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  • ABOUT US
    • PARTNERSHIPS
  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • NEXT STEPS AFTER A FAILED HEARING SCREENING
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • AGES AND STAGES
    • BIRTH TO AGE 3
    • PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
    • 1st GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
    • BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
  • MUSIC PROGRAMMING
    • MTME SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM – EARLY CHILDHOOD & INSTRUMENT MUSIC CLASSES
    • SCHOOL BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS
    • MUSIC THERAPY
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
    • LITERACY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • CLINICAL & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
    • LOANER HEARING AID PROGRAM
    • POLICY AND ADVOCACY
    • LURIE CHILDREN’S PARTNERSHIP
  • EVENTS
  • BLOGS
  • WAYS TO GIVE
  • ABOUT US
    • PARTNERSHIPS
  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • NEXT STEPS AFTER A FAILED HEARING SCREENING
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • AGES AND STAGES
    • BIRTH TO AGE 3
    • PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
    • 1st GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
    • BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
  • MUSIC PROGRAMMING
    • MTME SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM – EARLY CHILDHOOD & INSTRUMENT MUSIC CLASSES
    • SCHOOL BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS
    • MUSIC THERAPY
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
    • LITERACY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • CLINICAL & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
    • LOANER HEARING AID PROGRAM
    • POLICY AND ADVOCACY
    • LURIE CHILDREN’S PARTNERSHIP
  • EVENTS
  • BLOGS
  • WAYS TO GIVE

2025 - Our Year of Access & Inclusion

EARLY INTERVENTION

The Early Intervention Program in Illinois provides an array of services, designed to provide families with resources and support to assist them in fostering their child’s development. Early Intervention service providers will help you learn strategies to optimize your child’s language learning, communication, and language development. You are your child’s first and most important teacher. As a caregiver, you have the capacity to significantly shape your child’s development.

Overview of the Illinois Early Intervention Program

When your child has been identified with a hearing loss issue you will be contacted by multiple organizations to help guide you through this process.  Below is an overview of these organizations and the work they do. 

The Illinois Early Intervention Program

CHILD AND FAMILY CONNECTIONS (CFC)

CHILD AND FAMILY CONNECTIONS (CFC) serves as the regional partner for DHS and they have regional offices throughout Illinois. CFC offices are responsible for managing referrals to EI, determining eligibility for services, the development of the initial Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), referral to EI service providers, and transition to school based services at age three.

DESIGNATED SERVICE COORDINATORS (DSC)

DCS’s have specialized backgrounds in the area of deafness and are uniquely situated to provide information specific to your child’s hearing, language, and communication needs.

SERVICE COORDINATOR
Your service coordinator will be employed by CFC, to work with your family and ensure that you and your child receive all necessary services and supports. The service coordinator links families to resources and informs family members of their rights, obligations and responsibilities under the Early Intervention Services System. The service coordinator  assists you and the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team members in the develop- ment and implementation of the IFSP. The service coordinator also assists in your child’s transition out of the Early Intervention Services System as they approach three.
FAMILY RIGHTS
FAMILY RIGHTS
in Early Intervention you have the right to a timely and free evaluation, development of a coordinated plan (IFSP), privacy, consent or refusal of services, prior  notice of all meetings, evaluations, and changes in service, review of your child’s records, understanding of information, and the right to disagree. For more information about family rights in Early Intervention, refer to the booklet, State of Illinois Infant/Toddler and Family Rights Under IDEA for the Early Intervention System

When working with providers, it’s important to ask a variety of questions in order to find a provider who is qualified, who you feel comfortable with, and who can help you achieve your goals for your child.

Here are suggested questions to ask the provider:

  • What is your background or degree?
  • What training and experience do you have with hearing loss?
  • What training and experience do you have with infants and toddlers?
  • What is your communication philosophy?
  • How do you feel about a family using more than one communication Adoption and therapies?
  • How will you help my child?
  • Why do you do this work?
  • Can you help me find additional resources if needed?
  • Can you explain the transition process out of early intervention?
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ELIGIBILITY

Early Intervention determination of ELIGIBILITY occurs once the audiological screening, evaluation and assessments have been completed and received by the CFC. Children with a diagnosed hearing loss are eligible for the early intervention services  if they are experiencing developmental delays of at least 30% in one or more areas of development. However, a child is automatically eligible for the early intervention program if he/she has been diagnosed with

    • a hearing level of 30 decibels (dB) or greater at any two of the following frequencies: 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hertz (Hz), OR
    • A hearing level of 35 dB or greater at any one of the following frequencies: 500, 1000 and 2000 (Hz) involving one or both ears.
INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN (IFSP)

INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN (IFSP) will be developed. The IFSP is both a process and a written document that considers your family’s identified priorities, concerns, resources and important outcomes for you and your family. The IFSP will identify the types of services you and your child will need to reach your outcomes. The IFSP is reviewed and updated every six months with the entire IFSP team. As your child grows and changes, your family may need different services. Although the IFSP is reviewed every 6 months, it can be reviewed and changed more often as needed.

SERVICE PROVIDERS
  • SERVICE PROVIDERS are qualified professionals with an IL Early Intervention Credential, who work closely with you and your family to ensure you receive the appropriate education, resources, and supports to assist you with reaching your identified IFSP outcomes. The most common services required for a child who is deaf or hard of hearing include:
    • assistive technology (hearing aids, ear molds, cochlear implants, BAHA, etc)
    • audiology (amplification fitting, follow-up, monitoring)
    • aural rehabilitation (developmental therapist/hearing)
    • counseling
    • service coordination
    • speech therapy
    • family support (interpreter, deaf mentor).

You and the IFSP team will discuss the service options which will best support you and your family in reaching your IFSP goals.

DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPIST - HEARING SPECIALIST (DTH)

DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPIST – HEARING SPECIALIST (DTH) is a professional with extensive knowledge regarding hearing loss and has a degree in deaf education. A DTH provides services that are specific to your infant’s overall development as it is directly affected by the hearing loss. DTHs can help you through the maze of amplification options, communication and language options, educational choices, assistive technology, and social issues. DTHs can explain and support the language acquisition strategies for your child who is deaf or hard of hearing.

DEAF MENTORS

DEAF MENTORS are for families choosing ASL.
The mentors are adults who have a hearing loss, and consider themselves a part of the Deaf community. They will make regular visits to your home to interact with your child and to share their language, culture, and personal knowledge on deafness. Deaf mentors provide a communication model, as well as a connection to the Deaf community.

PARENT LIAISONS

PARENT LIAISONS are parents of children with hearing loss who have experienced the Early Intervention System first-hand, and can help other parents who are going through the same process.

MORE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

CDC HEARING LOSS - PLAN FOR YOUR CHILD

In addition to the services described above, Early Intervention also provides services in the areas of:

  • physical development (movement),
  • cognitive development (learning),
  • communication development (interaction),
  • social or emotional development (behavior),
  • adaptive development (use of existing skills).

Your service coordinator will explain these services to you. After identifying your family’s priorities and concerns, you and the IFSP team will determine appropriate outcomes and strategies to help support you and your child’s growth towards those outcomes.  Remember that you, the parent, are part of the team and an important voice.

As you begin the journey of Early Intervention, you may want to connect with the organizations on our RESOURCES PAGE for additional information and services.
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BIRTH TO AGE 3

AGES & STAGES

PARENT RESOURCES

HEARING TECHNOLOGY

Every contribution to FHSR helps improve the lives of children with hearing loss. 

We hope you will consider making a gift to support these children.  Thank you!

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A Sound Investment in Our Children

Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin
  • ABOUT US
  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • NEXT STEPS AFTER A FAILED HEARING SCREENING
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • AGES AND STAGES
    • BIRTH TO AGE 3
    • PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
    • 1st GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
    • BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
    • LITERACY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • MUSIC PROGRAMMING
    • MUSIC CLASSES & INSTRUMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
    • SCHOOL BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS
    • MUSIC THERAPY
  • CLINICAL & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
    • LOANER HEARING AID PROGRAM
    • POLICY AND ADVOCACY
  • EVENTS
  • BLOGS
  • WAYS TO GIVE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT US
  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • NEXT STEPS AFTER A FAILED HEARING SCREENING
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • AGES AND STAGES
    • BIRTH TO AGE 3
    • PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
    • 1st GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
    • BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
    • LITERACY
    • EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM
  • MUSIC PROGRAMMING
    • MUSIC CLASSES & INSTRUMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
    • SCHOOL BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS
    • MUSIC THERAPY
  • CLINICAL & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
    • LOANER HEARING AID PROGRAM
    • POLICY AND ADVOCACY
  • EVENTS
  • BLOGS
  • WAYS TO GIVE
  • CONTACT

FHSR is a qualified 501(C)(3) tax exempt organization. Tax ID number 36-6082810.

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