Help us Advocate for Early Intervention

Ask your legislators to support a 3% increase in EI rates for all providers. 

You can find your legislator’s name and contact information at: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/maps/illinois-senate/

Sample Message:

I ask for your support on additional funding for the Early Intervention program, with those dollars earmarked to:

·  Raise all EI provider payment rates by 3%:  EI providers have not had a payment rate increase in 11 years. All professions within the EI space are facing increased caseloads and inability to expand services to meet growing need, as well as employee recruitment and retention challenges due to inability to provide salary increases. Salaries are differentiated appropriately due to education and licensure requirements and no further adjustments need to be made, contrary to the developmental therapists' ask for an additional rate increases for only their profession.

·  Dedicate any remaining funding towards expanding services: Every $1 spent in EI saves at least $7 in future special education costs, in some cases up to $17.  Thousands of children leave EI functioning at age level and do not require special education at kindergarten age.

The EI program ensures families who have infants and toddlers, birth to three, with diagnosed disabilities, developmental delays or substantial risk of significant delays receive resources and support to assist in maximizing their child's development.  Through developmental assessment of conceptual, motor, language and social-emotional skills, children in the EI system receive a wide range of specialized services, including speech and language, occupational and physical therapies, and social work services.