SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Over 130 million babies are born in the world each year. With each newborn, there is the hope that they will turn out to be perfect and healthy. Yet, six-percent of these babies are born with deficiencies, causing a chaotic and unexpected journey for the parents and the child.
Some of the leaders in these categories include autism, down syndrome and premature births. As scary and unsettling as these things bring, there is always a service available for these families. Sometimes, they are services that parents and families aren’t fully aware of.
These services are called Early Intervention.
One local boy has defeated the odds and taken the Early Intervention Program, also known as EIP, in stride.
Just a short three years ago, Anthony Bates was born eight weeks early. He was not even expected to make it. Within hours of the pregnancy, Anthony was put through a string of operations and kept under multiple tubes and wires to keep him stable in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). According to his mother, Jenna Gotham, Anthony’s heart collapsed twice in the early days of his birth.
“They wouldn’t even allow us in to see him for a few days…the only people they let in were my parents to do a makeshift baptism in case he didn’t make it,” said Gotham.
Today, Anthony looks like any other healthy kid out there. Through the Early Intervention Program, Anthony has progressed tremendously in many categories of treatment according to his physical therapist, Melissa Stayton.
“When I first started seeing him, he couldn’t even eat properly from a bottle. His mom was holding him sideways, was feeding him sideways because he would choke if he sat up,” said Stayton. “I am so proud of how far he’s come.”
Stayton was impressed with his therapy session at ABC Cayuga Play Space this past week as well. Anthony has autism and his social and communication skills are delayed, which she said has prevented him from public gatherings because he couldn’t handle it. But now, he’s at a completely different level.
“The way he has progressed so quickly is amazing. Even in the summer, he wouldn’t have been able to run around and play in a community area like he did today. There was even a kid who got in his face and hugged him and he was fine. Three months ago he would’ve freaked out,” said Stayton. “All of this due to the effectiveness of the Early Intervention he’s received.”
Early Intervention gives specialized support to children and families in the early years to improve on the child’s development and health before heading into school years. The point is to treat them early in order to get an effective progression in multiple categories. The categories include: physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and audiology, psychological services, service coordination, nutrition services, social work services, vision services, and counseling for child and family through home visits and support groups.
The one problem is that many families are unaware of these programs provided.
According to the New York State Department of Health, only 1,600 children in Onondaga County are in these programs and a startling 253 children are in these programs in Cayuga county. An average of less than one thousand.
“I wish there was a way we could reach more families and let them know that all of these services are available,” said Stayton.
There are many ways that children can be in these programs. Some instances included automatic enrollment such as premature birth and down syndrome. Others can go to their doctor and request a referral to have therapy services. All it takes is a phone call to have services provided for children in need of them.
“We go right into the homes and evaluate them in their own environment,” said Stayton. “You have to have a 33-percent delay in one area or a 25-percent delay in two areas to qualify.”
These areas are the ones provided above. For example, the child has to have a 25-percent delay in both speech therapy and physical therapy to qualify for Early Intervention services.
And when it comes to cost, the families are saving big. It doesn’t cost a dime out of pocket.
“Their insurance company is billed but even if their insurance doesn’t cover it, then the state and federal government pay for it,” Stayton said.
This was put into place when Early Intervention was established by Congress back in 1986.
As for Anthony, Early Intervention continues to be the building block to his child development that him and so many others have used. A program that saves children’s lives and allows them to grow into a long and healthy life.
For more information on Early Intervention services, go to https://www.health.ny.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention/.
