Early Intervention Conference in Odessa
On April 23, 2025, Odessa hosted a conference dedicated to early intervention. The event brought together city officials, health institutions, psychologists, and parents of children benefiting from early intervention services.
The conference was inaugurated by Odessa's Mayor Gennady Trukhanov, who emphasized the importance of a comprehensive support system for children with developmental disorders and their families.
“Early intervention is a partnership with families. Specialists provide assistance in challenging situations and help organize daily routines. The goal is for every child to be happy and have the opportunity to grow,” Trukhanov stated.
This service facilitates the timely identification of potential developmental issues and creates conditions for their correction.
Odessa was a leader among cities in joining the pilot project of the Ministry of Social Policy aimed at establishing an early intervention service system. Currently, this service is part of the city program “Barrier-Free Odessa.”
The Department of Health of the Odessa City Council has implemented developmental screenings for children under three years old in all city pediatric clinics.
In 2024, screenings were conducted for 10,396 children, allowing 1,279 to be identified with developmental issues, of which 512 were referred for early intervention services.
Early intervention centers operate in four children's medical institutions. In 2024, specialists monitored 197 families, with all children showing positive developmental dynamics.
Last year, multidisciplinary teams conducted 1,713 interactions with families, including home visits and online meetings.
Given the increasing demand for services, 2025 will see the expansion of early intervention centers to assist 350 families.
For the first time in 2025, the city program “Barrier-Free Odessa” will allocate salaries for early intervention team members.
The program also includes educational initiatives for multidisciplinary team members, parents, and raising public awareness about the availability of early intervention services in Odessa.
