What is the Child Development Center?
The Child Development Center is a non-profit serving Western Montana families with children with a developmental delay, developmental disability, or risk factors for either. CDC provides in-home services, screening, evaluation and diagnosis, and other related services.
What services does the Child Development Center provide?
Families who are eligible for CDC’s Family Education and Support Services can receive:
- in-home support from certified experts in child development
- access to limited funds for a child’s special needs
- opportunities to learn more about a child’s disability and special needs
- help in accessing additional community resources
CDC also provides screenings and evaluation & diagnosis services, and can direct families who do not qualify for services to other options for assistance.
How much do screenings and/or services cost?
For screenings, evaluations, and all state or federally funded programs (Infant & Toddler Services, Family Education and Support Services, Children’s Waiver Services, Children’s Autism Waiver, and Follow-Along Services,) the Child Development Center provides most services at no out-of-pocket cost to families. CDC will bill insurance or Medicaid if applicable (in most cases, families are not liable for co-pays).
Families may be liable for payment for Respite and ASD Insurance Services.
How can a family get assistance from the Child Development Center?
To be eligible for CDC services, a child must qualify according to CDC guidelines. To begin this process, a family member, medical professional, caregiver, or friend can call CDC and “make a referral.” A family can also attend one of CDC’s screening clinics. Please visit How to Get An Evaluation for more information.
How do I make a referral?
A referral can be made by a parent or family member, as well as community members (e.g., doctors, therapists, public health, child care provider, etc.) working with the family or child. If a referral is made by a community member, a parent or guardian must be in agreement and have prior notice of the referral. Making a referral is simply a matter of calling CDC to provide necessary contact information, as well as a brief outline of concerns for the child and services requested.
Who do you serve?
Child Development Center provides services to Western Montana families whose children are considered to be at risk for delays in development until they reach the age of six. CDC also provides services to individuals who have a diagnosed developmental disability from birth through age 21. In addition, CDC has respite, a limited reimbursement program for families to hire caregiving for their child with a developmental disability from birth to death. CDC offers two respite homes to provide caregiving options to any individual with a diagnosed developmental disability.
What does home-based service mean?
Home-based services occur in the home. Your assigned Family Support Specialist will come to you to provide intervention services known as Family Education and Support (FES). Evaluation services usually take place at the CDC office.
Do you serve adults?
CDC’s Family Education and Support programs only serve Montana children from birth through the age of 21. CDC’s Respite program can serve eligible individuals from birth to death. CDC’s Evaluation program can often determine eligibility for developmental disability services to individuals age 19 and over. CDC’s OBRA program serves adults of any age.
What if my child isn’t eligible?
If your child is not eligible for any of Child Development Center’s services, simply ask for other referral options.
Do you provide behavioral consultation services?
For children receiving CDC services, a variety of behavioral consultation options can be accessed by our staff. CDC has three staff members who have completed competency training on The Assessment and Analysis of Severe and Challenging Behavior through the Institute of Applied Behavior Analysis. They are available for behavioral consultation and program development. CDC staff members also refer families to local professionals when appropriate for behavioral consultation and medication monitoring.
Do you provide therapy services (e.g., speech therapy, physical or occupational therapy, counseling, etc.)?
CDC may assist with supplemental funding for therapies only for children served under our Infant and Toddler (Part C) program, if all other funding options have been exhausted.
Do you provide childcare services?
Child Development Center does not reimburse for childcare services, nor do we have on-site childcare options.
Do you serve children who receive school services?
Children who receive public school preschool can continue to receive CDC services as long as they are at risk for a developmental disability. Children age six through age 21 receiving special education services need to have a diagnosed developmental disability in order to continue receiving CDC services.
Still have questions? Contact CDC at 1-800-914-4779. We’ll do whatever we can to help!