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    Problem Solving in Early Intervention is intended to help parents of children receiving early intervention understand their procedural safeguards, parent rights and how to problem solve when they have concerns about their child's Early Intervention program.

    Additional information about Pennsylvania’s Early Intervention Problem Solving can be found in the Problem Solving in Early Intervention brochure.  Any of the choices listed below may be used at any time.

    Contact the Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports

    You may contact the Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports (BEISFS) by calling 717-346-9320.

    BEISFS can assist in resolving the concern before a more formal written complaint is filed.

    • A BEISFS Advisor will contact your child’s EI program to determine if there can be an immediate resolution.
    • If no immediate resolution is available, you can file a written complaint.

    State Complaints

    Any individual or organization may file a signed written complaint when they believe that an Infant Toddler or Preschool Early Intervention program has violated a requirement of the federal or state Early Intervention regulations.  To file a complaint with BEISFS, the Complaint Packet and Form document below may be used but is not required.

    Additional information can be found about state complaint procedures in Announcement EI 25-02 Early Intervention Complaint Procedures

    Complaint Form

    Please submit completed complaint forms to the Bureau of Early Intervention Services & Family Supports using one of the three options below:

    Mail:
    Departments of Education and Human Services
    Office of Child Development and Early Learning
    Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports
    607 South Drive, 4th Floor Rotunda
    Harrisburg, PA  17120​

    Email: ra-ocdintervention@pa.gov  

    Fax: 717-346-9330

    Complaints will be accepted verbally by calling 717-346-9320

    Mediation

    Pennsylvania’s Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) provides the resources for families and EI programs to resolve disputes for children with delays or disabilities, as required by state and federal law. 

    Mediation is free, voluntary, and confidential. Mediation is not a required process and may not delay or deny a parent the right to a due process hearing.  Mediation may be used when there is a disagreement about a child’s evaluation or services on the IFSP or IEP, such as the choice of a service, how often a service is provided, or where a service takes place. In mediation, everyone agrees to work together with a mediator, a person trained to help resolve concerns without taking sides. Mediators don’t make decisions but help parties come to an agreement.

    Request forms for mediation are available on the ODR website.  

    Additional information can be found about mediation in Announcement EI 25-03 Mediation, Due Process, and Individualized Family Service Plan/Individualized Education Program (IFSP/IEP) Facilitation Procedures for Infant Toddler and Preschool Early Intervention.

    Due Process

    Pennsylvania’s Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) provides the resources for families and EI programs to resolve disputes for children with delays or disabilities, as required by state and federal law. 

    A due process hearing is a more formal process for resolving disagreements about EI services, such as the choice of service, how often a service is provided, or where a service takes place. These are formal hearings at which all sides can present witnesses, including experts. During due process, a hearing officer conducts a hearing and makes a decision about the dispute.  Due process decisions can be found on ODR’s Hearing Officer Decisions website. 

    Request forms for due process are available on the ODR website.  

    Additional information can be found about due process procedures in Announcement EI 25-03 Mediation, Due Process, and Individualized Family Service Plan/Individualized Education Program (IFSP/IEP) Facilitation Procedures for Infant Toddler and Preschool Early Intervention.

    IFSP/IEP Facilitation

    In addition to IDEA-mandated dispute resolution systems, ODR offers alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services.  While these ADR processes may be helpful to LEAs and parents in resolving disagreements about a student’s special education program, these processes are not mandated by IDEA, are optional, and do not delay or deny the right to due process, mediation, or any other IDEA requirement.

    IFSP/IEP Facilitation is a voluntary process that can be used when all members of an IEP meeting agree that the presence of a neutral third party would help with communication and the successful drafting of the child’s IFSP or IEP. While IFSP/IEP Facilitation may be helpful to EI programs and parents in resolving disagreements about a child’s IFSP or IEP, it is not mandated by IDEA and is optional. IFSP/IEP Facilitation must not delay or deny the right to file a state complaint, mediation, due process, or any other IDEA requirement.

    Request forms for IFSP/IEP Facilitation are available on the ODR website.  

    Additional information can be found about IFSP/IEP Facilitation procedures in Announcement EI 25-03 Mediation, Due Process, and Individualized Family Service Plan/Individualized Education Program (IFSP/IEP) Facilitation Procedures for Infant Toddler and Preschool Early Intervention.