| Title: |
Closing Developmental Gaps: Effectiveness of Community-Based Early Intervention for Young Children with Developmental Delays |
| Authors: |
Melissa Gonzalez; Morgan D. Darabi; Paris Rayneri; Elana Mansoor; Rachel Spector; Ruby Natale |
| Source: |
Children ; Volume 13 ; Issue 4 ; Pages: 459 |
| Publisher Information: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
MDPI Open Access Publishing |
| Subject Terms: |
early intervention; mild developmental delays; community-based programs; developmental outcomes; underserved populations; preschool-aged children |
| Description: |
Background/Objectives: Early intervention is associated with improved outcomes for young children with developmental delays, yet many with mild delays are ineligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Early Discovery (ED) Program addressed this gap by providing short-term, targeted intervention for children ages 0–5 who did not qualify for publicly funded services. This study evaluated program outcomes across intervention types. Methods: During 2024–2025, 342 families completed the ED Program, receiving one of the following: speech-language (68%), general developmental (12%), occupational (14%), or behavioral (6%) intervention across 8–20 sessions. Eligibility required Miami-Dade residency and ineligibility for IDEA-funded services. Standardized pre- and post-intervention assessments were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and group comparisons. Results: Most households reported incomes |
| Document Type: |
text |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
Pediatric Mental Health; https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children13040459 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/children13040459 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.3390/children13040459 |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.FD159955 |
| Database: |
BASE |