The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed May as Early Intervention Month. Fairfax County Neighborhood Community Services is proud to recognize the month and to highlight the variety of resources available to young children and their families.
The proclamation was presented on May 15, 2026, by NCS Deputy Director Keisha Dotson and accepted by Infant and Toddler Connection of Fairfax-Falls Church (ITC) Director Adriana Gallego Gomez at Sully Community Center’s Sensory Room, with a group of ITC children and their caregivers in attendance.
Early intervention is one of the most effective strategies to ensure that children up to age 3 who experience developmental delays, or have conditions that may lead to such delays, receive the necessary support and services, says Gallego Gomez.
ITC provides early intervention services to more than 4,400 infants and toddlers annually. ITC also works with the Infant Toddler Connection of Virginia to share resources, best practices and training.
ITC’s Primary Service Provider Model ensures that families have a consistent point of contact while benefiting from the expertise of a multidisciplinary team. Teams work collaboratively to create Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) that help children learn and develop through everyday activities and routines so they can participate fully in family and community activities.
In addition to individualized planning, ITC offers a comprehensive range of early intervention services designed to support a child's development. The team and the family work together, usually in the family's home and in the context of daily activities. Many early intervention services are provided at no cost to the family.
These services are provided in the child’s natural learning environment and may include:
- Service coordination
- Speech-language therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Developmental services
- Family Counseling and Support
- Assistive technology
- Vision services
- Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Nutrition services
Through these services, Early Intervention can help children ages 0-3 progress in the following areas:
- Cognitive development: Supporting the development of thinking, learning, and problem-solving skills.
- Physical development: Addressing motor skills, physical growth, and health conditions.
- Communication development: Fostering speech, language and communication abilities.
- Social-emotional development: Nurturing social skills, emotional regulation and mental health.
- Adaptive development: Building self-help skills and independence appropriate for age.
Gallego Gomez says it is very gratifying to watch toddlers progress through ITC’s help. ITC hosts an annual graduation ceremony as 3-year-olds transition into the FCPS system or other community settings, concluding their ITC early intervention journey.
Learn more at at Fairfax County ITC’s Web page.
Find a child developmental milestones checklist on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.