| Children's Development Services Agencies (CDSAs) |
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What is Early Intervention?
Early
intervention is a term that often is used to describe specific agencies, programs,
services, and resources. In North Carolina, early intervention refers to the
system of services provided by many different agencies and programs for children
birth to five and their families.
This comprehensive, interagency system is
called Together We Grow. There are two parts of Together We Grow - the Infant-Toddler
Program for children birth to three and the Preschool
Program for children ages three to five. The North Carolina Interagency
Coordinating Council is an advisory group to both programs, and focuses on the
birth to five age range.
The early intervention system of services is provided under federal law, the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA). Part C of the IDEA provides the federal mandate for services
for young children with special needs, aged birth to three years. Part B of
the IDEA provides the federal mandate for students with special needs, aged
3-21 years.
North
Carolina 
Division of Public Health