Resources

Connecting to Services and Supports

Is your child reaching their milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move? Would your child benefit from support like feeding help, speech, physical, or occupational therapy, and more?

If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you are not alone. This page offers trusted resources to help you understand your child’s developmental needs. You can also find out if they may qualify for support services.

Children Birth to Age 3: Early Support for Families

Early Support for Infants & Toddlers (ESIT)

Early support services are designed for children birth to age 3 with development delays or disabilities. These services help children be active and successful during their early childhood years and into the future. Supports encourage children to participate in everyday learning activities in a variety of natural settings—their homes, early childhood care providers, preschool or school programs, and in their communities.

Want to get connected?

  • Step 1: Use the ESIT Statewide Directory to find your service provider based on your county and school district.
  • Step 2: Call and request a free referral and comprehensive evaluation.
  • For help contacting ESIT, call the Help Me Grow WA Hotline: 1-800-322-2588 (Toll Free) or visit helpmegrowwa.org. Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more languages.

For more information and support see the PAVE Birth – 3 Toolkit or see Informing Families Ages 0-3: Overview.

Children and Young Adults Aged 3 to 21: Special Education Services

If your child is between 3 and 21 years old and you have concerns about their learning or development, they may qualify for special education services through their local school district.

Special education in Washington is overseen by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Special Instruction (OSPI).

Children Aged 4 and Older: Developmental Disability Services

Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA): In Washington, children aged 4 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families can receive long-term services and support.

  • How to Enroll in DDA
    • Step 1: Apply for DDA Enrollment. Applying for DDA Enrollment is the first step toward requesting services.
    • Step 2: Submit Application.
    • Step 3: Receive Determination of Eligibility.
    • Step 4: Request Services. You can ask for services at any time after you are enrolled in DDA.
  • More Support

Social Emotional Support

Do you have questions about your child’s behavior? Would you like to discuss them with another caring adult?

Are you interested in learning new strategies to connect with your child?

Understanding your child’s emotional needs and your own can be overwhelming. The resources below can help you take the first steps in seeking support for your child, yourself, and your family.

  • Akin
    Akin believes in a world where all families flourish, nurtured by the strength of community and building a brighter future together, rooted in family. A statewide organization supporting the whole family, from prenatal through parenting. Akin offers a multitude of programs to advance child and family well-being, strengthen caregiver-child relationships, and develop a skilled workforce for child and family support. Akin was created in 2024 by merging Childhaven & Children’s Home Society of Washington.
  • Washington’s Mental Health Referral Services for Children and Teens (Seattle Children’s)
    Get matched with mental health providers in your community who work with your insurance and are currently accepting new patients. This free, telephone-based referral service is available for families and teens living in Washington state.

Parents and Guardians

The resources below include accessible child care that fits your family’s needs. You can also find links to programs that support early learning and development.

  • Child Care Aware of Washington for Families
    • Connections for families to quality child care, early learning programs, and other local and community resources across Washington.
    • Search for child care providers by location, type, and special needs accommodation. Use the CCA online child care search tool.
    • Need help? Talk with a child care expert at 1-800-446-1114. Services are available in multiple languages.
  • Help Me Grow Washington (Within Reach)
    • Find free developmental screening, parenting support, and local resources for children under 5. Other services:
    • Help understand developmental screening results and what to do next.
    • Referrals to services near you like parenting classes, infant and toddler supplies, and medical clinics.
    • Specialist connections for additional support.
    • Connections to food assistance and free or low-cost health insurance.
    • Visit Help Me Grow Washington Resource Finder or call 1-800-322-2588 to speak with a Family Resource Navigator. Services are available in multiple languages.
  • Learn the Signs, Act Early (Centers for Disease Control)
    From birth to age 5, children reach important milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move. The CDC’s Learn the Signs, Act Early can help you track your child’s development and know when to ask for help.
  • Parent to Parent Support Network (The Arc Washington)
    Parent to Parent offers emotional and practical support for families and caregivers of children with intellectual and developmental delays and disabilities and other special health care needs. Find peer support, parent groups and training on different topics, and inclusive, sensory-friendly social events. Get started here.
  • Vroom (Washington Communities for Children/Bezos Family Foundation)
    Science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments.

Resources for Fathers

  • Washington State Fathers Network
    A statewide group by dads, for dads of children with developmental delays, special health care needs, and disabilities. Offers peer support in a way that doesn’t feel like a support group. Check out their fun, family-centered events.
  • Washington Fatherhood Council
    A group of dads, community-based organizations, and state partners, dedicated to building a better system of support for fathers and the whole child. The group hosts fatherhood community cafes, a provider learning series, an annual summit, and a father-friendly resource map on their website.

All Providers

  • Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University)
    The Center applies the power of science to improve health outcomes for young children facing adversity. Offering tools and collaborative learning opportunities to increase understanding and support healthy development during pregnancy and the earliest years.
  • Development is a Journey Conversation Roadmap (Brazelton Touchpoints Center)
    Helps providers have supportive conversations with parents and caregivers about their child’s developmental needs using 7 short and simple steps.
  • Meet Little Monster (National Alliance on Mental Illness Washington – NAMI WA)
    A downloadable coloring book from NAMI Washington designed to facilitate the conversation about mental and emotional health with children and their parents and caretakers. Available in multiple languages.
  • Washington Communities for Family and Children (WCFC)
    A statewide network that brings together coalitions, organizations, and individuals to improve child and family well-being. Members have experience with developmental screening and support, and work to strengthen families’ access to child development resources. WCFC offers a space for early childhood partners across the state to connect and learn from each other. Meet the WCFC Statewide Networks to connect with and learn from early childhood partners.
  • WA INCLUDE Collaborative
    INCLUDE (Interdisciplinary Network of Community Leaders with a focus on the Underserved and Disability Education) focuses on the intersection of developmental disability, mental health, and physical health in order to improve the quality of life for people and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related presentations. Register for the Washington INCLUDE Collaborative to access free trainings, resources and community events. Trainings cover topics such as autism Center of Excellence, Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), IDD resources and navigation.

Health Care Providers

  • Bright Futures (American Academy of Pediatrics)
    Provides evidence-based guidance for well-child visits, preventive care screenings, and health supervision visits. Bright Futures content can be incorporated into other public health programs like home visiting, childcare, school-based health clinics. Find tailored materials for both providers and families.
  • Neurodevelopmental Centers of Excellence of Washington (WA State Department of Health)
    Community non-profit and hospital-based agencies that provide therapy and related services to young children with neuromuscular or developmental disorders. Services include speech, occupational and physical therapies, nursing, and nutrition. Located across the state.
  • Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
    A non-profit organization with a long history of advocating for Washington’s children, adolescents, families, and all who care for them.
  • Washington State Medical Home Partnerships Project
    Supports providers, schools, family organizations, and communities to improve systems of care for children and youth, particularly those with Intellectual and Developmental Delays and disabilities including autism, and their families. Also provide support to School and Medical Autism Review Teams (SMART) and community partnerships across Washington.

Early Care and Education Providers

  • Child Care Aware of Washington for Providers
    Offers support for child care providers through early learning resources and connections with community resources. Services and resources include:
    • Mental Health consultation to child care providers and the families they serve. Learn about Holding Hope consultation.
    • Supports for the ASQ screening implementation for child care providers and caregivers.
    • Training and coaching supports for on-going child assessment practices for child care providers.
    • Help for families experiencing homelessness, needing help paying for child care, and seeking care options to meet a child’s or family’s specific needs.
    • Professional development, coaching for quality improvement, business support, and advocacy resources.
  • Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
    Helps early support services (Part C) and preschool special education programs (Part B) and practitioners. ECTA assists states and local systems develop and implement effective, sustainable, and equitable services and support for children with disabilities and their families.
  • Vroom (Washington Communities for Children/Bezos Family Foundation)
    Helps turn early brain development research into meaningful, actionable activities for families with children ages 0 to 5. Use Vroom to build better relationships with families.
  • Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
    Free, 1-hour, online training with tools and tips for tracking development of children and talking about it with their parents. Also available in Spanish.

Advocating for your Child

  • The Arc of Washington State
    Advocates for the rights and full participation of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Disability Rights Washington
    A non-profit organization that protects the rights of people with disabilities statewide.
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (U.S Department of Education)
    A federal law that makes available free special education to eligible children with disabilities from birth through high school.
  • Informing Families
    Trusted information to individuals and families that empowers them to be active participants in planning and building a network of support and opportunities. Informing Families is a resource provided by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, in partnership with the Developmental Disabilities Administration.
  • Parent Institute for Engagement (PIE) (Department of Children, Youth, and Families)
    A 12-month training program for families who have received/are receiving early intervention services through Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT). They help build skills so participants can become better leaders, advocates, public speakers, and active members in Washington.
  • PAVE
    PAVE (Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment) provides support, training, information, and resources to empower and give voice to individuals, youth and families impacted by disabilities in Washington.

Developmental Screenings in Strong Start

Additional Birth to 5 Screenings

Related WA State Department of Health Programs

Contact Us

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