive a free collection of educational books, toys and games for the child to keep.
Parent and Child Together (PACT) is a program designed to give toddlers the opportunity to freely move and explore in a safe, challenging and nurturing environment. In play group, toddlers learn to make choices, make new friends and learn to take turns. They create with paint, play dough, glue, blocks, music and other fun stuff. They learn simple routines and rules of play. They gain independence in taking care of themselves (washing hands before snack and putting toys away). They grow, play and have fun. Play groups are held in Johnstown and Ebensburg. All families of two-year-olds enrolled in programs offered by Beginnings are eligible to participate in PACT. In Ebensburg, PACT is held at a community site and families pay $10 per semester to the facility.
The Cambria County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Beginnings program advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children by recruiting, screening, training and supervising community volunteers. CASA volunteers gather information, report to the court and work with the child welfare system to assure that the children's needs are being met and to ensure timely placement in safe, permanent, nurturing homes. CASA training is scheduled twice a year. It is also possible to complete this training through independent study.
In addition to the above programs, Beginnings, Inc. has the following available for families: a Toy Lending Library, an Equipment Lending Library and a Parent Book Lending Library.
