CHIP is an outreach service of the Early Education Department providing services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families throughout Colorado.  This unique program, offered by the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB), is designed specifically to serve families with children with who are deaf or hard of hearing, from newborn to preschool, in the secure surroundings of their own homes.

At the heart of CHIP is the parent facilitator. Working with the family, the parent facilitator designs an individual program that fits both with the family's needs and the child's learning style.  The parent facilitator helps family members develop techniques to encourage their child's language development.  The program visits take place in the familiar surroundings of the home ensuring the best service possible being provided for both the child and the family.

Most children who are deaf or hard of hearing, newborn to age three, are eligible for the program.  In addition, families receive the program during their children's transition to preschool.  All families are invited to participate in the program.  Public funding is   available and is determined by family size, income, and resources.  Insurance co-payments are accepted. 

Services offered to families throughout Colorado:

• Family-centered programming to assist parents set the pace and goals for their child's intervention.
• Home language/listening/communication program to assist parents in finding the proper therapy and support at each developmental stage.
• CHIP FAMILY Assessment is designed to help parents monitor their child's progress.  The FAMILY Assessment is a diagnostic tool used to set goals for the child, select  appropriate techniques to achieve those goals, and to monitor the child's progress.  The same data provides evidence to support research.
• Liaison with specialists to appropriately support the family, their early interventionist, and their service coordinator. 
• Link with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Connections which provides an opportunity for a local deaf or hard of hearing adult to visit with the family.
• Skilled parent facilitators who have years of training and familiarity with the newest techniques and technology.

For more information, please contact Dinah Beams, Lead Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator, Colorado Home Intervention Program