The Ministry of Labor has approved the Standard for the provision of early assistance services for children

According to the new order, the categories of recipients of early assistance services include children from birth to three years of age. They and their families will be considered potentially in need if the children have the status of "disabled child", if they have the IV or V health group (according to the results of a medical examination), are in an organization for orphans, have special needs in physical or mental development, and also if the children are raised in families in difficult life situations.

The list of workers involved in providing specialized services must necessarily include a social worker, a psychologist, a special education teacher, a speech therapist, and a physical education instructor; recommended workers include a pediatrician, neonatologist, neurologist, occupational therapist, typhlopedagogue, teacher of the deaf, educator, senior and ward nurses, and orderly.

The list of activities consists of four services: determination of the need for assistance, development of an individual early assistance program (IEAP), assessment of its implementation, provision of early assistance during the implementation of IEAP, consultation on early assistance without the development of IEAP.

The development of the IPRP will be based on such activities as assessment of activity, health, emotional state, cognitive, communicative and speech development, as well as assessment of the development of self-care skills, the child’s everyday skills and others.

The document also contains indicators of the duration and frequency of providing activities. For example, the assessment of the child and parents' need for early assistance will be carried out once, duration - 90 minutes. Compilation and execution of the IPRP - up to two times, 120 minutes.

The standard also includes an approximate list of necessary rehabilitation equipment. For example, the list includes aids for the rehabilitation of hearing and vision, for perceptual training, for eating and drinking, and others.

In August 2024, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the requirements for the organization and provision of early assistance to children from birth to three years of age and their families. The resolution was adopted to create a regulatory framework for the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation and habilitation system. The unified approach described in the regulation has been in effect in all regions of the country since March 1, 2025.