Florida Department of Health, Division of Children’s Medical Services
Early Steps Early Intervention · About this organization
What you get
Free developmental screening, evaluation, therapy, assistive technology, family coaching, and home visits.
How to start
Call 1-800-218-0001 or use the referral portal. The local team arranges evaluation and a plan with your family.
Good to know
- Cancer alone does not automatically meet the program's developmental rules.
The details, as published
Early Steps provides no-cost developmental screening, evaluation, service coordination, individualized family plans, therapy, assistive technology, family coaching, home visits, and transition planning for Florida children birth through 36 months who have a qualifying diagnosed condition, developmental risk condition, or measured delay. Anyone may refer through the live portal; cancer alone is not listed as automatic eligibility and the Extended Option beyond age three remains contingent rather than confirmed active.
What help you may get
Medical And Insurance Costs
Early Steps Early Intervention — medical and insurance costs
Early Steps provides no-cost developmental screening, evaluation, service coordination, individualized family plans, therapy, assistive technology, family coaching, home visits, and transition planning for Florida children birth through 36 months who have a qualifying diagnosed condition, developmental risk condition, or measured delay. Anyone may refer through the live portal; cancer alone is not listed as automatic eligibility and the Extended Option beyond age three remains contingent rather than confirmed active.
Amount not published
Navigation Guides And Advocacy
Early Steps Early Intervention — navigation guides and advocacy
Early Steps provides no-cost developmental screening, evaluation, service coordination, individualized family plans, therapy, assistive technology, family coaching, home visits, and transition planning for Florida children birth through 36 months who have a qualifying diagnosed condition, developmental risk condition, or measured delay. Anyone may refer through the live portal; cancer alone is not listed as automatic eligibility and the Extended Option beyond age three remains contingent rather than confirmed active.
Amount not published
Peer And Emotional Support
Early Steps Early Intervention — peer and emotional support
Early Steps provides no-cost developmental screening, evaluation, service coordination, individualized family plans, therapy, assistive technology, family coaching, home visits, and transition planning for Florida children birth through 36 months who have a qualifying diagnosed condition, developmental risk condition, or measured delay. Anyone may refer through the live portal; cancer alone is not listed as automatic eligibility and the Extended Option beyond age three remains contingent rather than confirmed active.
Amount not published
School And Learning
Early Steps Early Intervention — school and learning
Early Steps provides no-cost developmental screening, evaluation, service coordination, individualized family plans, therapy, assistive technology, family coaching, home visits, and transition planning for Florida children birth through 36 months who have a qualifying diagnosed condition, developmental risk condition, or measured delay. Anyone may refer through the live portal; cancer alone is not listed as automatic eligibility and the Extended Option beyond age three remains contingent rather than confirmed active.
Amount not published
Why this may help
Medical And Insurance Costs: Therapy and assistive technology are included alongside developmental assessment and coaching.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. The official program scope includes U.S. children with cancer, which includes pediatric B-ALL when the stated eligibility rules are met.
Age
The program does not publish an age limit.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: FL.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
- Anyone involved with the child may submit a referral or call 1-800-218-0001.
- Local intake target is within five days; evaluation and IFSP within 45 days; services begin within 30 days after IFSP.
Ways to apply or ask
- Hospital Workflow
- Online Portal
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
The program does not publish a document checklist. Ask before gathering paperwork.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
Limitations and things to confirm
No additional limitations are published.
- Does cancer or treatment complication qualify automatically, and has the Extended Option received funding and approval?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Early Steps Early Intervention · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Early Steps Early Intervention · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Early Steps Early Intervention · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Early Steps Early Intervention · checked Aug 24, 2026