Resources

Illinois State Board of Education
Early CHOICES
Early Intervention Clearinghouse

Illinois Department of Human Services
Caregiver Connections
Child Care
Early Intervention
Illinois Early Intervention Training Program
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource Referral Agencies (INCCRA)
Provider Connections
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Illinois STARNET
The STARNET system serves young children, families and communities in Illinois working to develop more effective partnerships and linkages among families, professionals and systems. STARNET provides training and technical assistance to early childhood special education preschool staff and families of young children.

The mission of STARNET is to promote and support a comprehensive, family-centered, consumer driven technical assistance system for all young children, families and communities. STARNET promotes excellence, provides leadership and offers rich opportunities for personal and professional growth and systems development in collaboration with families, schools and other community stakeholders.

STARNET accomplishes its mission by:

- Identifying needs and responding to requests for support of staff and families involved in early childhood special education;
- Developing and delivering inservice training and technical assistance, including workshops, satellite distance education, consultation, mini-grants, fellowships, referrals and materials loan and dissemination;
- Supporting family education and involvement;
- Collaborating with other early childhood initiatives, agencies and personnel;
- Promoting family-centered perspectives within STARNET services and with other initiatives, organizations and personnel.

Child & Family Connections (CFC) Offices 
 - What do CFCs do?
Child and Family Connections (CFCs) are the regional intake agencies for children and families to enter the Illinois Early Intervention System. There are 25 CFCs located around the state, each being responsible for a specific geographic area. Cook county includes 7 CFC agencies that are broken down by zip code to determine the geographic area served. CFCs employ early intervention credentialed Service Coordinators. Service Coordinators assist the family with the intake process in addition to initiating referrals for evaluations/assessments and/or direct services. Click the link below for contact information for the CFCs throughout Illinois.

 - Local CFC Office Listings     - Local CFC Office Locator 

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!
Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! is a coordinated federal effort to encourage healthy child development, universal developmental and behavioral screening for children, and support for the families and providers who care for them.

Wrightslaw (The Child Find Mandate: What does it mean to you?)

CDC Free Materials

Choices for Parents

College Resources for Students with Disabilities

Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA)

Department of Children and Family Services offices in Illinois DCFS

Department of Specialized Care for Children in Illinois DSCC

Early Head Starts/Head Starts Office Locator in Illinois

Early Learning Project

Even Start Coordinators and Website

IDEA - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

InfantSee

NAEYC – Affiliate Offices in Illinois

Special Education Terms - Parent Dictionary

Transition Planning Conference Video Series