Early Intervention - At Risk Factors Resulting In High Probability of Developmental Delay

Children residing in Illinois who are under the age of 3 years old and their families/caregivers are eligible for EI services when they are at risk for substantial developmental delay based on the following:

  • The child is the subject of a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect as defined in the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C § 5106) and in the Illinois Early Intervention Services System Act (325 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 4153).
  • The child is at risk of substantial developmental delay, based on informed clinical opinion meaning a child was not able to be determined eligible under 9.1.1 or 9.1.2 of the CFC Procedure Manual but that there is a consensus of qualified staff based upon multidisciplinary evaluations and assessments that development of a DHS-determined eligible level of delay is probable if EI services are not provided, because a child is experiencing either:
  1. A parent who has been medically diagnosed as having a mental illness or serious emotional disorder defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 (DSM 5) 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; o
  2. Three or more of the following risk factors:
    1. Current alcohol or substance abuse by the primary caregiver;
    2. Primary caregiver who is currently less than 15 years of age;
    3. Current homelessness of the child. Homelessness is defined as children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, in conformity with the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act;
    4. Chronic illness of the primary caregiver;
    5. Alcohol or substance abuse by the mother during pregnancy with the child; or
    6. Primary caregiver with a level of education equal to or less than the 10th grade, unless that that level is appropriate to the primary caregiver's age.