Early Intervention Training Program at the University of Illinois

LEGACY (ARCHIVAL) RESOURCES

This page contains resources for the online System Overview Follow-up (SOFU) training that was retired in February 2026. To find resources related to the updated version of SOFU, please review the SOFU Participant Guide (pdf).

This page is currently being maintained as a courtesy to past participants. For up-to-date resources and support, we encourage individuals who began working in EI in the last 18 months to join us for our New to Early Intervention (EI) Forum.

Page sections (click on a section title to link to that section):

• Key Resources
• EI System
• EI Process (Family Journey)
• EI Payments and Billing
• Working in EI

Key Resources:

• IDHS Reports and Notices - Contains current and past IDHS reports and an up-to-date listing of IDHS memos (Provider Information Notices)
• Provider Handbook
• CFC Procedure Manual
• Illinois Early Intervention Systems of Support - 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).
• Resources related to retired SOFU training:
  • PPT slides from retired Online SOFU (pdf)
  • Extend Your Learning (pdf)

Early Intervention System

Related Video: Introduction to Early Intervention (from EITP)

I. Shared Vision, Mission and Principles

• Simon Sinek TED Talk video: Start with WHY 
• National Mission and Vision
• Illinois EI Principles
• DEC Recommended Practices
• Evidence-Based Practices: Key Terms and Definitions (DaSy)
• Comparison of EI and Outpatient Model (pdf)
• Partnering with Families: The Parent-Professional Partnership 
  • Improving Relationships between Parents and Families (handout coming soon)
  • Harper Hope: A Parent's View of the Power of Early Intervention (video)
  • Parents and Early Intervention (video)
  • Natural Environments

Group Activity:  Where Do You Stand? (pdf form)

II. Rules and Regulations

Federal

• Law: Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Created 1986, amended in 2004 and 2011
• Lead Agency: US Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

State

• Law: 89 IL Admin Code 500 (Rule 500)
• Lead Agency: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Early Intervention
  • Provider Handbook 
  • CFC Procedure Manual

Mandated Reporting

HIPAA

Family Rights

• State of Illinois' Infant/Toddler & Family Rights under IDEA for the Early Intervention System (Family Rights Handbook) (Derechos De Infantes & Familias Bajo IDEA)
• Section 6 of "Family Guide"
• Chapter 4 of Provider Handbook

III. Illinois Early Intervention System

Illinois EI Systems of Support 

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 was created in collaboration with EITP and the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention (IICEI) Communications Workgroup in May 2021. It is also available in a printable version (pdf).

IDHS Bureau of Early Intervention

• Part C Coordinator (Benjamin Delgado, Jr.)
• EI Ombudsman (Chelsea Guillen)

Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention

Child & Family Connections (CFC)

• Overview of Child and Family Connections
• *NEW*Interactive Child and Family Connections (CFC) Map
• Service Coordinator (SC)
• Support Services:
  • Parent Liaison
  • Local Interagency Council Coordinator (LIC)
  • Social Emotional Specialist
  • Developmental Pediatric Consultant
• SC Model in Illinois (pdf)

Services in Illinois (Sweet 16) - see "Referring a Child to Early Intervention" brochure 4270 from IDHS.  

• PDF version of brochure 4270: "Referring a Child to Early Intervention"
• Spanish PDF version of brochure 4270: "La Remisión de un Niño a la Intervención Temprana" 
• Paper copies of the "Referring a Child to Early Intervention" brochure in English and Spanish are available at no cost from ChildFind.

The Illinois Early Intervention Program: A Guide for Families - updated Jan. 2026

• The "family guide" is available in multiple languages

IV. Teaming and Collaboration

System Partners

• EI Central Billing Office (EICBO)
• EI Clearinghouse
• EI Training Program (EITP)
• Monitoring
• Provider Connections

Central Directory

Related Programs

• Infographic: Illinois Publicly Funded Early Childhood Programs (from IECAM)
• Home Visiting: i-Grow 
• Governor's Office on Early Childhood Development (GOECD)
• Videos on related programs in Illinois Early Childhood: This 8-video series produced by Illinois Action for Children features different parts of the early childhood system. The videos are intended to help individuals that work with families and young children directly to understand how they can best make referrals and connect them to helpful services:
  • Early Head Start/Head Start
  • Early Childhood Collaborations
  • Child Welfare
  • Home Visiting programs
  • Preschool
  • Special Education
  • TANF, (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), and Family Case Management

Collaboration and Teaming resources

V. Measuring Success of EI

At a Glance: Child and Family Outcomes

Child Outcomes

• Decision Tree
• Age Expected Development Resources
• Child Outcomes: Measuring the Benefits of Early Intervention (pdf) or Los resultados infantiles. La medida de los beneficios de la intervención temprana (pdf)
• Outcomes: Measuring the Success of Early Intervention for IFSP (pdf) or Resultados: la medición del éxito de la intervención temprana a IFSP (pdf)
• Outcomes: Measuring the Success of Early Intervention for Intake (pdf) or Resultados: la medición del éxito de la intervención temprana al Consumo (pdf)

Family Outcomes (ECTA)

• Illinois Family Outcomes Survey
• Illinois Family Outcomes Survey Infographic (pdf) 

EI Process (Family Journey)

Related resources:

• EI Process in Illinois (pdf)
• Coaching Families in EI from EITP
• Documentation Infographic (pdf) from EITP
• Video: Illinois Early Intervention from Action for Children
• Video: Family Video (Parents and Early Intervention) from EITP
• IFSP Video: Bri, Her Family, and Early Intervention playlist from EITP

Referral

• Child Find
  • Do You Have Questions about Your Child's Development? - DHS 4395 (Available in English and Spanish)
  • Developmental Milestones (English and Spanish) - DHS 4389 (Available in English and Spanish)
• Understanding Child Development
  • CDC Child Development Resources
  • Pathways
  • Zero to Three
• Medically Fragile
• Standardized Illinois Early Intervention Referral Form (pdf) - Updated 3/2018, revised 1/8/19

Intake

• Outcomes: Measuring the Success of Early Intervention for Intake (PDF) Resultados: la medición del éxito de la intervención temprana al Consumo (PDF)
• Family Assessment 
  • Routines Based Interview (RBI)
  • Ages and States Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (2nd version) (ASQ:SE-2)
  • Intake Social History Summary  (CFC Procedure Manual)
    • Example of Intake Social History Summary

Evaluation-Assessment

• Multidisciplinary Approach
• Assessment Tools
  • Approved Assessment & Evaluation Instruments (updated 12/2023)
  • Global Assessment Tool trainings available from EITP (these are live event trainings):
    • BDI-3
    • HELP
    • DAYC-2
    • Search our calendar of events for these trainings!
• Authentic Assessment
  • Video on Authentic Assessment in EI
  • Online training: Authentic Assessment in EI
• Report Format
  • Illinois EI Required Format for Evaluation/Assessment Report Guidelines (pdf)
  • Evaluation-Assessment Report Format (pdf)
  • Evaluation-Assessment Report Format – (editable) Word document
  • Online training: The Illinois Early Intervention Report Format

Eligibility

• 5 Developmental Domains and Eligibility
• Informed Clinical Opinion

IFSP Process

• IFSP document: The IFSP pages will download as Word document. You will see a pop-up window asking you where to download the file.It will not open in the browser. The file opens up by finding your downloaded file, and opening it in Word.
  • English - writeable IFSP pages (Word doc)
  • Español - writeable IFSP pages (Word doc)
• The EI IFSP Process Flowchart
• Illinois Policy and Procedure - Ch 12 of CFC Procedure Manual
• IFSP Meeting
  • Developing Family-Centered Outcomes with your EI Team
  • Sample IFSP Agenda (pdf)
  • Editable IFSP Agenda (Word doc)
• Development
  • Outcomes 
    • Outcomes: Measuring the Success of Early Intervention for IFSP (PDF) Resultados: la medición del éxito de la intervención temprana a IFSP (PDF) 
    • Using Eval/Assmt Info for IFSP Development
    • Resources for Writing Good IFSP Outcomes
    • Summary Worksheet for IFSP Practices
    • Worksheet: Developing Measurable and Functional IFSP Outcomes/Strategies (PDF or Word document)
    • IFSP-Outcomes Integration
    • Picture from training (Outcomes - coming soon)
  • Outcomes to Strategies: Fridgeable Strategies Worksheet (this Word document will pop-out as a download)

Ongoing Supports/Services 

• Implementation
  • Authorizations
• Natural Environments
  • • Natural Partners in Natural Environments: Childcare and EI - A Guide to Early Intervention Services in Illinois
    • Working in Child Care as an EI Provider (pdf)
    • Working with Early Intervention as a Child Care Provider (pdf)
    • Picture from training (Natural Environment -coming soon)
  • EI and Medical Home
• Review IFSP
• Modifying IFSP
• Assistive Technology

Transition or Exiting EI

• Transition
  • When I'm 3, where will I be? Transition Guide (pdf) with Instructions (pdf)
    • Cuando tenga 3 años, ¿en dónde estaré? (pdf) with Instructions (Spanish) (pdf)
    • When I'm Three Transition Guide (Arabic) (pdf)
    • When I'm Three Transition Guide (Polish) pdf)
• Leaving EI
  • Video “Reflections on a Final Visit” (This video file will download in a pop-up window).

EI Payments and Billing

Paying for Early Intervention (Family)

• Section 4 of "Family Guide"
• Illinois System of Payments
  • Family Fee
  • Insurance
    • Private
    • Public Assistance
  • "Payer of Last Resort"

Billing for Early Intervention (Providers)

• EI Central Billing Office
  • EICBO Billing Information for Providers (pdf) - updated Jan. 2020!
  • Insurance
    • Private Insurance Billing infographic (pdf)
    • EICBO insurance billing unit
  • QClaims
    • To get started simply visit http://spiclaims01.eicbo.info/  and view the initial sign-up documentation.
• Enrollment in IMPACT (from Provider Connections)  - includes an overview (presentation) on IMPACT, resources, and tips
  • IMPACT
  • Setting yourself up as a vendor -NPI: National Plan and Provider Enumeration System
  • Common Billing & Enrollment Questions

Working in Early Intervention

Credentialing

Provider Connections - handles the credentialing process for Illinois EI, and is who you should contact with questions about credentialing

• Credentialing Overview
  • Instructional video on filling out the EI Credential Application
  • Common Credentialing Questions
• Credentialing Requirements
  • Background Checks
  • Consultative Experience
  • Required Trainings
  • Temporary Requirements
  • Ongoing Professional Development
  • Renewal
  • Rule Requirements
• Credentialing Application (New)
  • Complete most updated credential application
• Temporary Credential Requirements
  • Note: The 240 hours is the number of hours of direct services and not the number of hours of consultation with the mentor.  For example, the Ongoing Professional Development Plan meeting would not be considered direct service.
• Ongoing Professional Development Documentation Form, along with the EI Ongoing PD Plan Format (pdf)
  • Both are required to upgrade your credential from Temporary to Full. Use the form to record your monthly meetings held with a specialist-level provider. This form must be submitted along with the Consultation Verification form and subsequent renewals. The form can be sent in when 75% of the total meetings are complete. To learn more about this form, please see the Provider Connections Winter 2024 Newsletter (page 11). 
• EICBO (Billing) Enrollment
  • IMPACT
  • Setting yourself up as a vendor -NPI: National Plan and Provider Enumeration System.
• Renewal
  • Full EI Credentials are valid for 3 years.
  • Renewal requirements include Ongoing Professional Development meetings, Continuing Education, and at least the Child Abuse and Tracking System (CANTS) and Sex Offender Registry Background Checks.
• Becoming an Individual/ Sole Proprietor (pdf) from Provider Connections - This document provides important considerations for individuals wanting to operate as a business owner within Early Intervention.  It also includes instructions on how to proceed with enrollment and places for support with the process.

Ongoing Professional Development

• EITP F2F events
• EITP Online
• EITP Video Credit
• Non-EITP Events approved for EI Credit

Taking Care of Yourself

• Safety
• Recognizing your triggers and needs
• Organizing materials and resources
• Time management
• Self-care
• Professional Associations
• IDHS Updates and Reports

Partnering with Families

• DEC RPs on Family-Centered Practices
  • Parents as experts
  • Family Centered Practices Checklist
• Working with Interpreters and Translators
• Respecting Cultural Differences
• Implicit Bias (How to Think about Implicit  Bias article)
• Natural Environments
• Shared EI Philosophy 
  • What is Early Intervention?
  • ¿Qué es la intervención temprana?
•  Connecting with Families Tip Sheet (pdf) - intended for new providers just starting to connect with families and CFCs in Illinois EI.