
Welcome to the “Parent Page” for Missouri First Steps. Every family wants their child to grow and learn. Families with young children who have special needs or developmental delays may require a little extra support. This support is called early intervention.
Early Intervention is about helping infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities develop important developmental milestones or skills, such as crawling, playing, talking and eating, during their first three years. By bringing families together with early intervention specialists, families can learn new ways to encourage and support their child’s development within their daily activities.
Developmental Milestones
- Concerned About Your Child's Development?
- How Can I help my Child Develop and Learn?
- What Can I Do to Better Understand My Child’s Development?
Referral and Eligibility
- First Steps General Informing Brochure | Spanish
- First Steps Belief Statements
- How Do I Make a Referral?
- Who is Eligible?
Parental Rights
- Parental Rights Statement
- Family Cost Participation and Insurance
- Child Complaint Forms
- Advocacy, Disability and Education Resources
Early Intervention Teams (EIT)
First Steps Coordinating Councils
- Missouri Early Childhood State Advisory Council (EC SAC) - On January 7, 2022, Governor Parson signed Executive Order 22-01 creating the Missouri Early Childhood State Advisory Council. With this executive order, the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) for the First Steps early intervention program was consolidated into the state advisory council, which membership mirrors the SICC.
- Regional Interagency Coordinating Council (RICC) - The RICC is responsible for assisting the System Point of Entry (SPOE) with local child find efforts, public awareness activities and determining the effectiveness of the First Steps system within the region. Families may contact their local First Steps office for more information.
First Steps Year at a Glance
- Yearly Report 2021-22
- Yearly Report 2020-21
- Yearly Report 2019-20
- Yearly Report 2018-19 | One-page summary
- Yearly Report 2017-18
- Yearly Report 2016-17
First Steps Newsletters
- Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Meetings (Fall 2022)
- Communicating Your Child's Needs (Winter 2022)