Gwinnett, Rockdale & Newton Counties
EARLY INTERVENTION – BIRTH to THREE

BABIES CAN'T WAIT (BCW) is Georgia's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. It is a federally mandated program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides a framework for coordinating developmental, educational, and community supports within natural environments for children under three and their families.

EASTER SEALS NORTH GEORGIA (ESNG) is a local non-profit agency whose mission is to provide high-quality services to ensure that all children with disabilities or other special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities. ESNG oversees the Babies Can't Wait program for Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton counties.

BCW provides developmental evaluation, at no cost to the families, to determine whether children are eligible for the program due to developmental delays or disabilities. BCW works closely with physicians and healthcare providers to identify these children during infancy so that children and their families may receive the supports they need.

ELIGIBILITY:
Children ages 0-36 months with developmental delays, developmental disabilities, and/or certain diagnosed disabling conditions that have a high probability of resulting in delays are eligible to receive early intervention services.

EARLY INTERVENTION AND REFERRALS:
The best time to refer is at the earliest sign of a delay. The brain develops most rapidly during the first three years of life, providing a brief window of opportunity to detect developmental delays in children and address them before they become barriers to healthy development.

17% of U.S. children have developmental disabilities, and many more experience delays in language or cognition, which has a significant impact on school readiness. Less than 50% of these children are identified as having a problem before starting school, by which time significant delays may have occurred and opportunities for intervention may have been missed.

Anyone can make a referral to BCW, including but not limited to social workers, physicians, parents, childcare providers, teachers, and other pediatric clinicians.

To make a referral for Babies Can't Wait, call Children 1st: 770.339.5048.

ESNG BCW OFFICE:
Easter Seals Easter Seals North Georgia North Georgia - Babies Can't Wait
Babies Can't Wait
1509 Atkinson Road, Suite 2200
Lawrenceville, GA  30043  
770.822.9115 | Fax: 770.822.9457