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Developmental and Disability Support: Early Intervention Services for Families
What is Early Intervention?
Early Intervention (EI) is a federal program for families with children up to age 3, with a disability, and/or a developmental delay or substantially at risk of a developmental delay. EI provides services to eligible families in order to meet developmental milestones, learn and grow.
EI supports the capacity of families to meet the developmental needs of their infants and toddlers. Ultimately EI improves children’s long-term outcomes and minimizes the need for special education services in preschool
The EI program is one of the federal programs that is part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). EI is Part C of the IDEA program. It is frequently referred to as IDEA Part C.
Is my child eligible for services?
Infants and toddlers are eligible for services if they have one of the following:
- 30% developmental delay in at least one domain: cognitive, physical, communication, social/ emotional, or adaptive
- Physical or mental condition known to cause a developmental delay or disability (e.g., low birth weight, lead poisoning)
- At risk of substantial delays (e.g. parent mental illness, caregiver substance use, homelessness, etc.)
- Substantiated case of child abuse or neglect
How can I have my child screened to determine whether our family is eligible for services?
If you think your child has a disability or developmental delay, you have options to find out. Anyone can refer a child for free EI screening. To get started, you can go directly to one of the 25 regional Child and Family Connections (CFC) offices to schedule a free evaluation. You can also talk to a pediatrician or doctor for a referral.
Find your nearest CFC Office.
Child and Family Connections Offices
Note - Child and Family Connection offices serve specific counties and zip codes and may not always the closest office to your home. Should you have issues connecting with the right office, contact our team for assistance.
Also available is this reference guide that lists all counties served by each Child and Family Connection office.
What happens if services are needed?
If services are needed, a team will work with you to come up with a plan. Then they will write an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for your child and family. The IFSP sets goals and identifies your family’s needs. Then Early Intervention Providers work with your family to help your infants and toddlers reach their goals.
How can I find an Early Intervention Child and Family Connections partner in my region to help me identify if my child and family are eligible for Early Intervention services?
- Find the Child and Family Connections (CFC) office that serves your county above, or call 1-800-843-6154 (Voice/TTY).
Additional Information
Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse identifies and collects research-based and best-practice early intervention information to share with families.
Family Participation Fees
Family fees remain suspended at this time
Family Participation Fees are payments some families make for certain Early Intervention (EI) services. Not all EI services are subject to fee
Which services have fees? Direct services, like Physical Therapy, Developmental Therapy, or Speech Therapy, are subject to fees. Other services, such as Service Coordination, Evaluations, Assessments and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Development, are not subject to fees. Your Service Coordinator can give you a detailed list of services subject to fees in the EI Cornerstone Family Fee Report.
Who pays fees? Family participation fees are based on your family’s household income. Families with income at or below 318% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are not charged fees.
How do I pay? You can pay family fees electronically online, by phone, or on a smart device through the Illinois E-Pay system offered by the Illinois State Treasurer's Office..
Paper checks are no longer accepted. Pay online or by phone through the Illinois E-Pay system offered by the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office.
To make an electronic payment, please go to: https://magic.collectorsolutions.com/magic-ui/en-US/Login/ildhs
To make a payment by phone: Please call the toll-free number at 1-888-926-0651. Verbal step-by-step instructions will guide families through the payment process.
Questions about your fees? Contact your Service Coordinator at your CFC. They can help you understand what fees apply to your family and how to make a payment.
Early Intervention Resources
The following sites provide additional information and resources in regard to Early Intervention:
Family-Focused Information - Basic information on the Illinois Early Intervention Program
Child Find / Public Awareness Materials - Information on a variety of Child Find/Public Awareness materials for both Part C Early Intervention and Part B Early Childhood with the ability to order paper copies free of charge.