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

A practical guide for Bergen County families navigating the age 3 transition from Early Intervention to school-based ABA and other services in New Jersey.

Published August 30, 2026 · Bergen County, New Jersey

Why the handover matters

If your child receives Early Intervention services in Bergen County, the month they turn three brings a hard stop. The New Jersey Early Intervention System hands off to the school district and to PerformCare, the single access point for the Children's System of Care. Nobody sends you a checklist. This article walks you through the actual steps, the actual forms, and the actual people you need to ask, using only what is known about Bergen County.

Step one: Know the two paths that open at age three

Before your child turns three, you have one system: Early Intervention. After three, you have two separate systems that run in parallel. One is the school district, which handles special education (including ABA if the IEP team decides it is needed). The other is PerformCare, which handles behavioral health services through NJ FamilyCare or private insurance. Both can provide ABA, but they follow different rules. You do not have to choose one; many children use both.

The school district path

Your child’s Early Intervention service coordinator must, by law, refer your child to your local school district at least 120 days before the third birthday. If you live in one of the 70 Bergen County municipalities, your district is one of the real school districts listed here: Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Dumont, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, and many others. Each district has a Child Study Team. Ask your service coordinator for the name and contact of the district’s director of special education. If you have not heard from the district by the time your child is 2 years 8 months, call them yourself. The district will schedule an evaluation and an IEP meeting. The IEP can include ABA as a related service if the team agrees it is educationally necessary. There is no guarantee. You can request an independent evaluation if you disagree with the district’s findings, but you may need to pay for it or request funding through the district.

The PerformCare path

For children age three and up, PerformCare is the single point of entry for the Children’s System of Care. This covers behavioral health services including ABA if your child has a diagnosis of autism and the service is medically necessary. You do not need a school referral. You can call PerformCare directly. They will ask for your child’s diagnosis, insurance information, and a brief description of needs. After intake, they assign a care manager. That care manager helps you find a provider. Bergen County has 108 ABA providers registered on the federal NPPES registry. 45 of the county’s 70 municipalities have at least one provider in the town itself, and every town has a provider within seven miles. So availability is broad, but specific openings depend on the provider’s current caseload. You will need to call multiple providers. Ask the care manager for a list of in-network options.

Step two: Understand your insurance options

If your child is on NJ FamilyCare (the state Medicaid and CHIP program), you are covered. NJ FamilyCare contracts with four managed care plans: Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Your child may be in one of these. Call the plan’s member services number on the back of the card and ask: “What is the process to get ABA prior authorization for a child turning three?” The answer varies by plan. Some require a prescription from a doctor, others accept a diagnostic report. Ask for the name of the person handling ABA authorizations. Write it down. Follow up in writing if possible.

If you have private insurance, your plan must cover ABA for autism under New Jersey’s autism insurance mandate. But the amount of coverage, copays, and network restrictions differ. Call your insurer and ask the same question. Be ready to provide the diagnosis code (F84.0 for autistic disorder) and the CPT codes for ABA (97151 through 97158 are common). Your provider’s billing office can help with this.

Step three: Gather the documents you will need

Every system will ask for the same few things. Start collecting them now:

• Diagnostic evaluation report from a qualified professional (developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, or neuropsychologist). The report must state an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and recommend ABA if that is the case.
• Early Intervention records including the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) and any progress notes. These help the school district and PerformCare understand what has been working.
• Insurance card and policy number. For NJ FamilyCare, also know the name of your managed care plan.
• Your child’s Medicaid ID number if applicable.

Keep a binder or a digital folder. You will hand these to the school district, to PerformCare, and to each provider you contact.

Step four: Plan for the gap

The transition date is your child’s third birthday. Early Intervention stops that day. The school district and PerformCare are supposed to have services in place by that date, but delays happen. If the IEP is not finalized or the provider cannot start immediately, your child may have a gap. You can ask the school district to provide “interim services” if the IEP is delayed, but there is no guarantee. You can also ask PerformCare for a temporary authorization while you wait for a provider. Be persistent. Call your care manager and the district’s special education director every week. Write down names and dates. If the gap stretches beyond a month, you can file a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Education (for school issues) or the Department of Human Services (for PerformCare issues).

What happens after 21?

This article focuses on the age three transition, but you should know that at age 21, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) becomes the primary system for adults with developmental disabilities. DDD has its own eligibility process and waitlists. You can apply to DDD starting at age 18. That is a separate conversation, but keep it on your radar.

A final honest note

Every family’s experience is different. Some school districts in Bergen County have robust ABA programs; others do not. Some PerformCare care managers are proactive; others are overwhelmed. You will need to advocate and follow up. The good news is that Bergen County has many providers, and the systems exist. The handover is confusing, but you can manage it by knowing the steps, the forms, and the people to ask. Start early. Call the school district and PerformCare at least four months before the third birthday. And keep every piece of paper.