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

What to do when your child with autism turns 3 in Union County, NJ: school district evaluations, PerformCare, and ABA providers. Here is the plan.

Published August 30, 2026 · Union County, New Jersey

What actually happens at three

Your child is about to turn three, and the early intervention team starts using the word "transition." Nobody explains the handover well. In New Jersey, the system for children under 3 is the New Jersey Early Intervention System. At age 3, that system ends. Two other systems take over: your local school district and the Children's System of Care. In Union County, you have concrete places to go.

Start with your school district

For a child with autism, the first move is to contact your school district. In Union County, real districts include Berkeley Heights School District, Clark Township Public School District, Cranford Public School District, Elizabeth Public Schools, Garwood Boro, Hillside Public School District, Kenilworth School District, Linden Public School District, Mountainside School District, and Plainfield Public School District. Find the one for your address.

Ask for the Director of Special Services. If that title does not exist in your district, ask for the person who handles special education. Put your request in writing. Say: "I request a special education evaluation for my child." Ask for the district's written request form for an evaluation. Then ask for the consent form. The district cannot evaluate without your signed consent.

This is called Child Find. Every school district has a duty to find and evaluate children with disabilities. You do not need a doctor's referral. You do not need to wait for the Early Intervention program to do it for you.

The IEP and ABA

The school evaluation looks at your child's development and behavior. If your child is eligible, the district writes an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. In New Jersey, a child age 3 to 5 can be classified as "preschool child with a disability." The IEP can include ABA goals, a behavior intervention plan, and related services. Ask directly: "Will ABA be part of the IEP? Who will provide it? What training will the staff have?"

If the district says your child is not eligible, or if the IEP does not meet your child's needs, you have the right to disagree. Ask about mediation, due process, and state complaint procedures. Keep a paper trail. Write down the name of every person you speak to.

The other door: PerformCare

School is not the only route. At age 3, PerformCare is the single access point for the Children's System of Care. This is the state system for behavioral health and developmental needs. Contact PerformCare and ask for a care manager. Ask for a child family team. That team can help you find services outside school, including ABA, if it is medically necessary.

If your child is on NJ FamilyCare, the state Medicaid and CHIP program, your managed care plan is one of these: Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Call your plan and ask about ABA coverage. Ask for in-network ABA providers. If you have private insurance, ask your insurance company the same questions. Do not assume a provider will bill your insurance. Ask before you start.

Finding an ABA provider in Union County

You can search on your own using the federal NPPES registry. In Union County, 52 ABA providers are registered on that federal registry. 17 of the 21 municipalities have an ABA provider registered in the town itself, and every town has one within 7 miles. The towns with the most providers are Union (9), Cranford (7), Clark (6), Westfield (6), Elizabeth (4), and Linden (4).

Search by your ZIP code and the provider type for behavior analysis. Then call the provider and ask three questions: Do you accept NJ FamilyCare? Do you accept my private insurance? Can you coordinate with my child's school and care manager? The registry tells you a provider exists. It does not tell you if they have an opening, so ask.

If your child is already three

Maybe you missed the transition meeting. It happens. Do not panic. Contact your school district today and make the same written request. Contact PerformCare and ask for an intake. The systems can start after the third birthday, but the paperwork takes time. Ask every person you speak to for their name and a direct way to reach them.

If you still have an Early Intervention service coordinator, ask them for a transition summary. That summary can help the school and PerformCare understand your child's history. But do not wait for it. Your written request to the school district is the step that starts the clock.

After 21

One more thing to know: after age 21, the Division of Developmental Disabilities becomes the adult system. You do not need to solve that now. But keep your child's evaluations, IEPs, and care plans in a folder. They will matter later.

This guide is not a provider and does not sell therapy. It is a local checklist. In Union County, you have school districts, PerformCare, and 52 registered ABA providers within reach. The handover is confusing, but you can start with a written request and one phone call.