Child and Family Connections

Access to Part C Early Intervention Services

For a child who is suspected of having a developmental delay before the age of three, our Child and Family Connections (CFC) office is the starting point for a referral for services.

“Developmental delay” is a determined eligible level of delay in one or more of the following areas of childhood development:

  • Cognitive
  • Physical, speech, and communication
  • Social-emotional
  • Adaptive self-help skills, as measured by approved diagnostic instruments and standard procedures, or as confirmed through informed clinical judgment of the multidisciplinary team if the child is unable to be appropriately and accurately tested by the standardized measures available.

SAI’s Child and Family Connection #7 is located in Hillside, Illinois. CFC staff gathers all necessary information, determine whether the child is eligible for Part C, and develop the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). They are responsible for ensuring that Part C eligibility determination is completed according to the early intervention criteria and procedures that are established by the federal government.

The CFC office is staffed by a program manager, service coordinators, and a parent liaison. Together, this team ensures that:

  • all of the opportunities under the Part C Early Intervention System are made available to families and the individual with a disability
  • families are provided with accurate and timely information about their options
  • families receive detailed information about their rights under federal an state law.

For consistency of services, the same service coordinator(s) remain with the family from the point of intake through the child’s transition to an early childhood program at age three year.

The fees for the Illinois Early Intervention Program are based on a family’s size and income. Families are required to first utilize their private insurance if applicable. The Early Intervention Program will pay for necessary therapies and services that are not covered by the family’s insurance.