Babies Can't Wait

“All infants and children should be screened for developmental delays”
– American Association of Pediatrics Policy Statement

What is Babies Can't Wait?

Babies Can’t Wait 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. Babies Can’t Wait, which is administered by the Department of Human
Resources, Division of Public Health, has served Georgia’s children since 1987.

Northwest Georgia Health Watch - Babies Can't Wait Seventeen percent of US children have developmental disabilities, and many more experience delays in language or cognition, which have a significant impact school readiness. Less than 50% of these children are identified as having a problem before starting school, by which time significant delays may have occurred and opportunities for intervention have been missed.

Babies Can’t Wait needs to work closely with physicians and health care providers to identify these children during infancy so that children and their families may receive the supports they need.

Why Early Identification and Support?

The brain develops most rapidly during our 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. A significant body of clinical research, conducted in the past ten years, identifies the enormous benefits of intervention services provided to a child during these formative years.

Northwest Georgia Health Watch - Babies Can't Wait

How Babies Can't Wait
Can Help!

Time constraints, staff shortages and lack of funding can make following
up on early signs of delays or disabilities difficult for doctors, but the biggest barrier to healthy child development is the ever-closing window of opportunity for successful intervention in children under three.

It is vital that infants and toddlers be connected to intervention services when they are at their most receptive. Babies Can’t Wait can help.

Babies Can’t Wait provides developmental evaluation, at no cost to the families, to determine whether children are eligible for the program due to developmental delays or disabilities.

For children who are eligible,Babies Can’t Wait works with the family to develop an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) that outlines desired child/family outcomes. The BCW program also provides service
coordination to each eligible child and family, ensuring coordination of efforts and linking families with necessary resources and supports in their community.

WHEN SHOULD A REFERRAL BE MADE?

The best time to refer is at the earliest sign of a delay. We all know that children develop at different rates, but a “wait and see” approach progressively limits the benefits a child receives from later intervention supports, as developmental obstacles tend to increase in complexity and are harder to manage effectively as the child grows.

What Services Can BABIES CAN ’T WAIT
Provide for You and Your Families?

Evaluation of children’s development in the cognitive, socio-emotional, physical, adaptive/self-help and communication areas and identification of child/family strengths and needs.
FSP development and monitoring, working with families to develop individual outcomes which promote children’s development and participation, as well as the supports needed to achieve those outcomes.
A highly skilled staff of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Early Childhood Educators, Speech and Language Pathologists, Nutritionist, Social Workers and others to help families and caregivers to, in turn, support their children’s development and participation within typical family routines and activities.
Individualized, comprehensive service coordination, monitoring changes to the IFSP, coordinating supports, and connecting families with resources and referrals in the community that meet family needs and benefit the child’s development.

Developmental Milestones

Signs to look for at each stage of your baby’s
early growth and development.

Remember, babies grow and learn at their own speed.
If you have concerns about your child’s development, he or she may need some extra help.

It is important to get help early because babies learn the most in the first three year of life.

Does Your Baby…?

(by months)


Turn head toward lights and bright colors Follow moving object with eyes Respond to loud sounds Wiggle and kick legs and arms Smile Make sounds Lift his/her head while on stomach Reach for toys and pick them up Move toys from one hand to the other Roll over (both ways) Play with feet Babble Help hold bottle while feeding	Sit up with back straight Say “mama” and “dada” Pick up things with fingers Crawl and try to stand up	Pull self to standing position Crawl on hands and knees Drink from a cup Wave “bye-bye” Play peek-a-boo and patty cake Say 1 or 2 words


Pull off his/her shoes and mittens Feed self some Walk without help Like to look around Use 8-10 words that are understood Turn pages in a book	Use sentences Say names of toys Run Point to eyes and nose Play alone Stack blocks Take clothes off	Walk up steps Know own name Wash hands Play with other children Use toilet Hop on one foot Use 3-5 word sentences Open door Name colors