Strong Start provides free early intervention services and supports for eligible children birth to 3 and their families who are District residents. Eligibility is based on an evaluation of the child’s developmental needs conducted by an early intervention specialist.

Families who are found eligible receive early intervention services and supports at no cost, regardless of their income, insurance, legal or employment status.

How to Submit a Referral
Child care providers and early childhood educators play an important role in supporting and observing young children’s development and identifying when children need additional support. Child care providers with questions or concerns about a child younger than the age of 3 should submit a referral to Strong Start. Child care providers also play an important role in sharing information about Strong Start and other services with families and supporting families who have concerns about a child’s development to submit referrals.

Visit eip.osse.dc.gov or call (202) 727-3665 to submit a referral.

Strong Start Services
Strong Start services are conducted in the child’s natural learning environment. This means services may be conducted at the child’s home, a child development facility where the child is enrolled or other community-based settings such as the library. Families choose which setting they would like children to receive services in. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE’s) child development facility licensing regulations require child development facilities to provide access to Strong Start early interventionists delivering services included in a child’s individualized family service plan (IFSP). More information on Strong Start policies is available here.

Early Intervention Trainings for Providers
Strong Start offers trainings and workshops for child development facilities, early educators and other staff on topics related to child development and early intervention including the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), developmental milestones and inclusive practices. For more information on available trainings or to schedule a training or workshop, contact Christopher Chapman, State Part C special assistant, at [email protected].

Help Spread the Word About Strong Start
Families often look to child care providers for information on early learning and development. Providers can help spread the word about Strong Start and connect families to resources by sharing the electronic and print materials below. Additional information and resources for families can be found here.

• Developmental Milestones: English | Español
• Families Have Rights Booklet: Available in multiple languages
• Strong Start Roadmap: English | Español
• Strong Start Brochure: English | Español
• Strong Start Trainings and Workshops: English | Español
• The Natural Learning Environment Practices (NLEP) Framework: English | Español
• The Primary Service Provider (PSP) Approach to Teaming: English | Español

Related Content:

Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program (DC EIP)
Early Learning
Early Childhood Transition