Birth to Three is Wisconsin’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. Birth to 3 is for children from birth to 36 months of age and their families. Eligibility is based on a diagnosed disability or significant developmental delay in one or more areas of development.

Birth to Three recognizes the important role of families and caregivers in the growth and development of a young child.  Emphasis is placed on supporting families and caregivers in their child’s daily routines and activities, in ways that will promote optimal growth and development.

The Birth to Three Program incorporates three components into the framework of services
1. Natural Learning Environment
Intervention services are provided in environments where the child participates.
~Research tells us that young children learn best in familiar settings, when surrounded by the people they know and love, and have lots of opportunities for repetition. Children will learn the skills they need by participating in activities that they are already doing at home and in community activities the family likes to do. (going to the library, visiting relatives, parks).  These everyday learning opportunities provide the child with a lot of time to practice the skills they need. This approach offers the child many more opportunities to practice skills, than having a single, weekly visit from a therapist or provider. Additionally, parents report that they don’t feel like they need to take time out of their busy day to do “therapy” with their child because it is integrated right into their day. Providing therapy without making it relevant and meaningful for the child and family is not as effective. 
2. Coaching as an Interaction Style
Coaching is an evidence-based adult learning style. IDEA (the law) requires that we give parents the necessary tools they need to improve their child’s development.  
~Research tells us that a young child’s family has the most influence on how that child grows and develops.  How the family structures their day, what they value and their interests are just a few examples of things that will influence what a child learns.  The way we provide early intervention services is designed to take all of the unique features about the family and support them in figuring out how best to meet the needs of their child.  Through conversations and modeling, we work with them to share experiences, reflect on what works and doesn’t work and problem solve to come up with strategies and support that is most helpful for the child and family.
3. Primary coach approach to teaming
IDEA (the law) requires that early intervention services be comprehensive, coordinated and multidisciplinary. What does this mean? In a nutshell, services must include access to many professionals with a range of knowledge and skills. 
~Children are complex and we have found it often requires many points of view to understand all that is happening with a child. Research tells us that a team approach is most effective, but that families do best when there is one primary individual that acts as the team liaison to support the parent. This primary individual (or coach as we call them) coordinates access to the entire team for the parent, works with the team through conversations and joint visits to get ideas and information that will be helpful to the child and caregiver. The family always has access to the knowledge and skills of professionals from other disciplines. Families report this style of interaction is less stressful to their family because it involves fewer visitors and appointments, while still having access to the professional knowledge they need to assist their child. In addition, they have reported that their services feel more coordinated and they aren't getting conflicting information from a variety of different disciplines.

The Birth to 3 Program Step-by-Step (pdf)

Parent and Child Rights (pdf)

We encourage those who would like to make a referral to Birth to 3 to do so within 2 days of identification. There are several ways to make a referral:

Phone: 715-273-2096 or 715-273-6755

FAX: 715-273-6854

Complete referral form and FAX to us

Natural Partners: Physicians, Birth to 3 and Parents

Early Intervention Referral Guide for Pediatric Primary Care Givers

Meet the Pierce County Birth to 3 Team

Parent Handbook

Wisconsin Birth to Three Program

First Signs

Centers for Disease Control

A guidebook for families on Wisconsin’s Early Intervention Program:
Families Are the Foundation https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p2/p22089.pdf

Track Your Child's Developmental Milestones

Wisconsin First Steps (1-800-642-7837)