Below you will find numerous links to national resources that can assist early intervention professionals in their efforts to support and partner with the families they serve.
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The Family's Role in Early Intervention Services
These resources from the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse helps explain the critical role of families in EI.
This Child Find Project Website was created to offer information and resources related to the earliest possible identification of young children and their families who may benefit from early intervention and special education services.
The Family Enrichment Program is a Birth to Three Prevention Initiative Program funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. The goal of the program is to assure school success by providing information and support to at risk families with infants and toddlers.
The Family Resource Center on Disabilities is Chicago's Metropolitan Area Parent Training and Information Center. This resource provides parents of children with disabilities with information, training, assistance, and support.
A national network providing families with information and other supports to ensure family-centered care for all families with children with special health care needs and/or disabilities.
The Fathers Network mission is to celebrate and support fathers and families raising children with special health care needs and developmental disabilities.
A group committed to making sure that families actively participate in early intervention ad the national state, and local levels. Created and led by family leaders.
The Illinois Early Intervention (EI) Clearinghouse identifies and collects research-based and best-practice early intervention information to share with families.
An early intervention resource guide that includes an overview of early intervention, eligibility, development of an Individualized Service Plan (IFSP), leaving early intervention, legal rights, and frequently asked questions by families.
Learn more about the systems that support Illinois Early Intervention in this interactive graphic that highlights the key stakeholders that work together to support children and families in Illinois Early Intervention, by exploring an overview of who they are, what they do, where to find key resources, and how to contact them. This resource is great for anyone new to EI and is also available in a printable version (pdf).
The Guidelines provide early childhood professionals and policy makers a framework for understanding child development by presenting information on what children know and should do and what development looks like in everyday life. The main goal of the Guidelines is to offer early childhood professionals a cohesive analysis of children's development with common expectations and common language. These Guidelines also provide suggestions and ideas on how to create early experiences that benefit all children's learning and development.
Multiple resources for families and professionals to encourage family-centered services.
Medical Diagnostic Services in EI (brochures)
The brochures, available in English and Spanish, provide an overview of Medical Diagnostic Services in EI. It answers common questions, like "How do I obtain medical diagnostic services?" and "What happens during a meidcal diagnostic visit?". Click the links below for English or Spanish version.
English version and Spanish version
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8.
Although the NICHCY project has ended, this site provides legacy documents (archives) of their wide array of resources related to children with disabilities for families, professionals, and the general public.
Scope is an new online community that merged with NetBuddy. The new community represents the best of our old forums and also incorporates content and features from NetBuddy, which was full of handy tips and bright ideas from parents, caregivers, teachers and therapists with experience of learning disability and autism. It is a 'by you, for you' special needs resource, offering practical solutions to everyday issues - from brushing teeth to challenging behavior.
Parent training and information (PTI) center providing resources, services, and materials for families with children and disabilities. National technical assistance center to all state PTIs, in partnership with regional technical assistance centers. has a directory of all PTIs in the country.
Pathways Awareness is uniquely dedicated to increasing knowledge about the gift of early detection and the benefit of early therapy for infants and children with early motor delays. Pathways Awareness honors and supports parents by providing knowledge, information, and a sense of community as they guide their children on life's journey.
Positive Behavior Support
This module from the Center for Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning focuses on individualized intensive interventions through the process of positive behavior support. This approach is implemented by the caregivers, providers and family as a support plan with a holistic approach. Click here to download the module on Positive Behavior Support (PDF) and resources on this approach (PDF).
This video library includes various videos on using videos with families. This collection of videos show how video can be used in early intervention, illustrates how the use of video can be used as an opportunity for feedback and self-reflection, and demonstrates how using video with families can help early interventionists better observe infants and toddlers, family strengths, and child progress.
ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in the lives of infants and toddlers.
