Does my child need early intervention services?

In Bremen, there are various early intervention programs for children who need more attention, support, and encouragement than other children in their early years to develop properly. Your pediatrician is the first point of contact if you are concerned that your child is not developing appropriately for their age.

If, for example, your child was born with a disability or is not developing as expected and is lagging significantly behind other children of the same age, medical, therapeutic, and special education interventions can often be beneficial to provide optimal support. These treatments and support services help your child's development. These services can only be prescribed by a pediatrician after a comprehensive examination of your child.

Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Centers (IFF)

Since the end of 2012, several districts of Bremen have had so-called Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Centers (IFFs). There, parents can receive prescribed services for their children from a single source. At these centers, medical, therapeutic, and special education professionals work together as a team. The support and treatment plan is tailored to the needs of each individual child. This aims to ensure that their development is comprehensively supported. This service is also called "comprehensive support." It consolidates and optimizes services through coordinated procedures and approaches within the expert teams at the early intervention centers. Some daycare centers now also offer these comprehensive services. In addition, the Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Centers (IFFs) offer open consultation hours. During these hours, questions about potential treatment needs and possible support options for your child can be answered.

• Early intervention – Conpart eV.
• Interdisciplinary Early Intervention (IFF) – Hans-Wendt Foundation
• Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Center | German Red Cross Bremen
• Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Center IFF – AWO Bremen
• Early intervention – Lebenshilfe Bremen

Other early intervention services:

• Early Intervention Center of the Bremen Protestant Church (Headquarters)
• Early intervention services | Autism Bremen eV.

Many questions – what can parents do now?

What exactly is this "comprehensive service"? How do you apply for such a service? Where can you find early intervention centers? In which daycare centers are comprehensive services offered? Who covers the costs? What distinguishes a "comprehensive service" from a "special education service"? Who can advise parents? If your child needs early intervention, you probably have many questions, are worried, or are unsure about the many technical terms.

Source: The Senator for Labor, Social Affairs, Youth and Integration, Early Childhood Development