Easter Seals North Georgia
Babies Can't Wait

BABIES CAN'T WAIT (BCW) is Georgia's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. It is a federally mandated program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides a framework for coordinating developmental, educational, and community supports within natural environments for children under three and their families.

EASTER SEALS NORTH GEORGIA (ESNG) oversees the Babies Can't Wait program for Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton counties.

BCW provides developmental evaluation, at no cost to the families, to determine whether children are eligible for the program due to developmental delays or disabilities.

ELIGIBILITY:
Children ages 0-36 months with developmental delays, developmental disabilities, and/or certain diagnosed disabling conditions that have a high probability of resulting in delays are eligible to receive early intervention services.

EARLY INTERVENTION AND REFERRALS:
The best time to refer is at the earliest sign of a delay. The brain develops most rapidly during the first three years of life, providing a brief window of opportunity to detect developmental delays in children and address them before they become barriers to healthy development.

Anyone can make a referral to BCW, including but not limited to social workers, physicians, parents, childcare providers, teachers, and other pediatric clinicians.

To make a referral for Babies Can't Wait, call Children 1st: 770.339.5048.

To download a copy of the Easter Seals North Georgia Babies Can't Wait brochure, click here.

Easter Seals North Georgia
Babies Can't Wait Office
4799 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite K

Lawrenceville, GA  30044
770.822.9115 | Fax: 770.822.9457

DHR Invites Public Comment on Babies Can't Wait Early Intervention Grant Application

 (Atlanta, GA - 03.25.09) - The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Public Health (DPH) invites the public to participate in a 60-day review period of Babies Can't Wait (BCW), a statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. DHR has developed a new federal grant application for Babies Can't Wait that will be effective July 1, pending approval. The review period is scheduled to run from March 20 to May 20. Those who are interested may view the grant application online (http://health.state.ga.us/) or at Babies Can't Wait offices throughout the state.

The public can provide feedback from March 20 to April 21 in three ways:

1. Written comments should be mailed to:
Babies Can't Wait
Attn: Phyllis Turner. Acting Part C Coordinator
2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 11-203
Atlanta, GA  30303-3186

2. Email comments should be sent to:
Phyllis Turner at: pturner@dhr.state.ga.us

3. Facsimile comments:
State BCW Office Fax: 404-657-2763

More information about Georgia's BCW early intervention program is available at http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bcw. A list of BCW early intervention programs throughout the state where the grant may be reviewed is available at: http://www.health.state.ga.us/pdfs/familyhealth/csncoordinator.pdf.