Therapy Assistance Grants

The Chicago Autism Network is inviting families to apply for a therapy assistance grant through their website (link below). Those children who live in Illinois, meet income guidelines and have an autism diagnosis may be eligible for grant money to be used towards out of pocket therapy costs or help with insurance premiums. 

2024 Therapy Assistance Grants 

Examining Your Child's Sleep Needs by Age

Interested in learning more about your baby's sleep needs? Sleep promotes brain development, attention span, frustration tolerance and overall health. The resources below can help you get started.

 https://www.amazon.com/Precious-Little-Sleep-Complete-Parents/dp/0997580801

https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/baby-sleep-schedule.aspx

Graph can be found at the following link: National Sleep Foundation Sleep Recommendations

A New School Year Awaits!

The Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD) has put together  Back to School Resources which include:

• A Back to School Social Story (Eng), Back to School Social Story (Español)- to help your child better transition to the new school year
• Visual Supports (Eng), Visual Supports (Español) to help with routines at home, bus schedules, and weekly school/no school schedules
• Tip Sheets for families and caregivers to learn how to use visual supports
• Structured activities Back to School Check List, Back to School Check List (Español) to help your child review basic skills prior to returning to school
• An entire IEP and Special Education Resource section to help with understanding of the IEP process and your child's Special Education Rights

Connect Home Visiting

Connect Home Visiting is a Maternal Child Health and Early Childhood initiative affiliated with Lurie Children's Hospital.  Connect Home Visiting refers pregnant people and families with young children to a network of home visiting providers in the Chicagoland area. Home visitors work with parents on practical parenting skills as well as family bonding before birth and as children grow up. Through partnering with the home visitors, families learn how to improve their family’s health and provide better opportunities for their children. 

Families may consider this resource in addition to the therapies offered through Early Intervention. 

Getting Started in Early Intervention

 Anyone can refer a child to Early Intervention.

Concerned the development of a child under the age of three? Download the referral form below. Completed forms can be sent via facsimile to (312) 942-7811, (312) 942-7813 or (312) 942-8510. A prescription form can also be completed by your child's doctor.

CFC 11 serves the following zip codes: 60610, 60611, 60613, 60614, 60618, 60622, 60625, 60626, 60630, 60631, 60634, 60639, 60640, 60641, 60642, 60645, 60646, 60647, 60651, 60654, 60656, 60657, 60659 and 60660. Don't see your zip code? Please see the Early Intervention Office Listing to find the contact information of the location that serves your area. 

Early Intervention Office Listing

Referral Form

Prescription Form 

Do you know a child that may need therapies that is age three or above? Please connect with a Child Find location to inquire about a developmental evaluation. 

Getting Ready for Preschool Transition

Would you like to learn more about the transition from early intervention to preschool? The informational video above will outline the general process. If you are interested in participating in a live webinar hosted by Chicago Public Schools please join us on the last Tuesday of each month to learn more. 

There is no need to RSVP, simply use the link below to join. Here you can ask questions and get immediate answers related to your child's preschool journey.

The links always remain the same and no rsvp is required. Meeting are held in both Spanish and English on the last Tuesday of the month.

ENGLISH 1-2:15 PM meet.google.com/fkt-jyqk-qgc 

SPANISH 2:25 PM  meet.google.com/kpu-yjjc-fmh 

 

Need a Technology Loan?

The Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse is pleased to announce we are loaning technology to help families in early intervention participate in live video visits, or telehealth. Many EI families are receiving services by live video visits. To help families with technology needs, the EI Clearinghouse has added several technology devices to the lending library:

• iPads with a cellular data plan (device and internet access)
• iPads without a cellular data
  plan (device)
• Hotspot with cellular data plan (internet access)

Please use the link below to learn more and apply.

Early Intervention Technology Loan