Turning three in Essex County: the Early Intervention handover nobody explains

A practical guide for Essex County NJ families on the Early Intervention to school and PerformCare transition at age 3 for ABA therapy.

Published August 30, 2026 · Essex County, New Jersey

Your child’s third birthday changes everything

If your child gets ABA therapy through New Jersey Early Intervention (EI), you are about to hit a major deadline. The day your child turns three, EI services end. A completely different system takes over. This handover is rarely explained clearly, and families in Essex County often discover the gap only when services stop. Here is what you need to do, step by step.

Two separate paths after age three

After age three, responsibility splits. Your school district handles educational services, including ABA if it is written into an IEP. PerformCare handles medical ABA through NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey’s Medicaid and CHIP program). You may need both. Start on both paths at the same time.

Path one: your school district

Your local school district must evaluate your child for special education. In Essex County, the districts include Belleville, Bloomfield Township, Cedar Grove Township, East Orange, Essex Fells, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Livingston, South Orange-Maplewood, Millburn, and others. Contact your district’s child study team at least 90 days before your child’s third birthday. Ask for a transition conference and an initial evaluation. Bring your EI records and any recent reports. The evaluation can take up to 90 days, so do not wait.

If your child qualifies, the IEP team decides services. ABA can be included. But school-based ABA is not the same as medical ABA. It may be less intensive or focused on classroom behavior. That is why you also need the second path.

Path two: PerformCare and NJ FamilyCare

PerformCare is the single access point for the Children’s System of Care for children ages 3 through 20. If your child is covered by NJ FamilyCare (Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), PerformCare authorizes medically necessary ABA therapy. Call PerformCare to start a referral. You do not need a diagnosis from them if you already have one from EI or a doctor. They will assign a care manager. That care manager helps you find a provider and submit the paperwork.

Important: You must have NJ FamilyCare active. If your child is not already enrolled, apply through the NJ FamilyCare website or your local county board of social services in Essex County. Coverage can be retroactive, but do not assume it will be. Apply early.

Finding an ABA provider in Essex County

Essex County has 79 ABA providers registered in the federal NPPES registry. Nineteen of the county’s 22 municipalities have at least one provider in the town itself, and every town is within seven miles of a provider. That means finding a provider is possible, but availability and wait times vary. Start calling providers at least three months before the birthday. Ask if they accept NJ FamilyCare and if they have openings for a child your child’s age. If one is full, ask your PerformCare care manager for a list. Some providers travel to homes, clinics, or schools. Your care manager can explain what is available near you.

The paperwork you must not lose

Early Intervention will hold a transition conference roughly 90 days before your child turns three. At that meeting, you should receive a written summary of services and a referral to PerformCare. Make sure you actually fill out and submit that referral. Do not assume EI will do it for you. Get a copy of your child’s most recent evaluation, the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan), and any insurance information. Keep these in one folder.

You will also need to sign consent forms for the school district evaluation and for PerformCare. Each agency has its own forms. Submit them as soon as possible. Delays often happen because a form was lost or incomplete. Follow up by phone every two weeks.

What if there is a gap in services?

Gaps happen. The school evaluation might not be finished by the birthday. PerformCare might take weeks to process the referral. Your child may miss some therapy days. This is frustrating, but you have options. Ask the school district for interim services if the evaluation is delayed. Request a “stay put” arrangement if your child already has an IEP from a previous placement. For medical ABA, ask your PerformCare care manager to expedite the authorization. If you run into a long delay, contact the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of Special Education or the Office of the Ombudsman for Children’s System of Care. They are there to help, but you must push for answers.

After age 21: another handoff

This article focuses on age three, but know that at age 21, the Children’s System of Care ends and the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) takes over. That is another handoff you will need to plan for years ahead. For now, focus on the immediate transition.

What to do this week

1. If your child is between 2 years 6 months and 2 years 9 months, call your school district’s child study team today. Ask for a transition conference. If you are past 2 years 9 months, call anyway. Do not let shame stop you.
2. Call PerformCare. Tell them your child is turning three and needs ABA. Ask for a care manager. Write down the name and phone number.
3. Check your child’s NJ FamilyCare status. If they are not enrolled, apply now. If they are, confirm the plan (Horizon, Wellpoint, Aetna, or UnitedHealthcare).
4. Organize your paperwork. Make copies of the IFSP, evaluations, and any doctor’s letter. Have them ready to fax or upload.
5. Ask questions. You are allowed to ask the school district, PerformCare, and your EI service coordinator for timelines and names of people responsible. Write down everything.

The handover is not automatic. You are the coordinator. Essex County has providers and systems in place, but they do not call you. You call them. Start now.