Early Steps Local Offices by County: Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and More

Early Steps is a statewide Florida Department of Health program, but your child is served by a local Early Steps program run by a host organization, such as a university, hospital or nonprofit, that covers one or more counties. This page lists the local programs for the counties Hope Center serves, with contact details only where we could confirm them on the program's own current web page or another official page on 20 October 2026. Where we could not, we tell you so and point you to the official locator.

What is the fastest way to reach the right Early Steps office?

You do not need to know your local office to start. The state accepts referrals for any Florida county through:

• The statewide line: 1-800-218-0001.
• The online referral form, linked from the "Make a referral" page at floridaearlysteps.com.
• The "Contact a Local Office" search at floridaearlysteps.com/contact/, which matches a location to its local program.
• By mail: Early Steps Program, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A06, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1707 (as shown on floridaearlysteps.com).

Anyone can refer a child from birth to 36 months, including parents, caregivers, family members, friends and health care providers. If you call your local office directly and reach voicemail, leave your child's name, date of birth, your county and a callback number, and also submit the online form so there is a written record. Our referral how-to has a phone script.

Local Early Steps programs for Hope Center's service areas

Local office contact details change often. Treat the numbers below as a starting point and confirm with 1-800-218-0001 or the official locator if a number does not work.

Why some rows are blank: the Department of Health's own locator is a search tool, and older statewide contact lists from 2016 to 2018 are out of date. Rather than print a number we could not confirm, we point you to the statewide line, which can connect you to the program for any county.

What does a local Early Steps program do?

The local program is your family's point of contact for the whole Early Steps process. It receives the referral, assigns a service coordinator, arranges the evaluation and assessment, holds the IFSP meeting with you, and arranges the services on your child's plan through providers enrolled with Early Steps. Under section 391.308, services are delivered, to the extent possible, in your child's natural environment, such as your home or child care. Close to age 3, the local program also starts transition planning with your school district.

Which office serves the Hope Center areas I live in?

• West Palm Beach and the rest of Palm Beach County; Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County; Martin County: Treasure Coast Early Steps.
• Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City and Apollo Beach (Hillsborough County): Bay Area Early Steps.
• Lakeland and Winter Haven (Polk County): Bay Area Early Steps. The USF page also lists a Children's Medical Services clinic in Lakeland.
• Jacksonville (Duval County): Northeastern Early Steps.
• Orlando (Orange County): Central Florida Early Steps.
• Port Charlotte (Charlotte County): start with the number on the Charlotte County Public Schools Child Find page, or the statewide line.
• Sebring (Highlands County) and Fort Lauderdale (Broward County): use the statewide line or the official locator.

What happens after I contact the local office?

Every local program follows the same Early Steps Policy Handbook (updated 14 October 2026). Key timelines:

1. Within 5 calendar days of receiving the referral, the local program must contact you to confirm it was received and explain next steps (Policy 2.3.6).
2. Within 45 calendar days of receiving the referral, the evaluation and assessment must be completed and the team must meet with you to write the first Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP) (Handbook 5.5.1; section 391.308).
3. Close to age 3: if the referral arrives fewer than 45 days before the third birthday, the program may refer your child to the school district instead of evaluating (Policy 2.3.7).

The referral date is the date the local program receives it (Policy 2.3.4). Keep a note of when and how you referred, so you can follow up if you have not heard back within a week. See the Early Steps 45-day timeline.

What should I have ready when I call?

• Your child's full name and date of birth.
• Your address and county, phone number and email.
• Your preferred language. The state Early Steps site is available in English and Spanish, and the handbook provides key family notices in Spanish and Haitian Creole; ask for an interpreter if you need one.
• A short description of your concerns, in your own words.
• Any diagnosis or reports, especially a written autism diagnosis. Autism spectrum disorder is an established condition, so a confirmed diagnosis qualifies a child under 3. See does an autism diagnosis qualify for Early Steps?
• Your insurance information, if you have it. Early Steps charges no family fees and bills insurance only with your consent.

What if I move to a different county?

Tell your service coordinator as soon as you know. Each county belongs to one local program, so a move can mean a new local office and new providers. Ask your current coordinator how your child's records and IFSP will be shared with the new program, and call 1-800-218-0001 if you need help finding the new office.

Where Hope Center fits

Hope Center for Behavior Change is a private ABA provider, not an Early Steps office. Our centers are in West Palm Beach, Temple Terrace (Tampa), Port Charlotte, Jacksonville and Sebring, and we also serve Fort Lauderdale and Broward (including Pembroke Pines and Miramar), St. Lucie, Martin County, Orlando, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Plant City and Apollo Beach in homes, schools, daycares and the community. See where we provide ABA. Many families use Early Steps and private ABA together, and we are glad to coordinate with your Early Steps team. We have no waitlist and offer a free benefits check. Read the full Early Steps guide or contact us at 561-337-8865.