ABA for toddlers in Bergen County: starting before three

A practical guide for Bergen County families seeking ABA therapy for toddlers under 3, covering NJ Early Intervention, PerformCare, insurance, and local providers.

Published October 2, 2026 · Bergen County, New Jersey

Why start before three

If your child is under 3 and you are considering applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy in Bergen County, the state of New Jersey gives you a specific path through the Early Intervention System. Starting early can mean accessing services before the preschool years, but the system works differently than it does for older children. This guide walks you through the steps, the forms, and the people to ask, using only the facts that apply to Bergen County.

Step one: contact the New Jersey Early Intervention System

For a child under 3, the single entry point is the New Jersey Early Intervention System, not PerformCare. PerformCare is the access point starting at age 3. For toddlers, you call the statewide Early Intervention intake line. You will be connected to a service coordinator assigned to Bergen County. That coordinator will schedule a multidisciplinary evaluation at no cost to you.

During the evaluation, you can request that ABA be considered. The evaluation team will decide if ABA is medically necessary for your child. If they agree, it will be written into the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). That plan is the legal document that lists the services your child will receive.

Step two: find a Bergen County ABA provider that accepts Early Intervention

Not every ABA provider in Bergen County works with the Early Intervention System. You need to ask directly. There are 108 ABA providers registered in Bergen County on the federal NPPES registry, and they are spread across 45 of the county's 70 municipalities. Every town in Bergen County has at least one ABA provider within 7 miles, so you will not have to travel far. The towns with the most providers are Hackensack (12), Montvale (9), Fair Lawn (8), Englewood (6), Mahwah (5), and Teaneck (5).

When you call a provider, ask: "Do you accept New Jersey Early Intervention funding?" If they say yes, ask if they have a current contract with the state. If they say no, ask if they accept private insurance or NJ FamilyCare for toddlers. Some providers will bill your insurance directly instead of going through Early Intervention. That is a separate route.

Step three: understand your insurance options

New Jersey law requires most commercial health plans to cover ABA for autism. If you have private insurance through an employer, call your plan and ask: "Does my policy cover ABA for a child under 3?" If you have NJ FamilyCare (the state Medicaid and CHIP program), ABA is covered. The managed care plans in New Jersey are Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Each plan has its own network of ABA providers. You can call your plan and ask for a list of in-network ABA providers in Bergen County.

If you use the Early Intervention route, they will handle funding through a combination of state funds and your insurance. You may need to provide your insurance information to the service coordinator. If you do not have insurance, the state covers the cost through Early Intervention. There is no income test for children under 3 in New Jersey.

Step four: ask the right questions before choosing a provider

Once you have a list of providers who work with toddlers, call each one and ask these specific questions:

• "Do you have a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) who supervises therapy for children under 3?"
• "How many hours per week do you typically recommend for a toddler?" (There is no standard number; it depends on the child.)
• "Will therapy happen in my home, in a clinic, or in a daycare?"
• "How long is your typical wait before services start?" (Wait times vary and are not predictable.)
• "Do you provide parent training as part of the ABA plan?"

Take notes. Some providers will have immediate availability, others may have a waitlist. You are allowed to switch providers at any time if you are not satisfied.

What happens after age 3

When your child turns 3, the Early Intervention System transfers responsibility to your local school district. In Bergen County, each of the 70 municipalities has its own school district. Examples include Alpine School District, Bergenfield Borough School District, Bogota Public School District, Carlstadt Public School District, Cliffside Park School District, Closter Public School District, Cresskill Public School District, Dumont Public School District, Edgewater School District, and Elmwood Park School District. Your service coordinator will help schedule a transition meeting with the child study team of your home district. After that, the school district may provide ABA through a preschool special education program, or you may continue with private ABA funded by your insurance. PerformCare becomes the access point for the Children's System of Care at age 3, so you can call them for support if needed.

If your child is over 21

After age 21, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in New Jersey takes over. That is a separate system, and this article does not cover it. If you need that information, contact your current service coordinator or your child's school district before they age out.

One honest uncertainty

No one can tell you exactly how many hours of ABA your toddler will get or how long the process will take from evaluation to first therapy session. It varies by provider, by insurance, and by the availability of a BCBA in your area. In Bergen County, with 108 providers, you have more options than most counties in New Jersey, but availability still fluctuates. Keep calling. Keep asking. You are allowed to be persistent.

What this site does not do

This guide does not provide therapy, diagnose autism, or bill insurance. It is a free resource for families in Bergen County. Always verify directly with your insurance company, your provider, and the New Jersey Early Intervention System before making decisions.