Children’s Integrated Services, CIS is the name given to Vermont’s new approach to providing coordinated child development and family support services. These services include:

• Maternal Child Health Nursing and Family Support, CIS-MCH, (formerly known as Healthy Babies Kids and Families, HBKF) provides parent education and helps families connect with high quality health care and support services in their community. A CIS-MCH nurse or family support worker focuses on individual needs and can assist with pregnancy planning, prenatal and postnatal care, child development needs, resources, advocacy and support.

• Early Childhood and Family Mental Health, CIS-ECFMH, (formerly Children’s Upstream Services, CUPS) provides education to families with children ages birth through six to support their children’s social-emotional development. Consultation and case management services are provided to families with children who have challenging behaviors. Services are also available to support childcare providers and early education programs.

• Early Intervention, CIS-EI, (formerly the Family Infant and Toddler Program, FITP) is a collaborative system of early intervention services for families with children ages birth to three. This program coordinates and provides services for infants and toddlers with medical conditions or developmental delays, or who are at risk for developing developmental delays. These services are delivered through a family-centered, coordinated system including speech and language, physical therapy, occupational therapy, developmental education and more. In the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Early Intervention services are provided through two offices. For more information, please call 802-766-9244 in the Newport area; or 802-748-6609 in the St. Johnsbury area.

• Specialized Child Care Services (SCCS), was integrated with other CIS services on November 1, 2010. These services include Protective Child Care Services, Family Support Services and Children with Special Health Needs Child Care. The goal is to provide support to families with children with identified specialized child care needs, as well as service providers working with these families. SCCS assures that families are aware of affordable, high quality child development/care programs. When child care is the identified primary service need, the SCCS Coordinator works alongside families to build relationships and improve health, development and outcomes for children and families.

To make a referral or if you have any questions, please contact Dawn Powers, the CIS Intake Coordinator for Orleans/ Northern Essex and Caledonia/ Southern Essex at (802)525-3012, or e-mail at Dawn.Powers@neklsvt.org

CIS referral forms may be faxed to Dawn at (802)525-3012 or mailed to: Dawn Powers, Children’s Integrated Services, P.O. Box 27, West Glover, VT 05875. Prior to making a referral, please obtain parent’s verbal consent.

To learn more about Children’s Integrated Services or to obtain a referral form, please visit Vermont’s Department of Children and Families.