OPPOSE RESTRICTED ELIGIBLITY TO EARLY INTERVENTION

Current Threat to Early Intervention (EI)

The Administration is proposing to increase the definition of developmental delay from 30% to 50% eliminating services for at least ten thousand infants and toddlers and their families and leaving
them without access to supports and services in the critical first three years of life.

Only three states (Arizona, Alaska, Missouri) and the District of Columbia have implemented
such a restrictive definition of eligibility.
According to the Bureau of Early Intervention, at least half of the 21,249 children served
in FY2014 exhibit delays between 30 and 49%. The Department of Human Services has
said current children would be grandfathered, but that 4,000 children would be affected in
FY2016, and data shows we can expect to see that number grow back to around 10,000
as grandfathered children leave the system.
Children with mild and moderate delays (30%-49%) make the most significant gains in EI.

What Is Early Intervention?

By federal law, eligible children and their families are entitled to receive a broad range of
developmental and social-emotional services designed to maximize their development, including
speech and language, developmental, occupational and physical therapies, and social work services.
Children in all parts of the state and from all socio-economic backgrounds receive services from EI.
Early Intervention is not a stand-alone program; it is a critical part of Illinois early childhood system,
providing supports and services to children, families, early childhood providers, pediatricians, and
other health providers.

Early Intervention Works

Nationwide, nearly 70% of children in EI exhibit growth greater than expected, in that they
acquire skills at a faster rate even after they leave the program.
Nearly half of children leave EI functioning at age level, and do not need special education at
kindergarten age.

Early Intervention is Cost Effective

Data shows that EI services are at least 2 and times less costly annually than special
education services in preschool and elementary years.
Less than half of the budget for EI services comes from state revenue; for every dollar the
state cuts from EI, it loses over half of that amount in federal Medicaid matching funds,
federal IDEA Part C funds, private insurance payments, and family fees.

Please tell Governor Rauner and your legislative and appropriation leaders to oppose
the cuts to the EI program in the Department of Human Services budget.
For more information, please contact:
Ireta Gasner; Assistant Director, Illinois Policy, Ounce of Prevention Fund (312.749.9441)
Jonathan Doster; Policy Analyst, Ounce of Prevention Fund (708.220.4049)

Supporting Organizations
Access Living, Chicago
All Bright Therapies
Campaign for Better Health Care
Child and Family Connections #20, LIC #32 and LIC #38
Child and Family Connections #23
Children's Home and Aid
Civitas ChildLaw Center, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Clearbrook/Child and Family Connections #6
Day One Network/ Child & Family Connections #4
Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago (CFC #8 and 12)
Erikson Institute
EverThrive Illinois
Family Voices of Illinois
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois
Good Shepherd Center
Health & Disability Advocates
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group
Health Care Consortium of Illinois
Healthy Start Southeast Chicago
IARF
ICG Rehab Services
Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (ILAEYC)
Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health
Illinois Association of School Social Workers
Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
Illinois Childrens Mental Health Partnership
Illinois Head Start Association
Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL)
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA)
Illinois Premature Infant Health Network
Illinois Primary Health Care Association
K-Lovejoy, Inc.
Learning Disabilities Association of Illinois
March of Dimes
McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
Metropolitan Family Services
One Hope United
PACT, Inc. Child and Family Connections #5
Positive Outcomes
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
Teddy Bear Christian Child Development Center
The Arc of Illinois
Wood Law, P.C.