Early Intervention
Early Intervention in Illinois is a statewide program that provides supports and services for families to help their children under age 3 meet developmental milestones. The Illinois Chapter’s Early Childhood Committee identified Early Intervention (EI) referral processes as a top priority for pediatrician engagement. The Committee is actively working to collaborate with state agencies to improve and streamline the EI process for pediatricians.
Scroll through this page to find ICAAP member recommendations for navigating Early Intervention in your practice!
Child & Family Connections (CFC) Offices
For Providers
For Families
Know the signs! Milestones matter.
At the following ages, most children can...
- Raise their heads slightly when lying on their stomachs
- Briefly watch objects
- Make "noise in throat" sounds
- Pull away from a cloth or blanket on their faces
- Lift their heads and chest when lying on their stomachs
- Show vigorous body movement
- Follow a moving person with their eyes
- Recognize a bottle or breast
- Smile when someone speaks to them
- Sit with minimal support
- Roll from their backs to their stomachs
- Turn to locate and identify sounds
- Transfer objects from hand to hand and from hand to mouth
- Respond to friendly speech with a smile or coo
- Pull themselves up to stand and may step with support
- Pick things up with a thumb and one finger
- Nod their heads to signal "yes"
- Give affection
- Say two or three words
- Hand over toys upon request
- Kick a large ball
- Turn pages in a book (two or three at a time)
- Ask for items by name
- Recognize a familiar picture and know if it is upside
- Use or three words together, such as "more juice"
- Walk up stairs while holding the railing
- Stand momentarily on one foot
- Open doors
- Unbutton large buttons
- Verbalize toilet needs
- Stack objects of different sizes