Child and Family Health

Child & Family

The first years of life are a critical time for children’s health and development. How the brain develops during these years will affect a child’s ability to learn later in life.
The Health Department offers several resources to help ensure children get a strong start for a healthy life.

Early Intervention Early Intervention (EI) is a voluntary developmental evaluation and services program offered by New York State and administered locally by the Nassau County Department of Health Office for Children with Special Needs. To be eligible for services, children must be under 3 years of age and have a confirmed disability or established developmental delay.	Preschool Special Education The Preschool Special Education Program provides services to children who are 3 to 5 years old with developmental delays and/or educational needs. Eligibility is based on the results of a multi-disciplinary evaluation that is at no direct cost to the family.
WIC "WIC" stands for Women, Infants and Children. WIC is the Special Supplemental Foods Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC provides nutritious foods as well as nutrition counseling and education for its participants.	Lead Poisoning & Prevention Lead is a naturally occurring metal that has been used in many products.  Lead is harmful to the human body. Young children absorb lead more easily than adults. The good news: Lead Poisoning is 100% preventable!
Cribs for Kids Cribs for Kids is a national Infant Safe Sleep Initiative, with the mission of providing a safe-sleep education program for parents and caregivers which includes the intervention of a safety-approved crib if the family cannot otherwise afford one.	Healthy Moms & Babies Resource center to promote the well-being of childbearing women, infants, their families and communities.
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) CYSHCN provides referrals and information about resources in your community that help benefit children with special health care needs and their families.	Child Fatality Review Team The mission of this team is to review child deaths to better understand the causes of these deaths and to make recommendations based on the team's findings in order to reduce future child fatalities.