Eligibility for BCW

Who Is Eligible for Babies Can't Wait?

BCW serves Georgia children from birth up to their third birthday, regardless of income, who meet one of the following criteria:

• Category 1: Have a diagnosed physical or mental condition which is known to result in a developmental delay. Some examples of delays or immediate qualifiers include, but are not limited to, blindness, Down syndrome, autism, and spina bifida, or
• Category 2: Have a diagnosed developmental delay confirmed by a qualified team of early intervention professionals 

To determine if your child is eligible, he or she will be evaluated in the following areas:

• Physical: health, hearing, vision
• Cognitive: thinking, learning, problem-solving
• Gross and fine motor skills: moving, walking, grasping, and coordination
• Communication: babbling, languages, speech, conversation
• Social and emotional: playing and interacting with others
• Adaptive development: self-help skills, (i.e. feeding, toileting, dressing)

If your child is determined eligible, a team of early interventionists will work with you to address your child's needs. As part of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team, you will collaborate with your team to develop outcomes and goals that will be added to your child’s plan based on their initial evaluation information as well as the priorities and concerns you may have for your child.

Services are provided during your child's daily activities within their natural environment (home, childcare, etc.) to ensure natural learning opportunities are maximized while still meeting your child's everyday needs.

Page updated:   12/20/22