The UT Martin Infant Stimulation Program, established in January, 1976, provides educational assistance to young, developmentally delayed children and their families in Northwest Tennessee. The purpose of the program is twofold: (1) to serve developmenta lly delayed children with opportunities to realize their potentials at an age as early as possible and (2) to provide ideas for growth within the frameworks of families.
Any child from birth through two years old who is diagnosed wtih epilepsy, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, auditory impairment, or other condition resulting in a developmental delay which qualifies for the service may benefit from the Infant Stimulation Program. A printable referral form is provided at the bottom of the page.
Services______________________________________________
The Infant Stimulation Program is offered by the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and is funded (in part) under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.The variety of services provided by the UT Martin Infant Stimulation Program are:
+ an early intervention educational model which includes parent involvement in a home-based and/or center-based setting.
+ screening in conjunction with Tennessee's Early Intervention System.
+ small group experiences (4-7 children per group) organized to provide socialization experience for 18-month to 36-month old children, to increase attention span, and to prepare for transitional movement into larger group activities. Small groups meet in licensed centers at the UT Martin Child & Family Resource Center and in the Paris Center at the Paris Housing Authority.
+ physical therapy, occupationl therapy, speech therapy and feeding evaluations through the Infant Stimulation Clinic Services and Tennessee's Early Intervention System. Evaluation and therapy services are based on individual need with emphasis on written home programs to be carried out by parents on a daily basis.
+ contract services for public schools who have identified children over the age of three and who would benefit from additional preschool experiences in a group setting or in home visits.
The UT Martin Infant Stimulation Program is housed on the campus of The University of Tennessee at Martin. Martin is located in upper Northwest Tennessee. Licensed locations include the UT Martin Child & Family Resource Center located on the UT Martin c ampus and the Paris center located in the Paris Housing Authority in Henry County. Described services are provided to eligible children (from birth through age two) in Benton, Carroll, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley counties. The program is currently fu nded to serve fifty-seven children. Information concerning the Infant Stimulation Program and the Child-Find Service is available by calling: (731) 881-7115
Child-Find Service______________________________________
"Child-Find Service" is a screening program for the early identification of developmentally delayed children ranging from newborns to three-year olds. The screening service is funded by Tennessee's Early Intervention System through the Tennessee Departme nt of Education and available at various public locations in each of the counties being served by the Infant Stimulation Program: Benton, Carroll, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley.
Eligibility_____________________________________________
Newborns through children two years of age must be identified as having one of the following conditions present to be eligible:
+ an identified syndrome which is associated with impaired intellectual functions
+ significantly delayed neurological develoment
+ a 20% delay of the child's chronological age in one or more areas of development
All children who are served are eligible according to the standards for developmental delay. There are no income requirements and no charges for services. REFERRAL APPLICATION FOR INFANT STIMULATION PROGRAM |
