Maine Department of Education – Child Development Services (CDS) – Early Intervention Services

Address: 146 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333 Phone: (207) 624-6660 Fax: (207) 6246661 Website: http://www.maine.gov/education/speced/cds/index.html

The Child Development Services (CDS) system is an Intermediate Educational Unit that provides both Early Intervention (birth – two years) and Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE for ages three – five years) under the supervision of the Maine Department of Education.  The CDS system ensures the provisions of Special Education Rules – Federal and State Regulations statewide through a contractual or grant relationship between the Department of Education and each regional site.Provides case management and direct instruction for children birth through age five and their families. 

Functions of the CDS:

• Child Find – The CDS conducts ChildFind (the process of identifying children with disabilities) screenings and evaluations for children birth through age five. 
• Identifies eligible children through Part C or Part B and secures local service access for services.
• Provides Early Intervention and Special Education programming in the following areas:  Physical Gross/Find motor skills, Cognitive, Communication (Speech and Language), Social/Emotional, Adaptive.  the CDS consists of nine regional sites.

The Child Development Services (CDS) system consists of nine regional sites, a State Office and a State Level Advisory Committee, comprised of one member from each regional site. Each CDS site is an Intermediate Educational Unit (IEU), separate from the local education agency and providing both Early Intervention and Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the supervision of the Maine Department of Education. The CDS system ensures the provisions of Federal and State Regulations statewide through a contractual or grant relationship between the Department of Education and each regional site.

Regional Site Director List  (as of November, 2011)
Child Development Services (CDS)  FIRST STEP
(Formerly CDS / Androscoggin County)
Holly Day, Director
5 Gendron Drive, Suite 1
Lewiston, ME  04240
Phone: (207) 795-4022
Fax: (207) 795-4082

Child Development Services (CDS ) / Aroostook County
Holly Peston, Director
560 Main Street
Presque Isle, ME  04769
Phone: (207) 764-4490

Child Development Services (CDS)  REACH
(formrly CDS / Cumberland County)
Lori Whittemore, Director
50 Depot Road
Falmouth, ME  04105
Phone: (207) 781-8881
Fax: (207) 781-8855

MID-COAST REGIONAL Child Development Services (CDS)
(Formerly Knox County)
Jude Thomas, Director
91 Camden Street, Suite 108
Rockland, ME  04841
Phone: 594-5933

TWO RIVERS Child Development Services (CDS)
Heidi LeBlanc, Director
250 State Street
Brewer, ME  04412
Phone: 947-8493

Child Development Services (CDS) – OPPORTUNITIES
Greg Armandi, Director
P.O. Box 272, 230 Main Street
Norway, ME  04268
Phone: 743-9701

Child Development Services (CDS) – PROJECT PEDS
Liz Keach, Director
163 Silver Street
Waterville, ME  02901
Phone: 877-2498

Child Development Services (CDS) – DOWNEAST
(Formerly CDS Washington County)
Gail McCarthy, Director
P.O. Box 718
Machias, ME  04654
Phone:  255-4892

Child Development Services (CDS) – YORK COUNTY
Cheryl Morin, Director
29 Limerick Road
Arundel, MD  04046
Phone: 985-7816