Allied Agencies: Birth to Five Services

Child and Family Connections #14

Serving Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Henry & Stark Counties
2016 N. Knoxville Avenue Peoria, IL 61603
Telephone: 1 (888) 482 4300

Early Intervention

The Early Intervention program in Illinois is a collection of services for infants, toddlers and their families who have delays in development or who are at risk of developmental delays. The Early Intervention program supports and teaches families how to play with their children in ways that will help them learn essential skills. Families are the key to successful Early Intervention. Families and service providers must work together as a team on behalf of the children.

The Early Intervention program in Illinois is called Child and Family Connections. Child and Family Connections are state funded and Peoria County holds the grant from the state for our program. If you do not live within the counties of CFC #14 please call 1 (888) 482-4300 or http://www.wiu.edu/ProviderConnections/links/index.php

Early Intervention may:

• Help answer questions about your child’s development
• Improve both development and educational growth
• Help children with developmental delays become more independent
• Help give your child the best possible start in life, preventing or lessening the need for more intervention in the future
• Make the communities aware of the gifts and abilities of all children

Early Intervention Services:

Service Coordination
Screening, Assessment, & Evaluation
Family Training and Counseling Medical Services (diagnostic or evaluation purposes)
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Speech Language Pathology and/or Feeding Therapy
Audiology
Developmental Therapy ( including Developmental Play Group)
Music Therapy
Information Resources
Vision Services
Nutrition Services
Social Work Services
Assistive Technology devices and services

What is the process to become involved in Early Intervention?

The child can be referred to Child and Family Connections through: parents, family members, physicians, Regional Diagnostic Center, hospitals, health departments, local screenings, etc… Evaluations to determine eligibility are provided at no cost to the family.

To make a referral on a child please call: 1 (888) 482-4300 or fax referral information to (309) 681-0190.

Development Milestones

By age 2 months, most children…

Hold head erect (bobbing when supported in sitting position)
Roll part way to side
Briefly watch objects
Occasionally imitate or respond to a smiling person
Make sounds of discomfort


By 4 months, most children…

Lift head and chest when lying on stomach
Take an object held near their hands
Follow a moving person with their eyes
Enjoy play, laugh aloud, and smile
Vocalize when talked to


By 6 months, most children…

Sit with minimal support
Roll over
Turn and look toward sounds
Reach out for objects


By 9 months, most children…

Sit alone & change positions
Transfer object from hand to hand
Respond to their name and familiar people
Say “mama” and “dada”
Should eat and swallow without difficulty


By 12 Months, most children…

Pull themselves to standing and may
step with support
Pick things up with thumb and one finger
Can nod their head to signal “yes”
Vocalize and make their voice go up and down


By 15 months, most children…

Walk without support
Do some self feeding
Drink from a cup held by someone
Use four or five words


By 18 months, most children…

Walk (may run a bit)
Climb up or down one stair
Mark on paper with crayons
Use five to ten words
Understand simple directions


By 2 years, most children…

Give toys on request
Kick large ball
Turn pages in a book (two or three at a time)
Ask for items by name
Use two or three words together


By 3 years, most children…

Walk up stairs holding railing
Stand momentarily on one foot
Open doors
Unbutton large buttons


By 4 years, most children…

Can hop in place, Copy a circle
Know own gender, age, last name
Point to six basic colors when asked
Ride a tricycle
Wash hands unassisted
Begin to play with other children
Answer verbally to “Hi” and “How are You?”

By 5 years, most children…

Run on tiptoe, Can skip
Print a few capitol letters
Recognize their name in print
Play cooperatively with others
Understand “yesterday” and “tomorrow”
Uses sentences with correct grammar

Every Child Is Unique!

Please remember that every child is unique. Most of the time, differences between children of the same age are not uncommon, but for some, the difference may require further assessment. If you have questions about your child’s development, contact your medical professional or Child and Family Connections