Early Intervention Services
Early intervention services help children build their skills across all developmental domains such as cognition, self-help, socialization, motor skills and communication.
Preschool-aged children eligible for Children’s disABILITY Services (CDS) may access early intervention child development and autism services funded or delivered by the Department of Families. For more information on CDS eligibility, including how to apply, visit the CDS home page or contact a Children’s disABILITY Services office.
Children in the guardianship of a Child and Family Services agency may access early intervention services if they meet the eligibility criteria for CDS.
Service for Children with Developmental Disabilities
Child Development (Department of Families)
Child Development is a consultative service that teaches parents and caregivers skills and activities to practice with their children. This service helps children achieve their developmental potential in individualized areas of need like self-help, fine and gross motor skills, socialization, communication and cognition.
This service is available to preschool-aged children with any developmental needs. Services are provided in the family home, childcare centres or nursery school settings.
Services for Children with Autism
St.Amant Autism Early Learning Program
The Early Learning Program supports the building of skills in children with autism across all life domains using an approach called applied behaviour analysis (ABA). Individualized programming is created with and for each child in partnership with the child, their family and their community support network (e.g. childcare centres, other clinicians, etc.).
Children receive support in a St.Amant site-based location or a childcare centre in their community. This service is offered to preschool-aged children diagnosed with autism.
Children who graduate from this program are eligible to access behavioural support when they transition to school.
Autism Outreach (Department of Families)
Autism Outreach is a consultative service that teaches parents and caregivers autism intervention methods to practice with their children. This service is based on a developmental based approach called DIR/Floortime.
Services are delivered in family homes, childcare and nursery school settings. This service is offered to preschool age children diagnosed with autism.
How can I learn more about these early intervention services?
You may attend a Parent Information Session to learn more about early intervention services offered by the Department of Families and St.Amant. These sessions provide an overview of each service and they explain how to access services.
To register for a Parent Information Session, call 204-256-4301 extension 3443 or email autismprogramsfamilies@stamant.ca.
Parent Information Sessions are held on the first Thursday of each month.
For more information on Child Development and Autism Outreach services at the Department of Families, contact your case manager, if applicable, or the program manager for Early Intervention Services at 204-599-5664.
For more information on the Early Learning Program and other services for children with autism at St.Amant, visit St.Amant’s Early Intervention for Children with Autism webpage or contact Central Intake at 204-258-7041.
Online Seminars on Autism (Department of Families)
The Department of Families offers two pre-recorded webinars for parents, guardians and care providers to learn more about autism and developmental-based interventions. There is no cost to access the webinars. Registration is required.
What is Autism?
This online webinar series consists of five 3-hour recorded classes. Topics explored in this series include:
- An Introduction to Autism
- Starting Strategies for Caregivers
- Treatment Approaches
- Sensory Processing
- Communication
This free webinar series is offered in January, April, July and October. Register here for the What is Autism? webinar series.
DIR/Floortime Webinar
This one-day (6 hour) recorded webinar provides a basic understanding of developmental approaches to autism. This webinar also introduces some techniques to practice with your child.
This free webinar is available in February, May, August and November. Register here for the DIR/Floortime Webinar.
For more information on these seminars, please contact Andrew Robson at Andrew.Robson@gov.mb.ca.
Online Seminars on Autism (St.Amant Autism Programs)
St.Amant offers its Fulfilling Potential Workshop Series for parents, childcare centres and school staff, guardians and care providers to learn more about autism and behavioural-based interventions. There is no cost to access the webinars.
For more information about upcoming workshops including registration, visit the Fulfilling Potential Workshop Series online registration form or email autismprogramspresentations@stamant.ca.