{"id":13573,"date":"2024-03-04T08:43:44","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T13:43:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/?page_id=13573"},"modified":"2026-07-30T12:42:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:42:48","slug":"early-intervention-certificate","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/academics\/early-intervention-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Early Intervention Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Early Intervention?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early Intervention (EI) is a program designed to help families support the growth and development of their children, from birth until age 3, who have a developmental delay or a diagnosed medical condition known to cause developmental delay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Developmental delays can affect many areas of a child\u2019s growth, including cognitive, communication, physical, and social-emotional development. Children referred to Early Intervention receive a comprehensive developmental evaluation to determine their eligibility for services. The goal of Early Intervention is to partner with families by providing the support and resources they need to help their child reach their fullest potential. Services are provided in the child\u2019s natural environment, such as the home or other places where the child typically spends their day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1267\/EI-Cert.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1267\/EI-Cert.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1267\/EI-Cert-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1267\/EI-Cert-364x243.jpg 364w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Certificate Description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Early Intervention Certificate prepares undergraduate students for rewarding careers supporting infants and toddlers (birth to age three) with developmental delays or disabilities, or those at risk for developmental challenges, and their families. Students develop the knowledge and practical skills to partner with families and collaborate with interdisciplinary professionals to promote children\u2019s learning, development, and participation in everyday routines and activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to strengthening career readiness, the certificate offers an accelerated pathway to advancement. Upon successful completion of the certificate and 1,000 hours of supervised work experience, graduates are eligible for promotion to a Level 2 Interventionist, eliminating the traditional two-year waiting period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Required Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Early Intervention Certificate consists of four 3 credit courses for a total of 12 credits. It is also&nbsp;<em>recommended<\/em>&nbsp;that students in the certificate program obtain an internship in EI or a related program so that students can receive hands-on experience with children aged birth-five. The&nbsp;<em>optional<\/em>&nbsp;internship provides the opportunity for students to apply and reflect on their skills and knowledge in an Early Intervention or other early childhood setting. Any internship hours completed in EI will count toward the 1000-hours needed to become a Level 2 Interventionist in Rhode Island.&nbsp; This Early Intervention Certificate is unique to Rhode Island and is not directly transferable to other states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students at URI do not need to complete a 1000-hour internship to receive the certificate. To receive the certificate, students must only apply for the certificate and successfully complete the four required courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>HDF 306 \u2013 Infant and Toddler Development &#8211; Offered in the Fall and Spring semesters<br><\/strong>As the infant and young child are embedded within individual, social, and cultural systems which can include family, childcare, community, and societal systems, students in this class will examine how each of these systems is acted upon and how they act upon the other(s). Concepts from theory and research will be integrated with practice through lectures, discussions, videos, out-of-class and in-class assignments, and child observations. Contexts of development including the family and community will be explored through a cultural lens.&nbsp;<br><em>Students should be aware that a prerequisite of HDF 306 is HDF 200 (Lifespan Development I) or permission of the instructor.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HDF 340 \u2013 Introduction to Early Intervention &#8211; Offered in the Fall semester only<br><\/strong>This course provides an orientation to Early Intervention (EI), a program that provides services to children ages birth to three who have developmental delays. Best practices utilizing a family-centered approach are emphasized. A range of disabilities and vulnerabilities from birth to three are examined. Emphasis is placed upon methods and criteria for early identification and the provision of services from referral to discharge in Early Intervention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HDF 341 \u2013 Early Intervention Services Planning &#8211; Offered in the Spring semester only<br><\/strong>A systematic, family-centered, team approach to service delivery is emphasized. Cases are used as focal points for learning how to plan and evaluate individualized family service plans (IFSPs). Emphasis is on developing and embedding learning opportunities in everyday routines, relationships, activities, and places of the families in early intervention. Teamwork and leadership in early intervention are covered with respect to service coordination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HDF 343 \u2013 Screening and Assessment in Early Intervention &#8211; Offered in the Spring semester only<br><\/strong>Interdisciplinary child and family assessment procedures and development of Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs) are covered. Collaborating with families on goals and services, and developing responsive and meaningful outcomes for children birth to three and families in Early Intervention are emphasized.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you get the certification?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Easy! Anyone, regardless of your major at URI, can take the HDF courses that make up the certification.&nbsp;However, to receive the EI Certificate, students are required to apply <strong><u>prior to completing two out of the four mandatory courses<\/u><\/strong>.&nbsp;Failure to submit the application before reaching 40% completion of the required courses will result in the rejection of the certificate application by the Registrar\u2019s office. Although students can still enroll in and complete all necessary courses for the certificate, they will not receive the formal certificate at graduation, nor will it be acknowledged on their transcripts if the application is not completed before the student has completed two of the required courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To prevent this, students are strongly advised to submit the application before finishing two of the four required courses, even if they are uncertain about completing the entire certificate program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upon completion of the <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1267\/EICert_Application_Fillable_Mar2025.pdf\">application<\/a>, students must obtain the electronic signature of <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/meet\/casey-mcgregor\/\">Dr. Casey McGregor<\/a>, the certificate director. Please fill out the application, save it as a PDF, and email it directly to Dr. McGregor for her signature.  After receiving the signed form back from Dr. McGregor, students are then required to either take the form to the College of Health Sciences Dean&#8217;s Office (101 Quinn) or email it to <a href=\"mailto:chs-group@uri.edu\">chs-group@uri.edu<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The application to the EI Certificate can be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1267\/EICert_Application_Fillable_Mar2025.pdf\">Download Application<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EARLY INTERVENTION FAQ\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>How does a child qualify for Early Intervention (EI) services?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a number of ways a child can be eligible for EI services. Some children are eligible because they have a diagnosed condition known to result in developmental delay. For example, a child with Down Syndrome or a child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing is automatically eligible for EI. Other children are eligible if they show a delay within a specific range, based on a standardized tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Why is Early Intervention important?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early Intervention can change a child\u2019s developmental trajectory. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a baby&#8217;s brain develops neural connections faster in the first three years of life than at any other time. Acting early takes advantage of this &#8220;neuroplasticity&#8221; to maximize developmental potential, improve lifelong outcomes, and prevent secondary challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>&nbsp;What is an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An IFSP is a written plan developed for each child receiving Early Intervention services. It outlines the child\u2019s needs, the services to be provided, and specific goals for the child\u2019s development. It also includes a plan for involving the family in the intervention process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>What kinds of services are provided through Early Intervention?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, requires all states to provide an array of services to support infants, toddlers and their families. EI services are provided by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Occupational Therapists (OTs),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical Therapists (PTs),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educators,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nurses,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nutritionists and others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Services are provided based on the goals and priorities of the family.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>How can children be referred to Early Intervention services?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyone can refer a child to EI services! In fact, many children who receive EI services are referred by a parent or grandparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Where do Early Intervention services take place?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EI services happen in places where the child spends the majority of their time. For example, if a child spends most days at their grandparents\u2019 home, EI services can take place there. It is also not uncommon for EI services to take place in a childcare community setting.<a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For questions, please consult your advisor or reach out to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/meet\/casey-mcgregor\/\">Dr. Casey McGregor.<\/a><a href=\"#_msocom_1\">[LB1]<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<a href=\"#_msoanchor_1\">[LB1]<\/a>these questions were all answered above<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Early Intervention? Early Intervention (EI) is a program designed to help families support the growth and development of their children, from birth until age 3, who have a developmental delay or a diagnosed medical condition known to cause developmental delay. Developmental delays can affect many areas of a child\u2019s growth, including cognitive, communication, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2097,"featured_media":0,"parent":3613,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-13573","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2097"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13573"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14508,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13573\/revisions\/14508"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/human-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}