Child and Family Connections Offices

For Early Intervention governance, history, procedural requirements, and forms reference the Child and Family Connections Procedures Manual.

The Bureau of Early Intervention requires monthly expenditure information to be submitted for reimbursement using the Early Intervention Periodic Financial Report (EIPFR-CFC) and Instructions.  To request the grantee's tailored copy of the EIPFR-CFC submit request to DHS.EIFiscal@illinois.gov

The EI Program is a statewide program for the evaluation and assessment of eligible children under 36 months of age; Any child under the age of 3 who is the subject of a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect as defined in the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and in Illinois Act (325 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 4153); or children engaged with Extended Services with any of the following conditions:

  • Qualifying disability or diagnosis;
  • 30 percent delay in development in one or more of the five developmental domains;
  • A physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay;
  • At risk of having substantial developmental delays, according to informed clinical opinion;
  • A parent who has been medically diagnosed as having a mental illness or serious emotional disorder defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V that has resulted in a significant impairment in the client's level of functioning in at least one major life functional area or a developmental disability; or
  • Three or more of the following risk factors:
    • current alcohol or substance abuse by the primary caregiver;
    • primary caregiver who is currently less than 15 years of age;
    • current homelessness of the child;
    • chronic illness of the primary caregiver;
    • alcohol or substance abuse by the mother during pregnancy with the child;
    • primary caregiver with a level of education equal to or less than the 10th grade, unless that level is appropriate to the primary caregiver's age.

Children and families in Illinois access Early Intervention (EI) services through the network of 25 Child and Family Connections (CFC) offices. These offices are mandated by state statute and rule to serve as the designated regional intake entities for the EI Program. The services provided by CFC offices are essential for ensuring timely and appropriate access to EI services statewide. CFC offices are integral to the delivery of EI services, providing a crucial point of entry for families seeking support for their children's developmental needs.

Importance and Impact:

By maintaining consistent and equitable points of entry throughout the state, CFC offices ensure that eligible children and families receive timely access to EI services regardless of their geographic location. The impact of CFC offices extends beyond initial intake, as they play a key role in coordinating services and resources to support children's developmental progress and family well-being. Through this notice of funding opportunity, IDHS seeks to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of EI services statewide, ultimately improving outcomes for children and families across Illinois.

A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Early Childhood, Bureau of Early Intervention (EI), seeks agencies located within Illinois to serve as the CFC offices for designated geographic areas. CFC offices are the regional intake entities defined in state statute (325 ILCS 20) and rule (89 IL Admin. Code 500) as IDHS's designated entity responsible for implementation of the EI Program within its designated geographic area. IDHS is required to assure the designation of regional points of entry to accomplish consistent and equitable intake and service coordination throughout the State, with services defined in 89 IL Admin. Code 500 Section 500.45. Separate proposals for each geographical intake region must be submitted for those agencies submitting for more than one geographical intake region. These regional entities, within defined geographic areas, implement comprehensive, coordinated interdisciplinary, interagency, EI systems for all eligible birth to three infants and toddlers in accordance with all relevant statutes, rules, and program standards found in the CFC Procedure Manual.

The responsibilities of the CFC include:

  • The CFC office shall select, train, and supervise qualified staff to carry out the following tasks within the EI Program's specified time frames. The CFC, whenever possible, shall recruit and select qualified staff that reflect the communities being served. Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons will complete required training within 90-calendar days of receiving their temporary credentials. 
  • The CFC office shall receive referrals from primary referral sources and contact the family within two-business days after the date that the referral is received to schedule an intake meeting with the family.
  • Contact with the family shall be in the family's native language or, with respect to an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, or for an individual with no written language, means the mode of communication that is normally used by that individual. 
  • The CFC office shall provide service coordination activities, including the following: 
    • Conduct intake meetings, which is the process of meeting in-person or virtually with the family to explain the EI Program and to complete all initial steps required prior to beginning the necessary evaluations and/or assessments; 
    • Assist any and all parents of infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities in equitably obtaining access to needed EI services and other services identified in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), including making referrals to EI providers for needed services and assisting in scheduling appointments for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and their families;
    • Coordinate the provision of EI services and other services (such as educational, social, and medical services that are not provided for diagnostic or evaluation purposes) that the child needs or is being provided; 
    • Coordinate initial evaluations with a minimum of two evaluator-credentialed EI providers to determine if the child is eligible for EI services and assessments to identify the child's unique strengths and needs and any EI services appropriate to meet those needs. Evaluations and/or assessments of five developmental domains are required to determine the child's level of functioning and/or unique strengths and needs in each domain prior to writing the initial IFSP; 
    • Facilitate and participate in the development, review, and evaluation of IFSPs, including facilitating the development of the initial IFSP within 45 days after the initial date of referral and distributing copies of the IFSP to the family, EI providers and other entities identified in the IFSP as soon as possible and no more than 15-business days after the IFSP meeting; 
    • Conduct referral and other activities to assist families in identifying available and culturally reflective EI providers; 
    • Coordinate, facilitate, and monitor the delivery of EI services to ensure that the services are initiated as soon as possible but not later than 30 calendar days after consent of the parent or guardian has been obtained for the IFSP; 
    • Conduct follow-up activities to determine that appropriate Part C services are being provided. Communicate monthly with the family using a variety of in-person, telephone, written correspondence, Live Video Visit (teletherapy), or other methods approved by the EI Bureau, including team meetings, to ensure that the family is well informed, functioning as an active participant in the implementation of the IFSP and to monitor the provision of needed evaluations and/or assessments and services; 
    • Inform families of their Part C rights, procedural safeguards and available advocacy services; 
    • Coordinate the funding sources for EI services required including collecting income verification for family participation fees and confirming use of private or public insurance use under this part, and 
    • Facilitate the development of a transition plan to preschool, school, or, if appropriate, other services. 
  • The CFC office shall establish/maintain Local Interagency Council(s) (LIC), who will assist the CFC through the development of local needs assessments and planning efforts. The needs assessments may be performed, using an equity lens, through engagement with community representatives at LIC meetings, outreach specific to individual community stakeholders, surveys, or any available communication with representatives from those receiving, providing or referring to the EI Program to help coordinate the needs and provide those, along with potential strategies to the CFC Program Manager.  LICs are designed to identify and resolve local access issues; conduct collaborative child find activities; coordinate public awareness initiatives; coordinate local planning and evaluation; assist in the recruitment of specialty personnel; develop plans for facilitating transition and integration of eligible children and families into the community; and facilitate conflict resolution at the local level.  Members of each LIC shall reflect the community being served, and shall include, but not be limited to the following: parents; representatives from coordination and advocacy service providers; local education agencies; Home Visiting providers and representatives; other local public and private service providers; representatives from State agencies at the local level; and others deemed necessary by the local council. CFC offices must identify a LIC coordinator(s) responsible for ensuring that each LIC is established and maintained.  The LIC Coordinator, with assistance from the CFC, will participate in reporting of activities on an IDHS-approved template on a quarterly basis.
    • The LIC will assist the CFC in ensuring the following activities are conducted:
      • Development of agreements related to transition and integration of eligible children and families into the community when leaving EI;
      • Development of collaborative agreements between local service providers, diagnostic and other agencies providing additional services to the child and family; 
      • Identify and resolve local access issues to EI services using diverse and equitable outreach strategies for all eligible children in the community;
      • Focused recruitment efforts, using local community stakeholders, to support equitable access to the EI program and, to the maximum extent possible, identify and engage professionals that are reflective of the community being served, to serve all children eligible for EI services within the CFC's geographic area. 
      • Development of an annual report, per CFC, identifying compliance of the above responsibilities, to be submitted to the Bureau for presenting to the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention (IICEI). 
  • The CFC office shall provide culturally appropriate/responsive Parent Liaison activities that include development and provision of direct support services to families and provision of consultation/resources to team members and other service providers regarding family perspectives on practices and policies for services and system development.  CFC offices must have a credentialed Parent Liaison(s) to ensure that parent liaison activities are provided. The Parent Liaison, with assistance from the CFC, will participate in reporting of activities on an IDHS-approved template on a quarterly basis. 
  • The CFC office shall provide Infant Mental Health components that include, at a minimum, an Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (formerly referred to as Social Emotional Consultant). The Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (IECMHC) provides professional development, clinical consultation, and systems support to infuse relationship-based, reflective practice throughout the EI process. IECMHCs will build capacity at all levels of the system to promote foundational relationships. Primary responsibilities of the IECMHC include reflective consultation to the CFC Program Manager, individual and group case consultation, and coordination of components including overseeing the implementation of SE screening and specialized assessment, and linkages to resources. IECMHCs will work with systems partners to advocate and sustain best practices. The IECMHC with assistance from the CFC, will participate in reporting activities on an IDHS-approved template on a quarterly basis.
  • The CFC office will contract for Developmental Pediatric Consultation (DPC) services with an unbiased and ethical non-employee of the CFC and ensure quality assurance activities such as periodic (as needed) participation in IFSP meetings, consultation on requests for IFSP service changes, technical assistance and training to EI providers to address local and system needs, Service Coordinator's training tailored to needs identified pursuant to reviews and assisting CFC office with Child Find with the medical community. The CFC will participate in reporting of activities on an IDHS-approved template on a quarterly basis. Other quality assurance activities include: 
    • Per request of the CFC or through periodic involvement, review of medical records, which may provide an explanation for a child's status and thus avoid duplicative medical diagnostic evaluations. 
    • Review evaluations and/or assessments and listen to the Service Coordinator's discussions of their observations of the child to assist in identifying signs of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Autism, Verbal and Motor Apraxia, Sensory Regulatory Disorder or other diagnoses that have not been previously addressed in either evaluation/assessment or treatment activities. 
    • Discuss the specific medical diagnosis with the Service Coordinator and the impact that a disease or syndrome may have on a child and family. Make suggestions for a better approach to the family. 
    • Assist with IFSP development for consistency with EI principles, best practices, EI philosophy and any and all policy and procedures. 

NOTE: Clinical developmental pediatric professionals include the following: Pediatrician, Advanced Practice Provider, Developmental Pediatrician, or EI Provider with strong developmental background that can provide a global perspective. To ensure opinions are unbiased, the entity selected cannot be an employee of the fiscal agent and should be used as a consultant and used on a regular basis.  A copy of the contract must be provided with the submission of the NOFO and annually based on each fiscal year's budget using a timeline developed by IDHS.

  • The CFC office shall comply with public and private insurance and family participation fee policies and procedures as set by IDHS.
  • The CFC office shall participate in public awareness and Child Find activities by disseminating information to primary referral sources and working through and with LICs.  In its public awareness and Child Find activities, the CFC will prioritize communities for which it has evidence of lower rates of participation, or communities whose knowledge of and information about the EI Program may be constrained. 
  • The CFC office shall maintain a directory of non-EI financial resources and support services for use with families. The CFC shall assist families in accessing non-EI financial resources and support services by making appropriate referrals while the child is enrolled with the EI Program and at transition. Children found ineligible should be offered referrals for non-EI community resources prior to case closure. 
  • The CFC office shall facilitate IFSP team discussions for every child to determine his/her status relative to each of the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) identified child outcomes and document the ratings in the statewide data system. 
  • The CFC office shall monitor that the use of Part C funds are the "payor of last resort" to the extent allowed by law.  This includes assistance in accessing resource supports including, but not limited to, the Division of Specialized Care for Children (Title V).  And, with the parent's or guardian's informed consent, Medicaid (Title XIX), the State's Children's Health Insurance Program (Title XXI), and private insurance. 
  • The CFC office shall enroll, if it wishes, as an "All Kids agent" in order to complete the All Kids application as authorized under Section 22 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Act. 
  • The CFC office shall develop, maintain, and process the permanent EI case record in accordance with policies set forth by IDHS. 
  • The CFC office shall maintain administrative and programmatic contact with all EI providers in the service area. 
  • The CFC office shall participate in routine monitoring and technical assistance activities as required by IDHS, including on-site or virtual monitoring, data collection and reporting obligations, record reviews, financial audits, due process investigations received by the Bureau of EI, and investigations initiated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). 
  • The CFC will participate and assist in publicizing consumer satisfaction surveys developed by the Bureau of EI or its partners.
  • The CFC office shall designate a CFC Program Manager who is employed by the CFC. The CFC Program Manager will be responsible for hiring all Service Coordinators. All Service Coordination activities will be the responsibility of the CFC and cannot be subcontracted to another entity.
  • The CFC office shall have a toll-free number and appropriate Internet access to support staff to access the IDHS systems, as needed. 
  • The CFC office shall purchase/maintain required equipment upon IDHS specifications. 
  • The CFC office shall provide an annual budget in the format and timeline required by IDHS and make necessary adjustments throughout the year when necessary. 
  • The CFC office shall be in compliance with the Early Intervention Handbooks and Manuals (including CFC support services, recordkeeping, due process, referrals to CFCs, intake, eligibility determination, public and private insurance use determination, family participation fees, IFSP creation and implementation, transition, and transfer and case closure).
  • The CFC office shall participate in training sessions, as required by IDHS including, but not limited to training for implicit bias and/or racial equity training such as those offered by the EI Training Program. 
  • The CFC office shall comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), specifically the Security Rule and the HIPAA Transactions and Code Sets Rule, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
  • The CFC office shall comply with the confidentiality of Early Intervention Records pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 617(c) and 642, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq., and Part C regulations in 34 CFR 303.401-303.417, all in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g and 34 CFR Part 99.