Statewide Early Intervention Coordinating Council (EICC)

The Early Intervention Coordinating Council (EICC) is a 30-member advisory council established in Section 2553 of the Public Health Law. The EICC assists the New York State Department of Health with the administration of the Early Intervention Program and makes recommendations to the Department regarding appropriate services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

Upcoming Meeting Dates and Locations

Quarterly EICC Meetings

10:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • Wednesday, March 13, 2019
  • Thursday, June 13, 2019
  • Thursday, September 19, 2019
  • Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Main Location - NYS Convention Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY

Remote Locations – If you will attend at one of the below remote locations, send an email request to BEI@health.ny.gov:

MARO Operations
90 Church Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10007

Rochester Western Region Office, NYS Department of Health
335 East Main Street
Rochester, NY 14604

All EICC full-day meetings are webcast and available for live viewing.

Executive Committee Meetings

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ESP Corning Tower, Conference Room 610

  • Tuesday, January 8, 2019
  • Tuesday, April 16, 2019
  • Tuesday, July 16, 2019
  • Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Approximately two weeks before each EICC Full Council meeting, an announcement confirming the assigned meeting room in the NYS Convention Center is emailed to interested parties. If you would like to be added to the interested party email list, or would like more information about attending Executive Committee meetings, please contact the Bureau of Early Intervention 518-473-7016 or BEI@health.ny.gov.

EICC Membership

  • Jessica Benton
    New York State Department of Financial Services
    One Commerce Plaza
    Albany, New York 12257
    Main: 518-473-7102
    Jessica.benton@dfs.ny.gov
  • Marcelle Bichotte-Dunner
    (Parent Member)
    mrsdunner@yahoo.com
  • Heidi L. Bond
    Public Health Director
    Otsego County Department of Health
    140 County Highway 33W, Suite 3
    Cooperstown, NY 13326
    Main: 607-547-4230
    bondh@otsegocounty.com
  • Marie Casalino, MD
    Assistant Commissioner
    NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
    Bureau of Early Intervention
    Gotham Center, CN #12
    42-09 28th Street, 9th Floor
    Queens, New York 11101-4132
    Main: 347-396-6974
    mcasali1@health.nyc.gov
  • Lisa M. Chester, B.A., M.P.A.
    Early Intervention Official
    Director - Children with Special Needs
    Niagara County Department of Health
    Trott Access Center
    1001 11th Street
    Niagara Falls, New York 14301
    Main: 716-278-1991
    Lisa.Chester@niagaracounty.com
  • Amy De Vito
    (Parent Member)
    Adevito23@yahoo.com
  • Karen S. Edwards, MD, MPH
    Director
    University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
    Westchester Institute for Human Development
    Cedarwood Hall, Room 332
    20 Plaza West
    Valhalla, New York 10595
    Main: 914-493-1035
    kedwards@wihd.org
  • Steve Held – Council Vice Chair
    Executive Director
    Just Kids Early Childhood Learning Center
    PO Box 12, Longwood Road
    Middle Island, New York 11953
    Main: 631-924-0008
    jkschool@aol.com
  • Talina Jones - Council Chair
    (Parent Member)
    Talinajones32@gmail.com
  • Paola Jordan
    (Parent Member)
    Paolai75@hotmail.com
  • Leah Esther Lax, PhD
    (Parent Member)
    acclax@aol.com
  • James McGuirk, PhD
    Executive Director and CEO
    Astor Services for Children and Families
    6339 Mill Street
    Rhinebeck, New York 12572
    Main: 845-871-1000
    jmcguirk@astorservices.org
  • Kayleigh Zaloga
    Legislative Associate
    Office of Assemblyman Richard Gottfried
    822 Legislative Office Building
    Albany, New York12248
    Main:518-455-4941
    Fax:518-455-5939
    zalogak@nyassembly.gov
  • Ms. Cheryl Potvin Hogan
    Hinman Straub P.C.
    121 State Street
    Albany, NY 12207
    Main: 518-436-0751
    Fax: 518-436-4751
    chogan@hinmanstraub.com
  • Ms. Melissa Puchalski
    Early Intervention and Preschool Director
    North Country Kids
    22 New York Road
    Plattsburgh, NY 12903
    Main: 518-561-3803
    Fax: 518-561-3805
    m.puchalski@nckidsinc.com
  • Linda Rennie
    Director, Office of Children with Special Needs
    Nassau County Health Department
    60 Charles Lindberg Boulevard, Suite 100
    Uniondale, New York 11553
    Main: 516-227-8648
    Linda.rennie@hhsnassaucountyny.us
  • Cheryl Schaefer-Coppola
    (Parent Member)
    ccoppola2@rochester.rr.com
  • Ms. Lynn Chavanne Shea
    Early Childhood Program Director
    Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center
    5181 Briercliff Drive
    Hamburg, NY 14075
    Main: 716-913-7479
    lshea@askbhsc.org
  • Elina Tsenter
    (Designee of the State Education Department)
    Associate in Special Education
    P-12: Office of Special Education
    New York State Education Department
    Education Building, Room 309
    Albany, New York 12234
    Main: 518-473-6108
    elina.tsenter@nysed.gov
  • Antonia Weidner
    (Designee of the Office of Children and Family Services)
    Division of Child Care Services
    NYS Office of Children and Family Services
    309 South Building
    52 Washington Street
    Rensselaer, New York 12144
    Main: 518-486-7118
    Antonia.Weidner@ocfs.ny.gov
  • Nora Yates
    (Designee of the Department of Health)
    Director, Center for Community Health
    NYS Department of Health
    Tower Building, Empire State Plaza
    Albany, New York 12237
    Main: 518-473-4371
  • Ms. Marina Yoegel
    Assistant Commissioner for Children with
    Special Needs
    Westchester County Health Department
    145 Huguenot Street, 7th Floor
    New Rochelle, NY 10801
    Main: 914-813-5090
    mry1@westchestergov.com
  • Dixie Yonkers
    Director of Advocacy Services
    NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
    44 Holland Avenue
    Albany, New York 12229
    Main: 518-473-1997
    dixie.yonkers@opwdd.ny.gov