Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 2026, as Early Intervention Awareness Month in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1204

BY: M. of A. Lunsford

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        September  2026,  as  Early  Intervention  Awareness
        Month in the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  The  early  years of a child's life are critical physical,
mental, and emotional development; 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  more
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 2026,  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.