Babies Can’t Wait

Jan 12, 2024

In 1990 congress enacted ‘Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)’ to: 1) provide appropriate education for children with disabilities and, 2) to seek out and treat children with disabilities within school districts. Babies Can’t Wait is Georgia’s program for seeking out and treating children with disabilities.

What is Babies Can’t Wait (BCW)?

In 1990 congress enacted ‘Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)’ to: 1) provide appropriate education for children with disabilities and, 2) to seek out and treat children with disabilities within school districts. To achieve the second goal, the state of Georgia created BCW. BCW seeks out children who may have disabilities, screens them, and helps arrange testing and treatment for them.

Children are eligible for BCW if they fall into one of two categories. Children in Category 1 include those who have been diagnosed with a condition that is known to cause developmental delays, such as blindness, Down Syndrome, autism, or spina bifida (among other things). Children in Category 2 are those who have developmental delays that have been confirmed by a qualified team of professionals. If you think your child may fall into Category 1 or Category 2, you can request a screening through BCW by filling out a ‘Children 1^st Screening and Referral Form.’ (Please see the ‘How do you make a referral to Babies Can’t Wait?’ section below). Notably, this program serves children regardless of income; state funds are available for those who are deemed by the local BCW program as eligible for assistance.

A referral should be made to BCW if you suspect you child has a developmental delay. DO NOT take a “wait and see” approach to having your child tested because this will limit the benefits that a child will receive from early intervention treatments. The older the child gets, the more difficult and complex it becomes to overcome developmental obstacles.

To help you determine if your child has a developmental delay, the CDC offers a free Milestone Tracker App and digital checklists where you can track your child’s social, emotional, and physical development. Major milestones can be evaluated at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 30 months, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years.

What services are offered through BCW?

Babies Can’t Wait offers several services at no cost to families, including:

An initial evaluation of the child to determine if they are eligible to receive BCW services and which BCW services would be best for the child.
Creating a treatment plan for the child (determining which services and interventions would be most beneficial and creating a formal plan).

BCW offers additional services on a sliding fee scale. Importantly, no one will be denied the necessary services if they are unable to pay. It may also be possible to bill Medicaid or other insurance(s). These services may include:

Family training and counseling
Home visits
Occupational and physical therapy
Psychological services
Speech-language therapy
Service coordination (This is an ongoing process that ensures that families have the ability to access the services necessary to support their child.)
Special instruction
Behavioral intervention

How do you make a referral to Babies Can’t Wait?

There are many ways to make a referral to BCW. It is important to note that parents / caregivers can make referrals – you do not need a doctor to make the referral. Start by identifying the BCW program in your county by following this link.

After clicking the link above, enter your zip code found on the left side of the tan box.
Next, select the first option “Babies Can’t Wait (Early Intervention Program).”
Press the button labeled “Search for Locations.”
Examine all options and determine which location is most convenient for you.

Here is an example of what your research results will look like. Please contact the office closest to you. Referrals can be made by phone, email, fax, letter, or in person.

If you choose to submit a copy of the form rather than making the referral over the phone, here is a copy of the Referral Form (here is the fillable version). The form asks for identifying information and various health conditions. There is also a step-by-step guide listed on the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website that describes what each category is asking.

What happens after the referral is made?

After the referral is made, you will be connected with a service coordinator (SC) who will assist you in understanding your rights under the program.
The SC will contact the parents to get consent to evaluate the child and arrange for various evaluation therapies.
The evaluation will then be conducted; the location may vary but will likely take place in the child’s home, child care center, or an environment where the child feels comfortable.
After the evaluation, a team of specialists such as therapists, special instructors, and SCs will discuss what the best services are for the child.
The SC will then coordinate create an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) with the family. An IFSP is a written plan that outlines what a child’s needs are and how they will be addressed. The IFSP must be completed within 45 days of the referral, once the child is deemed eligible and the parents have approved it. The parents may delay this process if more time is necessary to discuss the IFSP. The IFSP must be reviewed every six months after the initial plan is signed off on by the parents and the BCW team.

Article by: Nicole Steel and The Autism ToolKit