RED PHASE // Early Intervention Program Guidance​

• Face-to-face Infant Toddler EI services continue to be limited and the use of teleintervention is encouraged. 
• Preschool EI including special education classrooms should follow the preliminary guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education regarding in-person instruction for the red phase that can be found here.
• Virtual evaluations continue.  

YELLOW PHASE // Early Intervention Program Guidance​

• Tele-intervention to deliver EI services and virtual evaluations continue.
• Preschool EI special education classrooms should follow the preliminary guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education regarding in-person instruction within schools for the yellow phase that can be found here.
• The Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP)/Individualized Education Plan (IEP teams may identify a need to schedule an in-person assessment if the assessment cannot be completed remotely. Providers may also need to provide services in a home if the family does not have access to technology that allows services to be delivered through teleintervention or the IFSP/IEP team, including the family, has determined that teleintervention alone is not an effective methodology for delivering specific EI services. Prior to making a home visit, providers of EI services should identify their own risk of transmitting COVID-19 and their risk of complications if they were to be infected. Providers of EI services should also identify family members in the visited home who may be at risk of transmitting COVID-19 or having complications if infected with COVID-19.
• When there is an identified need for a home visit, the provider of the EI services should contact the family prior to the home visit to ask the following health screening questions. The provider should document the responses. 

1. Anyone in the home tested positive or suspected of having COVID-19? 
2. Does anyone in the home have signs or symptoms of a fever, new or worsening cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, respiratory illness? 
3. Has anyone in the home had contact within the last 14 days with someone with or under investigation for COVID-19? 
4. Will a person with a weakened immune system, a person who is over the age of 65 years, or a person that has chronic health conditions (e.g. heart disease, lung disease, diabetes), or other factors that pose a risk if the person becomes infected with COVID-19 be present during the visit?

If the provider of EI services believes they are at risk of transmitting COVID-19 or the response is yes to any of the questions above, it is recommended that the provider of EI services communicate with the family the need to postpone the visit and to schedule a time to plan for a future visit.

• If the provider of EI services is not able to contact the family before the home visit and decides to proceed with the visit, the provider should ask the four health screening questions included above before entering the home to make sure the provider is doing everything the provider can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The provider should stand approximately 6 feet from the doorway when asking the four health screening questions.
• If the answer is no to all of the health screening questions included above, and the provider decides that going to the home is in the best interest of the child and family, then the provider of EI services should take the precautions listed below to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
  
  
• Precautions include:
• Following the CDC and PA DOH guidelines.
• Whenever possible, maintaining a minimum 6-foot distance between the provider of EI services and family members during a visit.
• Visits can take place outside of the home.
• Wearing masks or cloth face coverings to prevent the asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 and to provide protection when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
• Minimizing physical contact with frequently touched surfaces in the home.
• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before entering/going to the home and after exiting. If soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth. 

​GREEN PHASE // Early Intervention Program Guidance​

• Using Tele-intervention for the delivery of EI services and conducting evaluations is permitted.
• Face-to-face services and evaluations may resume when there is minimal concern for the spread of COVID-19 in the area. 
  
• Preschool EI special education classrooms should follow the preliminary guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education regarding in-person instruction within schools, that can be found here.
• All EI service providers must follow CDC and PA DOH guidelines. 
  
• EI programs should follow the CDC’s guidelines for reopening found below.