North Central Health District

Serving Children Aged 0-3 Who Have or are
At-Risk for Significant Developmental Delays

Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) helps families of young children who are experiencing developmental delays or who have a diagnosed condition that can result in delays. BCW evaluates children to determine their eligibility for the program, and also coordinates services at no cost to families. Some additional services may require payment, however Babies Can’t Wait can sometimes provide financial assistance when necessary.

How We Help

Once we receive a request for a child health screening, the Babies Can’t Wait team makes contact with the family to set up an evaluation with our multi-disciplinary team. If the child is not eligible for Babies Can’t Wait services, our team will provide appropriate referrals to other community programs. If the child is eligible for our services, the family is matched with an ongoing family service coordinator, who will create an Individualized Family Service Plan to identify goals, strategies and services that will enhance and promote the child’s development.

Eligibility Requirements

All children in the state of Georgia, regardless of income, may receive a free child health screening to determine eligibility for Babies Can’t Wait services. Program eligibility is based on many factors, including:

• Aged newborn to three years old
• Significant developmental delays, such as failure to turn over, crawl, walk, talk and more
• Diagnosed medical conditions, including Down Syndrome, spina bifidia, cerebral palsy, blindness, seizures, Autism and more

Transitioning Out of Babies Can’t Wait

When a child reaches age three, he or she is no longer eligible for services through Babies Can’t Wait. Prior to the child’s birthday, the family’s service coordinator  will discuss transition options. The family then chooses what option best meets their needs.

Note: Children over the age of three may be eligible for special education services. For more information, contact the Department of Education, Division for Exceptional Students at (404) 656-3963, or contact your local school system.

Refer a Child to Babies Can’t Wait

Work with Babies Can’t Wait

If you’re looking for an opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life and share your invaluable expertise and knowledge to support and educate others, then we invite you to submit your resume to join our multi-disciplinary team of professionals dedicated to providing services and supports to our Babies Can’t Wait families and children. Learn more on on therapist opportunities page. 

Learn about our related health services:

Additional Resources:

• Babies Can’t Wait Brochure (English)
• Babies Can’t Wait Brochure (Spanish)
• Babies Can’t Wait – Developmental Milestones
• Local Interagency Coordinating Council