POLICY

  1. Local Interagency Councils (LIC's) are components of the statewide infrastructure of the Early Intervention Services System and emphasize planning at the local level to identify and coordinate all resources and services available within each Child and Family Connections (CFC) local service area.
  2. Members of each LIC shall include, but are not limited to, the following: parents; representatives from coordination and advocacy service providers; local education agencies; other local public and private service providers; representatives from State agencies at the local level; and others deemed necessary by the LIC.

  3. The LIC is responsible for coordination, design, and implementation of child find and public awareness activities for their geographic region. Such efforts shall take into consideration the region's cultural, communication, geographical, and socio-economic make-up. The CFC shall be responsible for staffing the local council, carrying out child find and public awareness activities.

    The CFC and LIC shall assure that child find and public awareness activities are coordinated with comprehensive local and statewide efforts and shall provide information to the Department to monitor the effectiveness of the efforts and determine possible gaps in public awareness and child find. If gaps are determined, the CFC and the LIC shall increase efforts as required.

    Local interagency councils shall assist with:

    1. development of collaborative agreements between local service providers, diagnostic and other agencies providing additional services to the child and family and agreements related to transition and integration of eligible children and families into the community;
    2. local needs assessments, planning, and evaluation efforts;
    3. identify and resolve local access issues;
    4. provider recruitment; and
    5. development of an annual report to the Council regarding child find and public awareness.
  4. The LIC meeting schedule should include meeting times and locations that are conducive to parent participation.
  5. Child and Family Connections must fulfill all LIC responsibilities and identify a contact person(s) responsible for ensuring that LIC activities are carried out.
  6. LIC Coordinators are not required to submit a credential/enrollment application packet.

PROCEDURE

  1. Procedure for Local Interagency Council Coordination
    1. Providing staff/staff support for LIC meetings;
    2. Conducting local needs assessments;
    3. Developing strategies to address gaps in service delivery identified in local needs assessments, including identification of additional funding sources and provider recruitment;
    4. Facilitating the development of coordination agreements among local service providers, and other agencies providing services to children and families;
    5. Coordinating public awareness initiatives and activities in the CFC area;
    6. Submitting biannual Child Find screening calendars of upcoming screening events in the local service area;
    7. Coordinating child find activities in the CFC local service area, including the development of agreements with the local school districts and other entities that also conduct child find activities;
    8. Submitting monthly 0-5 Child Find Screening Data Collection Forms for data collection purposes;
    9. Developing plans and local interagency agreements for facilitating transition and integration of eligible children and families from the Early Intervention Services System into the community and/or public school system at the age of three;
    10. Facilitating local system conflict resolutions related to LIC activities;
    11. Facilitating completion of an annual report to the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention. 
  2. Provide services in a professional manner as a representative of the Early Intervention Services System and the CFC.