FIT Referrals
Anyone who has a concern about a child’s development can make a referral. This includes parents, guardians, foster parents and family members, professionals such as pediatricians, other physicians, social workers, nurses, home visitors, childcare providers, or others who have contact with the child.
Please see the following links for more details.
When Should I Make a Referral?
It is not necessary to determine a diagnosis or a delay prior to making a referral. Simply the fact that you are concerned about the child’s development is enough to generate a referral. Some situations om which you may make a referral are as follows.
- If you suspect a developmental delay.
If a developmental screening indicates that the child could benefit from a comprehensive developmental evaluation. - If a parent has a concern.
- If you feel the child and family could benefit from a comprehensive developmental evaluation.
- If, as a medical provider, you have identified the child as having a diagnosis that may lead to a developmental delay.
Please see our FIT Diagnostic Codes for Eligibility and Billing to learn more.
How Do I Refer a Child and Family?
Each county and Indian tribe is served by one or more FIT Provider agencies. See FIT Providers list below for a current index of provider agencies.
You can make a referral directly to the local early intervention provider serving your community. If you prefer, you may send a fax referral using our FIT Early Intervention Referral Form to 1-866-829-8838, and they will contact the appropriate provider for you. You can also call the FIT program at 1-877-696-1472.
When you make a referral, you will be asked for basic information about the child (date of birth, family information, name, address, etc.) and the reason for the referral. You should inform and get permission from the family when making a referral. Also, you may encourage the family to call or visit their local early intervention provider themselves.
Please see our FIT Referrals Frequently Asked Questions document to learn more.
What Happens When I Make a Referral?
A service coordinator (case manager) is assigned to the family and will meet with them.
The service coordinator will coordinate evaluation and assessment activities to determine eligibility. The evaluation will look at the child’s abilities in all developmental areas.
If the child is eligible for the FIT program, the family, service coordinator, and members of the evaluation team will meet to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). You may be part of the IFSP team in person, by phone, or by report or letter.
You will receive information as to whether the child and family are eligible for the FIT Program, as well as a copy of the IFSP, so that you will know what supports and services they will receive.
Who Can Refer a Child and Family?
Anyone who has a concern about a child’s development can make a referral. This includes parents, guardians, foster parents and family members, professionals such as pediatricians, other physicians, social workers, nurses, home visitors, childcare providers, or others who have contact with the child.