You can refer your own child to Florida's Early Steps program today, without a doctor's referral and without a diagnosis. This page gives you the exact steps, a phone script, what to have ready, what the local program must do next, and what to do if nobody calls back. It is based on the Florida Department of Health's Early Steps Policy Handbook (updated 14 October 2026) and the state's referral page.
Who can refer a child to Early Steps?
Anyone. The state's "Make a referral" page says "Anyone can refer a child (0-36 months old)," including health care providers, parents and caregivers, family members and friends. The handbook lists many other referral sources, such as hospitals, physicians, child care and early learning programs, schools, public health clinics and child welfare agencies. No doctor's order is required, and your child does not need a diagnosis to be referred.
If a doctor or child care program is concerned, the handbook asks them to refer as soon as possible and no later than seven calendar days after identifying a child who may have a delay or an established condition (Policy 2.3.1). You do not have to wait for them; you can refer yourself.
How do I make the referral? Three ways
- Call the statewide line: 1-800-218-0001. This works for every Florida county.
- Use the online referral form. The "Make a referral" button on floridaearlysteps.com links to the state's online child referral form (flei.casetivity.com/pages/ChildReferral). The state site is available in English and Spanish.
- Contact your local Early Steps program. For example, Treasure Coast Early Steps (Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee) lists 561-882-6426 for referrals, and USF's Bay Area Early Steps (Hillsborough, Polk) lists (813) 974-0602. See Early Steps local offices by county for other areas and for where each number was confirmed.
Tip: if you call and leave a voicemail, also submit the online form. That gives you a written record of the date you referred.
What should I have ready?
The handbook says a referral is complete as long as there is enough information to contact the parent or guardian (Policy 2.3.4 D), so do not delay if you are missing something. It helps to have:
- your child's full name and date of birth;
- your name, relationship to the child, address, county, phone number and email;
- your preferred language and the times you are easiest to reach;
- a few sentences about your concerns (for example, "He has about five words at 22 months and does not point to show me things");
- any diagnosis, especially a written autism diagnosis, and the name of the professional who made it;
- your child's doctor's name and any recent evaluations or reports;
- your child care or daycare, if your child attends one.
What do I say? A phone script
"Hello, I would like to refer my child to Early Steps. My child's name is [name], born [date of birth]. We live in [city], [county] County. I am concerned about [two or three specific concerns, such as talking, playing with others, or responding to their name]. [If applicable: My child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder on (date) by (professional), which I understand is an established condition.] You can reach me at [number], usually between [times]. My preferred language is [language]. Can you tell me the name of my local Early Steps program and when I should expect a call?"
Write down the date, the time, the name of the person you spoke with and anything they told you. If your child is under 3 and has an autism diagnosis, our article does an autism diagnosis qualify for Early Steps? explains why that matters.
What happens after I refer?
The local program has firm deadlines:
| When | What must happen |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | The referral date is the date the local program receives it (Policy 2.3.4) |
| Within 5 calendar days | The local program contacts you to confirm the referral and explain next steps (Policy 2.3.6) |
| Within 45 calendar days | Evaluation and assessment completed and the first IFSP meeting held (Handbook 5.5.1; s. 391.308) |
| At least every 6 months | The IFSP is reviewed (s. 391.308) |
During the process, a service coordinator is assigned to your family, the team gathers information from you and your child's records, and you decide together on outcomes and services. Early Steps charges no family fees; it bills insurance only with your written consent. See the 45-day timeline and Is Early Steps really free?
What if my child is almost 3?
Refer anyway, today. If a referral reaches Early Steps fewer than 45 days before your child's third birthday, Early Steps is not required to evaluate or write an IFSP, but with your consent it must refer your child to the Department of Education and your school district (Policy 2.3.7). In that situation, also contact your county's FDLRS center or send the district a written evaluation request. See FDLRS and Child Find.
What if nobody calls me back?
- After 5 calendar days with no contact: call the local program directly, if you know it, and give the date you referred. Mention that the handbook asks local programs to contact parents within five calendar days of receiving a referral.
- If you cannot reach the local program: call 1-800-218-0001 again, explain the date and method of your first referral, and ask for the local program's name and number.
- Submit the online form if you only called the first time.
- Ask for the service coordinator's name once someone does reach you, and write it down.
- If the 45-day deadline is at risk, ask the local program, in writing, when the evaluation and IFSP meeting will happen. Your Summary of Family Rights, given to you by Early Steps, explains how to raise a complaint if deadlines are missed.
While you wait: how Hope Center can help
You do not have to pause everything while the Early Steps process runs. Hope Center for Behavior Change can check your insurance for ABA at no cost, and our clinical director offers diagnostic evaluations with a supervising licensed psychologist for families still seeking a diagnosis. The diagnostic report is usually ready within about a week once parents finish all the questionnaires. We provide early intervention ABA at home, at daycare and at our centers, with weekly parent training, and we coordinate with Early Steps teams. Our intake steps are documents and intake, a benefits check, an initial assessment once your insurer approves the assessment request (2 to 4 hours in one or two sessions), then up to two weeks to write the plan before it goes to your insurer. We have no waitlist, and from first call to first session can take as little as three weeks, depending on paperwork and insurance approval. Read the full Early Steps guide, then contact us for a free consultation and benefits check or call 561-337-8865.