Early Intervention

Child & Family Connections #15

July 2023 Family Newsletter

Will/Grundy/Kankakee/LaSalle Counties

Hello July!

Although it may seem like Summer has just started, once July begins Summer days seem to fly by.

There is still time to plan fun activities with your little ones! See below for ideas of fun things to do with your kids this month, and remember that what your child needs most to learn and grow is time spent with you!

• Outdoor Fun Learning Activities for Kids
• 21 Things to do with Preschoolers Before Summer Ends
• 7 Weird Wonderful Roadside Attractions In and Around Chicago
• 75 Family Summer Activities You & the Kids Can Do at Home or Outdoors
• 43 Fun Things to do During the Summer When you are on a Budget
• 100 Summer Fun Ideas for Kids and Parents
• Visit the EnjoyIllinois website to plan summer fun all across the state!
• Get out of the heat and into the AC at your local library! While you are there check out one of these Summer-Themed Books for Kids.
• Also check out these Free Summer Reading Programs for Kids.
• Or plan a day at a Chicago Museum, Chicago Free Museum Days for Summer 2023, and picnic in one of these Chicago Picnic spots!
• Head to a pool or a beach to cool off, but first check out these fun water safety tips from Longfellow the Whale and the American Red Cross
• Or check out these Cool Splash Pads and Spraygrounds in Chicagoland and spend a day park hopping using this map of 50 Splash Pads and Spray Playgrounds in Chicagoland, or this list of Splash pads and pools near Rockford.

In this newsletter you will find information on fun activities and support resources for all families, as well as information on some July awareness days and holidays.

July is....

• Independence Day on July 4th!
• World Chocolate Day on July 7th. Celebrate by making this recipe for 3 Ingredient Chocolate Dip
• National Blueberry Month! Blueberry picking season begins in July, here are places to pick blueberries around Chicagoland
• National hot dog month
• National Fragile X Awareness Month Here is a video where you can learn 10 things about Fragile X from the FRAXA Research Foundation
• Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

If you know someone who is concerned about their child's development please, give them the number for the Child and Family Connections 15 Referral Coordinator, (815) 768-3730.

-The staff at CFC 15

For family events in the Chicagoland area go to ChicagoParent.com and view the July/August 2023 Issue of Chicago Parent Magazine

Have you heard of Morgans Wonderland located in San Antonio, Texas? It is the only Ultra Accessible theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind! Children 2 and under and guests with special needs are free. Click the link to learn more about this amazing theme park! Their Project Angel Fare program was created to help financially support families to attend, they also have a facebook page.

Fun and educational places for families:

DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville. The museum offers Access membership for a reduced fee to all families in Early Intervention ($25 for a family membership!! Reduced from $135) See the website for details or ask at the museum.

Kidswork Children's Museum in Frankfort.

Discovery Center Museum in Rockford

Chicago Children's Museum

Field Museum masks are recommended.

The Museum of Science and Industry masks required in certain areas

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum masks recommended, not required.

The Art Institute is open with advanced ticket purchase.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Brookfield Zoo

Cosley Zoo in Wheaton

Sky Zone in Joliet is open and has a Little Leapers program for kids age 7 and under See their calendar for details.

Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park both located in LaSalle County are great places to get outside and enjoy nature!

Theatres with Sensory Friendly Movie Times

AMC Theatres in New Lenox, Naperville, Lombard and Morris

Marcus Theatres in Orland Park and Chicago Heights

NGC Cinema in Yorkville

Emagine in Frankfort

Eagle Theatre in Streator

Special Recreation Associations host virtual and in-person events for kids of all ages:

• River Valley Special Rec Association in Bradley
• Lincolnway Special Rec Association in New Lenox
• Check out their Spring/Summer 2023 Program Guide.
• Families can reserve time in the Nest Sensory Room
• Northern Will County Special Rec Association (NWCSRA) in Romeoville.
• Check out their Summer 2023 brochure and Day Camp Brochure
• Their sensory room is available to reserve for individual use located at 10 Montrose in Romeoville. Email Gina Petkus for info.
• SRJC - Special Recreation of Joliet and Channahon
• The NorthWest Special Recreation Association in Rolling Meadows hosts online sibshops for siblings, who are ages 8-12 year old, of children with disabilities to meet other siblings for peer support and fun! Contact ljevaney@nwsra.org for more information.

If your child is in Early Intervention and you would like to have them evaluated for Autism, you may be eligible to participate in a home-based virtual autism evaluation through Northwestern University.

For more information:

• view the project flyer
• watch the promotional video about the project
• Go to the Northwestern Early Intervention Research Group website
• or text ENROLL to 847-750-3440.
• If you are interested in participating in this program, please complete complete the following survey.

The Reduce the Wait (RTW) Project is a research study conducted by the Early Intervention Research Group (EIRG) at Northwestern University. This research project aims to reduce the autism diagnostic waitlist by providing families enrolled in Illinois Part C Early Intervention with a virtual autism diagnostic experience. If an Autism Diagnosis is given to your child, this diagnosis will be recognized by insurance. If you are currently on a waitlist to have a Medical Diagnostic Evaluation through EI, you may remain on the waitlist while you participate in this project.

Parent/Family Support Programs:

USDA Summer Meals Program -search approved sites in your community that serve summer meals to kids up to age 18 at no cost. Click the link to find meal sites. Dates, hours, and meal availability vary by location.

Special Needs Mom Squad is an organization in Lombard that offers resources and supports for families with Special Needs.

Diaper Depot is a program of United Way of Will County. Families in need can pick up FREE pre-packaged diaper packets once a month from one of three locations in Will County. Click the link for more information.

Text for baby is an app that helps you track you babies, health, growth, and development from birth through your babies first year.

2-1-1 is now available in all counties 211 is a 24/7 resource/crisis line that families can call to get connected to local human services and crisis intervention resources in their area.

9-8-8 is a new mental health suicide and crisis hotline that is free, confidential and available 24/7 to anyone experiencing mental health related distress.

The IL Cares for Kids website was created to support all IL families with children from birth through school age. On this site you can search for preschool programs in your area. Parents can also sign up for a FREE text program called Ready4K for families with kids ages 0-11.

• Families can expect to receive 3 texts a week with fun facts and tips on ways to help their child learn and grow, as well as links to local resources.
• TEXT IL4KIDS to 70138 to register or visit illinoiscaresforkids.org

Aunt Martha's Healthy Families Program in Cook, Will, & Kankakee Counties has a home visiting Program to support new and expectant parents. Click the link for more information.

The Jump Start homevisiting Parental Training Program is a parenting enrichment program offered in Will, Grundy, Kankakee and LaSalle counties. It is a free program that offers parent education and family support services throughout pregnancy until your child is 3 years old. In Will and Grundy Counties contact 815-725-2194 and ask to speak to someone in the Jump Start Program, or in Kankakee County call Tyler at 815-600-9744. Families can also enroll online. For more information on this great program check out their facebook page. See their program flyer here.

Easterseals in Joliet has many support services for families such as:

• Parent's Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Support Group or other Social Interaction/Communication Disorder that meets via Zoom. They also offer a support group for Spanish speaking parents of a child with a disability or with an IEP. Please email Alicia Hann at alicia.hann@joliet.easterseals.com for the link to join the zoom meeting.
• Free children's mental health screenings by Easterseals Joliet for children age 1-17 years. Contact Michele Poskanka at 815-927-5482 or mposkanka@joliet.easterseals.com.

Free ACES Parenting class held at We Care in Morris. This 5 week program runs periodically throughout the year and usually meets from 5-7pm, with meals and childcare provided. If your child has experienced trauma or if trauma is impacting your ability to parent call 815-942-6389 for more information on this program.

Erikson Center for Children and families is offering in-person and virtual mental health services to parents, caregivers, and children focusing on prenatal to 8 years old. Services available in English and Spanish. For more information contact their intake line at 312-709-0508 for English and 312-934-6446 for Spanish.

Family Resource Center on Disabilities is Chicago’s Metropolitan Area Parent Training and Information Center and supports families in 8 IL counties including Will & Grundy Counties. Call 312-939-3513, email: info@frcd.org, or go to the FRCD facebook page

Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center supports families in 94 IL counties including LaSalle and Kankakee Counties to provide information, referral, linkages, and training to parents, students with disabilities, and special education professionals. They can be contacted toll-Free: 1-866-4FMPTIC (1-866-436-7842), or FMPTIC facebook page.

The Illinois Respite Coalition has a Free statewide respite hotline. If you are in need of respite services please call 866-455-7377.

Will County Center for Community Concerns in Joliet has many supports for low income families. See below for information on some of their programs or call 815-722-0722:

• LIHEAP - utility assistance
• Tax Preparation
• Case Management services
• Scholarship Program for low income students

Please check out the many great resources on the Early Intervention Clearinghouse website, such as their Spring Newsletter with great information on Responsive feeding with young children.

To view additional informational online resources for families related to Early Intervention and Child Development please click here.

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.

• Transition: Understanding Family Rights from the EI Clearinghouse
• "When I'm 3, Where will I be" Transition workbook for families from IL State Board of Education.
• The Parent Guide - Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois from the Illinois State Board of Education

If you have any questions about your child's transition out of the Early Intervention Program, please reach out to your service coordinator.

Medicaid customers have not had to renew their Medicaid coverage since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Medicaid pays for healthcare, like doctor visits, prescription medicine, and urgent emergency services. Illinois is starting renewals again and everybody's renewal date is different, so it is critical that you get ready to renew. 

Don't risk losing your Medicaid! Here is what you need to do:

Click Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov to:

1. Verify your mailing address under "Contact Us."
2. Find your due date (the "redetermination" date) in your "Benefit Details." 

Watch your mail and complete your renewal right away. Call 1-800-843-6154 for help with your renewal. 

If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, connect to coverage at work or through the official Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace for Illinois GetCoveredIllinois.gov. 

My Pantry Express is an online food pantry that gives those in need of food assistance, the opportunity to shop once a week for a variety of free grocery items. Items can be picked up from multiple locations in Will County. Please click the link for details.

No income or residency restrictions apply.

Find Food IL Community Food map allows you to search by zip code for food pantries, School meal sites, grocery stores, and SNAP & WIC offices.

The Salvation Army in Kankakee has a walk through family-choice food pantry open Tuesdays from 10:00am-12pm-1:00-3:00pm. 148 Harrison Ave in Kankakee.

To get information or help with your SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) application click the link or call 844-600-SNAP.