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A clearer next step.
Wayfinder Families previews referral navigation for families of children with disabilities across the DMV. It is not clinical care or a live referral service.
A family referral, made visible
A simple sample handoff view helps a referring partner and a family stay aligned without implying that Wayfinder Families decides eligibility, authorization, or services.
01
referral received
02
next owner named
03
family update due
- 1A pediatric practice records the referral date and the family’s preferred contact path.
- 2The intake or service-coordination team confirms the next step and who will make contact.
- 3The family can check the handoff status and bring clear questions to the next conversation.
The referral-to-care journey
Every handoff has a next step.
The names and timing can vary by jurisdiction. The useful questions stay consistent: what happens now, who is responsible, and how will the family hear back?
- 01
Referral
A parent, caregiver, health professional, or community partner starts a request with the responsible state or local program.
Next step
Confirm the referral reached the right intake point and ask when contact is expected.
Current owner
Referring person + state or local intake
- 02
Evaluation
The program explains the evaluation process and arranges conversations, observations, or assessments with qualified people.
Next step
Ask who will coordinate the evaluation, what to prepare, and how results will be shared.
Current owner
Evaluation team, with family participation
- 03
Eligibility and authorization
The responsible agency reviews information under its own rules and explains any eligibility, consent, or authorization step.
Next step
Write down the decision or pending step, the next date, and who can answer questions.
Current owner
Responsible state or local agency
- 04
Provider matching
A service coordinator or program team discusses available provider options, practical needs, and family preferences.
Next step
Ask which options are available, who will contact them, and what happens if a match is not workable.
Current owner
Service coordinator or responsible program
- 05
Scheduling
The provider and family agree on an appointment, setting, and communication plan that works for the child’s routines.
Next step
Confirm the date, format, accessibility needs, and who to contact if scheduling stalls.
Current owner
Provider + family; coordinator supports gaps
- 06
First service
The first visit turns the referral plan into a relationship, with space for family questions and a shared understanding of what comes next.
Next step
Ask what was agreed, what will be documented, and when the family will receive the next update.
Current owner
Provider + family
- 07
Transition
As a child’s needs or program eligibility change, the family and team plan the next handoff early instead of waiting for a deadline.
Next step
Start the transition conversation early and record the next program, contact, and family questions.
Current owner
Family + current and next care teams
For families and partners
One shared view, with the right level of context.
Wayfinder Families keeps the sample journey understandable for families and child-serving partners, without replacing program decisions or clinical care.
Follow the referral, prepare for the next conversation, and know who to contact when an expected handoff goes quiet.
Make the next owner visible, keep the referral context together, and give families a clearer update without replacing program decisions.
Keep the child’s journey connected
Transition belongs in the plan from the beginning.
Early Intervention does not end with a single referral. A visible record helps families and teams prepare for changes in service, setting, or program eligibility while the child’s context is still fresh.
A connected pediatric context
- Name the next program or team before the current support ends.
- Carry forward the family’s questions, preferences, and agreed contact path.
- Make the next milestone visible so no one has to reconstruct the story alone.
Choose the next step
Start with the handoff in front of you.
Families can explore a non-identifying sample referral or the family status preview. Child-serving organizations can request a walkthrough of the partner workflow.