Early Intervention

The Seven Hills Rhode Island (SHRI) statewide Early Intervention (EI) program provides services and supports to families who have children, birth through three years of age, who are currently—or at risk of—experiencing developmental delays. During this crucial stage of growth and development, our team of professionals provides services to children where they learn best—at home and in community settings. For children, 28 months and older, our team works in partnership with the Local Education Agencies and the families, to transition eligible children to services provided through the local school district. While services are primarily provided in the child’s home, we also provide center- and community-based services for infants and toddlers which include the following groups:

Speech-Language Social GroupThis center-based group, designed for children with speech delays, fosters the development of language and social skills as well as readiness for preschool. The curriculum was designed by Jane Shaw, SLP, who has more than 25 years of special education preschool classroom experience. The focus is on each child’s individual speech therapy goals, and assists with parent separation, peer interaction, behavioral concerns, and transition to the daycare or preschool setting by age three.

Parent/Child Play GroupToddlers, 18 months and older, learn social skills through play-based activities while parents and caregivers have the opportunity to meet other families and develop parent-to-parent support and friendships. Parents learn how to use play as a teaching tool while having fun with their children.

Food Sense AbilityThis group, led by our Registered Dietician and Speech Language Pathologist, is a parent/child group that focuses on feeding and mealtime by providing parent education and hands-on preparation of snacks incorporating all of the senses—sure to be a bit messy, but lots of fun!

Hop, Skip and JumpThis sensory and movement group encourages children, 18 to 36 months, to learn new skills in a small group setting where activities can be adapted to meet the individual needs of each child. Each group session promotes socialization, communication, imitation and self-regulation through sensory-based play activities.

To learn more about Early Intervention, please visit The Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

We are proud that more than forty percent of our referrals come directly from parents who have heard about SHRI’s Early Intervention program from other parents!

“We can definitely see the positive effects from having the EI professionals working with our daughter. I am not sure if we would have been able to keep our daughter out of a helmet without them. They worked with us early and probably changed our daughter’s life”—a parent.

For information, or to make a referral, please contact Albert J. Vario, M.A., Assistant Vice President – Child and Family Services at 401.775.1500 ext. 9717 or [email protected]

Warwick Office
535 Centerville Road, Warwick, RI 02886