The Early Intervention Providers Association of Pennsylvania (EIPA) is here to be your voice.
Our Mission
The Early Intervention Providers Association of Pennsylvania (EIPA) is here to be your voice. We work closely with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to communicate your concerns and needs, ensuring they understand the challenges we face. We also get the answers you need on important issues affecting the families we serve.
By fostering a two-way relationship, we keep the flow of information open between OCDEL and our provider community. EIPA is dedicated to supporting and training our workforce, helping you grow professionally and advocating for the best outcomes for everyone involved.
Meet the Team
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Annie Smith
PRESIDENT
Annie is President of the Early Intervention Provider Association, with 15+ years of dedication to Pennsylvania's Central Region. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at University of Indianapolis and has extensive experience in pediatric outpatient care. Currently Director of Early Intervention at Strawberry Fields, Inc. in State College, Annie oversees services for infants and toddlers in Centre County. Committed to staff development, she enhances service quality across residential, case management, and social enterprise programs, including Good Day Café.
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Christi Gleason
VICE PRESIDENT
Christi serves as Vice President of EIPA, with roles including Secretary of the EC and Co-Chair of the Southeast Region. A Penn State alumna with degrees in Psychology and Special Education, she has been pivotal at the Cerebral Palsy Assn of Chester County since 2005. As Director of Children’s Services, Christi leads a comprehensive 0-3 early intervention program across Chester and Lancaster Counties. She manages an adaptive technology lending library, aiding families with walkers, gait trainers, adaptive seating, and sensory tools. Christi also supports families directly as a Special Instructor in Early Intervention.
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Dr. Kris Bowman
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Kris is the Professional Co-Chair of the State Interagency Coordinating Council, an executive committee member, and past president of the Pennsylvania Early Intervention Providers Association. Active in state policy through Early Learning Pennsylvania, she contributes to the Pennsylvania Advisory Council for Early Childhood Education and Care. Kris engages locally in her ICC and nationally through memberships in NAEYC and The Council for Exceptional Children’s Division for Early Childhood Family Committee. -
Jocelyn Debick
TREASURER
Jocelyn serves as Treasurer for the Early Intervention Provider Association, having previously held roles such as Co-Chair. Currently, she directs the First Steps Early Intervention program, bringing extensive administrative experience to her oversight of diverse early childhood programs. Jocelyn leads initiatives across Head Start/Early Head Start, PA Pre-K Counts, and more, emphasizing curriculum, assessment, and inclusive practices. As Chair of the Westmoreland County Local Interagency Coordinating Council, she fosters collaboration in early childhood services. Jocelyn's leadership extends to business development, integrating services with Amazing Kids to enhance agency offerings.
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Sharon Richards
SECRETARY
Sharon currently serves as Secretary for Early Intervention Provider Association Executive Committee as well as Western Region Co-Chair. She brings a wealth of experience in a service provision and supervisory capacity. Sharon has been in the field for over thirty years. She is currently the Vice President of Early Intervention at Achieva. Sharon is a Certified Special Education Teacher receiving her Bachelor’s Degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Special Education of the Developmentally Disabled, Infants and Young Children. She has been an elementary and preschool school teacher in Maryland and Pennsylvania. She was a Special Instructor at Allegheny General Hospital and split her time between completing outpatient/inpatient evaluations and carrying a developmental therapy caseload through a collaborative grant with ARC Allegheny (now Achieva). Sharon has also worked as a Behavioral Specialist Consultant for young children on the Autism Spectrum, and a Director of Teaching at Spectrum Charter School.
Our Story
The Early Intervention Providers Association of Pennsylvania (EIPA) was founded in 1986 to provide a forum for the early intervention workforce to collaborate, share challenges and success and advocate for high quality services for children and families. Our membership is open to early intervention providers for children ages birth through five years in Pennsylvania.
Membership is divided into four regions: Northeast, Southeast, Central, and West. Regional co-chairs represent members on EIPA’s Executive Committee along with the Officers of EIPA. EIPA was established as a 501c6 non-profit organization. Financial information is available upon request.
Fostering a Collaborative
& Informed Community
The purpose of EIPA is clear: to bolster and fortify the community of providers committed to early childhood development. We're here to empower you with the tools, training, and advocacy necessary for achieving optimal outcomes for the families we support. Through building a collaborative and well-informed community, we strive to ignite a passion in others to join us in this essential mission, ensuring every child in Pennsylvania thrives.