Riverside Early Intervention provides educational, therapeutic, and supportive services to children from birth to age 3. The children we see have, or are at risk of having, delays in their development. We are a family-centered program that works to empower families to meet their children’s individual needs through education, training, and support.

All members of the Riverside Early Intervention team are certified as Early Intervention specialists by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. We have two early intervention service locations, one in Needham and the other in Somerville. Our team includes:

• Development Specialists
• Social Workers
• Mental Health Clinicians
• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech and Language Pathologists

Who is Eligible to Receive Early Intervention Services?

Parents are encouraged to call the Early Intervention program if they have concerns related to their child’s development. Children may be eligible for services if they:

• Have been diagnosed with a physical, emotional, or cognitive condition that may result in a developmental delay
• Have feeding, vision, or hearing issues
• Are slow to crawl, sit up, walk, or talk
• Exhibit behavior difficulties or difficulty interacting with adults or other children
• Are at risk for delays in development due to certain birth, health, or environmental circumstances in the family

Our Services

Our Early Intervention teams in Needham and Somerville work closely with families to identify each child’s strengths and developmental needs. Together they develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The IFSP includes intervention strategies designed to assist the family in achieving desired developmental outcomes, and describes the services recommended to facilitate the child’s progress.

One staff member is assigned as a service coordinator for each child enrolled in the program. The service coordinator works closely with the family and other caregivers to develop and incorporate recommended strategies into the child and family’s daily routine. The service coordinator or the family may request periodic consultation from other team members. Services are provided in the home, at other community locations – such as child care programs, or at either of our locations in Needham or Cambridge/Somerville and may include:

• Home visits with program professionals
• Parent-Child Groups, Toddler Groups, and Parent Support Groups for families with eligible children
• Consultation and collaboration with other community and medical service providers
• Opportunities for non-eligible children to enroll in program-sponsored groups

Early Intervention Parenting Partnerships

Early Intervention Parenting Partnerships (EIPP) offers home visits and group support for pregnant and postpartum women until the baby turns one. Our team include​s maternal and child health nurses, and mental health and community health professionals. Based on parent need and preference, our services can include emotional support, prenatal education, breastfeeding preparation and support, labor and delivery preparation, newborn care, infant massage, nurturing parent-child relationships, comprehensive health assessments, developmental screening and education, mother-baby groups, connection to concrete services (food, clothing, shelter, toys, legal services), and referrals. Staff speak Spanish and Portuguese; interpreters are available for other languages.

Who Pays for Services?

Early intervention services are paid for by private health insurance, Medicaid, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. There are no out-of-pocket costs to families.

For more information about our Early Intervention Services, click the image below to view our downloadable flyer.

      Cambridge and Somerville                        Needham

                           

Our Service Areas

For more information or to make a referral for your child, please contact:

Needham, Newton, Wellesley, and Weston: 781-449-1884 or NeedhamEIReferrals@riversidecc.org

Cambridge and Somerville: 617-629-3919, ext. 5755 or cambsomeireferrals@riversidecc.org