CONNECT Helpline for Concerns About a Child's Development
Pennsylvania Statewide CONNECT is the helpline to contact when you have a concern about a young child's development, such as walking, talking, hearing, seeing, learning or getting along with others. CONNECT takes the referral and sends the family to the local Early Intervention program for a developmental screening and, if appropriate, an evaluation of the child's development. The helpline serves families anywhere in Pennsylvania, including Berks County.
Early Intervention is for children from birth to age five who have special needs due to developmental delays and disabilities. The state's referral form puts it slightly differently: Early Intervention serves children from birth until the age of beginners, meaning when a child enters school. If your child is already enrolled in school, contact your local school district for assistance instead.
You or any family member with a concern can make the referral. A doctor or other professional can also refer a child, and the form asks for the referring person's practice or office information.
If the child is found to need them, supports and services are built around the individual needs and strengths of each child and family. They can cover physical development including vision and hearing, cognitive development, communication development, 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 embedded in typical routines and activities so the child gets frequent, meaningful practice.
Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to families.
There are three ways to start:
- Call CONNECT at 1-800-692-7288
- Email help@connectpa.net
- Submit the referral form online at paggdc.powerappsportals.us
The online form asks for the child's name and date of birth, the parent or guardian's name, address, county, phone, email, preferred language and the reason for the referral. Required fields are marked with an asterisk.
The page does not say what hours the helpline is answered or how long the screening and evaluation take, so ask when you call.
Source: pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instructi…, read September 26, 2026.
The details
In Pennsylvania Statewide CONNECT Helpline’s words
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 26, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.