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Early Intervention
Child & Family Connections #15
February 2025 Family Newsletter
Will/Grundy/Kankakee/LaSalle Counties
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The Imagination Library is coming to Will County!!
The Imagination Library is a program started in 1995 by Dolly Parton to inspire a love of reading. This program gifts books free of charge each month to children from birth to age five through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners. Will County is currently fundraising in order start the program in Will County. Click the link to learn more about the ways to support bringing this program to all children in Will County.
The Imagination Library is currently up and running in Grundy County through Grundy County United Way, in LaSalle County through the United Way of Eastern LaSalle County, and in Kankakee County through Bradley School District. If you live in one of these counties and want to register your child for this amazing program, please click the link above for the county you live in.
Here is a listing of the 2025 books that will be sent each month to children age 0-5 who are registered for this program. If you want to learn more about reasons to read to your young child, Zero to Three has information on this, and many areas to support parents of babies and young children
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The ARC of Illinois has been advocating for over 70 years, with people with disabilities, families, and community organizations to make Illinois a place where people with disabilities can live, work, learn, play, and love in communities across the state.
They offer resources and information; they support families in their individual advocacy efforts; and they offer workshops to educate people with disabilities, families and professionals.
They are offering the following FREE webinars this month:
February 18th 6-7pm: Family Advocate Program - Know your Options
February 25th 12-1:30pm: Special Topic Webinar - The PUNS List
February 27th 12-1pm: Managing Income & Assets with Government Benefits
Families are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Click here to view a message from Samantha Alloway, the Executive Director of the ARC of IL, on how the Medicaid Program supports disability services in Illinois.
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The Reduce the Wait (RTW) research project is no longer enrolling families in their virtual autism evaluation program. They made this decision so that the research team can focus on advocating for policy change during the final year of the project. At the close of the program, RTW will have seen over 600 families for an autism evaluation.
The Early Intervention Research Group at Northwestern University is conducting a study for families who already have an Autism diagnosis and are interested in additional services, specifically virtual parent coaching on communication and behavior strategies. The SMART study is currently looking for families with toddlers between the ages of 18 - 48 months with an autism diagnosis to participate in 1 -2 video sessions per week. Click here to learn more or to sign up for this study.
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The Early Intervention Clearinghouse is a wonderful resource for all families in EI. Below are links to resources from the EI Clearinghouse to support you and your child.
The EI Clearinghouse has updated the Illinois Early Intervention Family Guide! The updated guide includes information on early intervention philosophies and practices, definitions of EI services and terms, and pages for families to take notes. The guide is available in 9 different languages - including English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Chinese, Kiswahili, Polish, Russian, and Urdu.
They have also created Speech Kits available in English and Spanish, that can be sent to your home and kept for up to 4 weeks! Each kit includes two books for caregivers with information and activities to promote communication skills and two books to be shared with children to encourage shared communication and relationship building. To request a speech kit, click the name of the kit and follow the directions for completing a loan request. When due, the kits can be returned to your local library.
The EI clearinghouse also recently started a facebook support group for families in Early Intervention. This group offers parents and caregivers an opportunity to connect, share concerns, ask questions. To join the group, when logged into Facebook, search: “IL Early Intervention Family Support Group” or follow this link
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We hope you enjoy the fun events and family resources shared in this newsletter. If you know of a great local event or resource for young children and families to include in future newsletters, please email mvalerius@svcincofil.org.
If you know someone who is concerned about their child's development, please share the
number for the Child and Family Connections 15 Referral Coordinator, (815) 768-3730.
-The staff at CFC 15
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Fun Family Activities February 2025 | |
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Exceptional Needs Today is a magazine to promote acceptance, awareness, and inclusiveness for all! Go to their website to sign up for a FREE subscription.
Advocates for Acceptance is an organization, made up of a group of Special Needs Moms, that promotes inclusion for all children by assisting families in providing sports programs, recreation activities and adapted playground equipment for children.
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Do you know someone who needs help with groceries? | |
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My Pantry Express is an online food pantry. Items can be picked up from multiple locations in Will County. Delivery also now available! Please click the link for details. No income or residency restrictions apply.
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The Northern Illinois Food Bank has a list of upcoming Mobil Markets listed weekly by county. They are first-come first-served, while supplies last. Everyone is welcome – no ID or referral is needed. | |
Will County has created Food Access Maps where you can locate food pantries, micro pantries, mobile food pantries, and community gardens in Will and some of the surrounding counties.
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Is your Child Turning 3 soon & Graduating from EI? | |
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Do you understand the Transition process out of Early Intervention when your child turns 3? Here are a few resources to help you during this time.
If you have any questions about your child's transition out of the Early Intervention Program, please reach out to your service coordinator.
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Child and Family Connections #15 is the regional office serving as the point of entry for children and families into the Illinois Early Intervention Program. CFC #15 serves children age 0-3 year and their families in Will, Grundy, Kankakee, and LaSalle Counties.
For more information about the Illinois Early Intervention Program, please visit:
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**The events and information contained in this newsletter are not sponsored by Child and Family Connections #15. This newsletter contains information from many different agencies and organizations and is provided to families as a resource.** | | | | |
