We are hiring in Early Intervention!! Full & Part-Time opportunities available.
Early Intervention
In our home-based early intervention program, we provide speech therapy to eligible children, ages birth up to age 3. Services are delivered in the child’s natural environment—typically the home—and are designed to support families in helping their children learn and grow through everyday routines. In accordance with federal early intervention guidelines, we focus on coaching and empowering parents and caregivers as active participants in their child’s development.
Eligibility for Early Intervention Services
Children from birth to age three may qualify for Early Intervention services if they demonstrate a developmental delay in one or more areas of development. Eligibility is determined through a multidisciplinary evaluation that may include standardized assessment tools, observation, parent input, and review of medical information. Areas evaluated include cognitive, communication, physical, social-emotional, and adaptive (self-help) development.
A child may also qualify through informed clinical opinion or if they have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delays. Pennsylvania also provides developmental tracking and monitoring for certain children who are considered at risk for developmental concerns.
Eligibility for Early Intervention Services
RAISEtown Care Connect provides Early Intervention services to eligible children and families in Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Juniata Counties. If you have concerns about your child's development, the first step is to contact SAM, Inc., the Early Intervention Service Coordination agency for these counties.
Huntingdon County: 814-643-6100 SAM, Inc.-Online Referral Form
SAM, Inc. will help arrange a comprehensive developmental evaluation to determine whether your child is eligible for Early Intervention services. Evaluations are completed by qualified professionals and may include standardized assessments, observations, parent input, and review of relevant medical information.
If a child is found eligible, Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to the family. Families also have the right to choose the agency that will provide their child's Early Intervention services.
Why Choose RAISEtown Care Connect?
Families whose children qualify for Early Intervention have the right to choose the agency that provides their services. RAISEtown Care Connect is proud to provide speech-language therapy, with plans to expand additional Early Intervention services in the future.
For more than 70 years, our organization has been committed to helping children reach their fullest potential. Since 1952, our agency has served Huntingdon County through various names and partnerships, including Easter Seals, Huntingdon County PRIDE, and now RAISEtown Care Connect. While our name has evolved, our commitment to local children and families has remained unchanged.
Our Parent Coaching Approach
At RAISEtown Care Connect, we believe parents and caregivers are a child's most important teachers. Rather than focusing only on what happens during a therapy visit, we use Pennsylvania's evidence-based Parent Coaching Model to help families build the skills and confidence to support their child's development throughout everyday life.
Our therapists work alongside parents and caregivers during normal daily routines—such as mealtime, bath time, playtime, reading books, getting dressed, or running errands—to identify natural opportunities for learning. Instead of simply "working with the child," we partner with families to develop practical strategies that fit their routines, making progress more meaningful and lasting.
Research has shown that children make the greatest gains when learning continues between therapy visits. By coaching parents to recognize teachable moments throughout the day, children receive hundreds of opportunities to practice new skills in familiar environments with the people they know and trust most.
Experienced Leadership
Our Early Intervention Coordinator and Speech-Language Pathologist, Melissa Gentner, brings more than two decades of Early Intervention experience to RAISEtown Care Connect. In addition to providing services to children and families, she is a Pennsylvania Master Coach and serves as a Professional Learning Community facilitator, mentoring and training Early Intervention professionals across the Commonwealth in the Parent Coaching Model. This advanced expertise allows our families to benefit from nationally recognized, evidence-based practices delivered by a leader in the field.
At RAISEtown Care Connect, our goal is not only to help children succeed today—but to empower families with the knowledge and confidence to support their child's growth for years to come.
Resources & Community Partnerships
At RAISEtown Care Connect, we believe the best outcomes for children are achieved through collaboration. We actively partner with local, regional, and statewide organizations to ensure families have access to high-quality services, current resources, and the latest evidence-based practices in Early Intervention.We are proud members of the Early Intervention Providers Association of Pennsylvania (EIPA), which advocates for excellence in Early Intervention services and supports providers throughout the Commonwealth.
RAISEtown Care Connect is also an active member of the Huntingdon County Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC), a collaborative group of agencies, families, and community partners dedicated to identifying children early, improving access to services, promoting inclusion, and strengthening the local Early Intervention system. The LICC brings together organizations to coordinate resources, share expertise, and ensure children and families receive seamless, family-centered services. RAISEtown is proud to serve in a leadership role within the Huntingdon County LICC and remains committed to advancing Early Intervention throughout our community.
In addition to these partnerships, our therapists regularly collaborate with families, pediatricians, Service Access & Management (SAM, Inc.), child care providers, Head Start programs, school districts, and other community organizations to ensure every child receives coordinated, individualized support.