Assembly Resolution No. 517

BY: M. of A. Lunsford

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
September 2023, as Early Intervention Awareness
Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, The early years of a child's life are critical to
development, both physically, mentally and emotionally; and

WHEREAS, In the first few years of life, more than 1 million new
neural connections are formed every second, making the years 0-3 among
the most important in a child's overall development; and

WHEREAS, Children with developmental delays and disabilities benefit
most when those disabilities are addressed before age 3, with 74 percent
of children who receive Early Intervention Services demonstrating make
greater than expected growth; and

WHEREAS, Early Intervention is the term used to describe the
services and supports that are available to babies and young children
under the age of three with developmental delays and disabilities and
their families, including speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational
therapy, counseling and other types of services based on the needs of
the child and family; and

WHEREAS, These services are critical to a child's lifelong
development and provide health, social and economic benefits to a child
and their family; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP),
administered by the State's Department of Health through the Bureau of
Early Intervention, is part of the national Early Intervention Program
for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families; it was
first created in Congress in 1983 under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Early Intervention Program in
New York State was established in Article 25 of the Public Health Law on
July 1, 1993; and

WHEREAS, Young children across New York State are not receiving
timely and comprehensive early childhood developmental services; since
2017, there has been a 27 percent decline in children who received
timely services; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that New York's citizens know about Early
Intervention services available to infants and toddlers born with
developmental delays and disabilities so that families may take
advantage of every opportunity to improve the health and well-being of
their children; and

WHEREAS, Early Intervention services and providers can help a family
learn the best ways to care for their child, how to support and promote
their child's development, and how to include their child in their
family and community life; and

WHEREAS, The observance of Early Intervention Awareness Month in the
State of New York provides an opportunity to recognize the availability
and importance of Early Intervention providers and services in New York
State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 2023, as Early
Intervention Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.