Help Me Grow Minnesota: How to Get Early Intervention for Your Child

What is Help Me Grow Minnesota?

Help Me Grow is Minnesota's front door to early intervention and early childhood special education. It's a state program that connects young children with developmental delays or disabilities to services through their local school district.

You may also hear the term Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), which is what many Minnesota school districts call these services. Services are free to families, regardless of income or insurance. It covers two age groups:

• Birth to age 3: Infant and Toddler Intervention (Part C of the federal IDEA law), often delivered at home or in everyday settings, with coaching for parents
• Ages 3 to 5: preschool special education (Part B of IDEA), provided through the school district in a classroom, community preschool or home

Who can refer a child to Help Me Grow?

Anyone can refer — parents, grandparents, child care providers, doctors or therapists. You don't need a doctor's order or a diagnosis. If someone else makes the referral, the district contacts the family, and the family decides whether to go forward.

Refer if you're concerned about how your child talks, moves, plays, learns or relates to others, or if your child has a diagnosed condition likely to cause delays. When in doubt, refer. Even an evaluation that finds your child doesn't need services gives you useful information. Notes from your child care provider or pediatrician about what they've observed can be helpful to share with the team.

To refer, go to helpmegrowmn.org, enter basic contact information and your concerns, and the referral is sent to the right school district based on where you live.

What happens after a Help Me Grow referral?

Federal rules set timelines for the process. For infants and toddlers, the evaluation and first IFSP meeting generally must happen within 45 days of referral. If things stall, call the district and ask for a status update. The process usually looks like this:

1. Your local school district's early childhood team contacts you, usually by phone, to talk about your concerns.
2. With your written consent, the team evaluates your child — often through observation, play-based activities and parent interviews. Many evaluations for young children happen at home or in a familiar setting.
3. You meet with the team to review results and decide whether your child is eligible under Minnesota's criteria.
4. For children under 3, the team writes an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) with you. For ages 3–5, it's an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
5. Services start — for example, speech-language services, occupational or physical therapy, special education teaching and parent coaching.

What is the difference between an IFSP and an IEP?

An IFSP, for birth to age 3, focuses on the whole family. Goals are built around daily routines like mealtime, bath and play, and providers often coach parents to support development throughout the day.

An IEP, for ages 3 to 5 and beyond, focuses on your child's learning and participation in educational settings. Services may happen in an early childhood special education classroom, a community preschool or Head Start, or at home.

As your child approaches age 3, the district plans a transition from the IFSP to an IEP. Ask about it several months ahead so there's no gap in services.

With either plan, parents are full members of the team. You can bring a support person, ask questions, and disagree. Services generally need your consent before they start, and you can ask the team to review the plan if something isn't working.

Is a Help Me Grow evaluation the same as an autism diagnosis?

No, and this trips up many families. School district early intervention uses educational eligibility criteria. A team may find your child eligible — even under an autism-related category — without giving a medical diagnosis, or your child may qualify under developmental delay.

A medical autism diagnosis comes from a clinic, psychologist or developmental pediatrician. That diagnosis, plus a CMDE, is what opens EIDBI autism therapy through Medical Assistance, and private insurance coverage for ABA usually requires one too.

Do both in parallel. Refer to Help Me Grow now, and at the same time get on waitlists for an autism evaluation. Waits can be long in both the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, and early intervention can start while you wait. Share the district's evaluation results with the diagnosing clinician.

What does early intervention look like in Minnesota?

Services depend on your child's needs but commonly include speech and language support, occupational therapy for motor and sensory needs, physical therapy and early childhood special education. For toddlers, much of it is coaching you to use strategies during everyday routines.

Early intervention and private therapy can work together. Many families in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Duluth combine district services with clinic-based speech therapy, OT or EIDBI. Let each team know about the others so goals line up.

What if my child is already 5 or in kindergarten?

Help Me Grow focuses on birth to age 5, but help doesn't stop there. For school-age children, contact your district's special education office or your child's school and ask for a special education evaluation. Put the request in writing and keep a copy.

The same principle applies at every age: school services and medical services are separate systems. A school evaluation can qualify your child for an IEP, while a medical diagnosis and CMDE open EIDBI therapy. Many Minnesota families rely on both through the elementary years.

If you're unsure whether your child's development is on track, Help Me Grow's website also shares milestone information and tips for talking with your child's doctor.

Keep in mind

This article is general information, not legal, medical or educational advice. Eligibility criteria, timelines and program details can change. Confirm current information with your school district, helpmegrowmn.org or the Minnesota Department of Education, and talk with your child's doctor about any health or developmental concerns.