Pennsylvania Statewide Connect Helpline for Child Development Concerns
Pennsylvania Statewide CONNECT is the phone line to call when you are worried that your child is slow to walk, talk, hear, see, learn or get along with others, and it connects your family to the local Early Intervention program that serves your area.
Early Intervention is for children from birth to age five who have special needs because of developmental delays and disabilities. Any parent or family member with a concern about a child's development can make the call; the page does not say you need a doctor's referral first.
After you contact CONNECT, the family is referred to a local Early Intervention program for a developmental screening and, if appropriate, an evaluation of the child's development. If the child is found eligible, supports and services are built around the child's and family's own needs and strengths. They can cover physical development including vision and hearing, thinking skills, communication, social or emotional development, and adaptive development. Services may be provided in the child's home, child care center, nursery school, play group, Head Start program, early childhood special education classroom or other settings familiar to the family, and they are woven into everyday routines and activities so the child gets frequent practice.
Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to families.
To start, call CONNECT at 1-800-692-7288, email help@connectpa.net, or submit a referral form online. The page does not say what hours the line is answered or how long the screening and evaluation take, so ask when you call.
Parents of children already in Early Intervention can also ask about Problem Solving in Early Intervention, which explains procedural safeguards, parent rights and how to raise concerns about a child's program.
Source: pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instructi…, read September 18, 2026.
The details
In Pennsylvania Statewide CONNECT Helpline’s words
Pennsylvania's Early Intervention program provides coaching support and services to families with children, from birth to age five, with developmental delays and disabilities. If you or a family member have a concern about a child’s development, contact Pennsylvania Statewide CONNECT. The family will be referred to a local Early Intervention program for a developmental screening and if appropriate an evaluation of the child’s development.
Organization
Pennsylvania Statewide CONNECT Helpline
About this listing
This listing summarizes publicly available information from pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instructi…. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.