Pueblo, CO — In a move that has left many parents and providers reeling, Colorado has announced significant cuts to its Early Intervention (EI) program, a vital service for children with disabilities or developmental delays. The changes, which will take effect on March 3, 2025, are being implemented as a response to a state budget shortfall. These cuts will severely limit the services available to children on Medicaid and reduce the amount of care provided through individualized family service plans (IFSPs).
The EI program, which supports children from birth through age three, has long been a cornerstone for families with children who have special needs. The program offers crucial therapies and services designed to help children meet developmental milestones and improve their long-term outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), early intervention is proven to “change a child’s developmental path and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.” However, with the state facing a budget deficit, only Medicaid-covered services will continue, and supplemental services will be eliminated.
In addition to the cuts to supplemental programs, children will now be limited to just four hours of care per month under their IFSP, a drastic reduction from previous levels of service. This has raised alarm among families who rely on these programs for their children’s well-being and development.
The news came as a shock to many, with parents and service providers expressing their concerns over the sudden nature of the changes. In a memo sent to providers on Tuesday, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) informed them that these “temporary cost containment measures” would be in effect through Fiscal Year 2025-26. The memo emphasized that the cuts were necessary to address the state’s ongoing budget challenges, but many families have questioned why they were not given more time or clearer communication about the changes.
Parents of children in the EI program voiced frustration, expressing that these reductions will force them to make difficult decisions about which services their children can no longer receive. “This feels like a major setback for our child’s development,” one parent said. “We are left wondering how we’ll manage to provide the care our child needs with so few resources.”
The impact of these cuts extends beyond the immediate reduction in services. Many families are concerned about the long-term consequences for their children’s development. With early intervention services known to have a lasting impact on a child’s future, parents worry that the cuts could hinder their children’s ability to thrive and meet critical developmental milestones.
The decision has sparked a broader debate about funding priorities and the support for vulnerable populations in Colorado. Advocates for children’s health and development have called for the state to reconsider the cuts and explore other ways to balance the budget without jeopardizing essential services.
As the state moves forward with these changes, families and providers alike are left grappling with the implications of reduced access to care for the youngest and most vulnerable residents of Colorado. The future of the Early Intervention program remains uncertain, with many hopeful that the state will find a way to reinstate critical services before the cuts cause irreversible harm to children’s development.
