The role of the public health nurse in the early identification of children with physical disabilities and/or developmental delays has been and will always be a vital component in assuring the early intervention and appropriate referral for further assessment and/or treatment. Part C challenges all professionals to work collaboratively in order to develop the best plan of care to "enhance the development of handicapped infants and toddlers; to minimize their potential for developmental delay" and to "enhance the capacity of families to meet the special needs of their infants and toddlers with handicaps."