Early Intervention for Montana’s Infants and Toddlers

Early childhood is a time of tremendous growth and learning for infants and toddlers. Throughout the first three years of life, young children are achieving new milestones and their brains are developing at the fastest rate of their lives. Some young children need extra support to meet these early milestones. States are required to provide extra support to infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities through early intervention, also called Montana Milestones.

Early intervention has both short and long-term benefits to children, families, and the state. Unfortunately, Montana’s early intervention system is underfunded, resulting in limited reach for infants and toddlers who could benefit as well as strain on the workforce and providers tasked with offering specialized services for families.

The good news is that there is a path forward for improving Montana’s early intervention program, but it will take increased state investments and a commitment to collaborating across the many agencies and programs that support young children.

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