State Early Childhood Technical Assistance Systems

Illinois

• Part C TA System Description
• 06/12/02

Basic design features

The Illinois early intervention technical assistance system is incorporated within the structure of the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Part C Lead Agency. It is a centralized TA system supported by multiple agencies including DHS, the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC, Title V), Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Illinois Department of Public Aid (IDPA), the state agency responsible for Medicaid.

Children and families access the Early Intervention system in Illinois through one of 25 regional Child and Family Connections (CFC) agencies. The CFCs assist families through evaluations to determine eligibility, facilitate the development of a service plan, link families to service providers, coordinate and monitor the delivery of services, and initiate the development of a transition plan. Questions and concerns of families are address by CFC service coordinators. The CFCs recruit EI providers in their area and provide TA to them regarding program policies and procedures. The 25 CFCs are supported by assigned Bureau staff, CFC liaisons, which provide monitoring, technical assistance, and other supports. In addition, a monthly meeting is held with key DHS staff and all CFC managers to share information and identify and resolve problems.

The Bureau’s CFC liaisons are facilitating a continuous improvement process with one-third of the CFCs each year. This is a comprehensive system of self-assessment, review, analysis, and continuous improvement which looks at the following components:

• Administrative operation of the CFC
• Employment, training, support and retention of qualified staff
• Implementation of DHS policies and procedures in a family-centered manner
• Use of the statewide data management system and its data

The process involves analysis of performance measures, self-assessment of local system implementation, survey of family satisfaction, desk review, on-site monitoring, improvement planning, and technical assistance.

The Lead Agency contracts with an agency to provide a comprehensive, coordinated system of training for CFC staff and EI providers and maintain a master calendar of early intervention training events. Universities provide continuing education and pre-service training. EI participants may also take advantage of training offered by other divisions of DHS.

Primary clients/recipients of technical assistance services

The primary clients/recipients of technical assistance services include early intervention providers and administrators, parents, as well as other types of groups/agencies such as local DHS offices, local ICCs, local health departments, WIC clinics, child care providers, Medicaid case management workers, and fiscal billing offices (those that bill on behalf of the agencies serving Part C children). Families are considered direct clients/recipients of TA services.

Ways technical assistance is provided

Technical assistance is frequently provided through regional/topical workshops, in-service training courses, consultations to programs, consultation via telephone and email, peer information exchange and consultation, mentoring, and print and non-print materials. Distance learning technologies of video and audio teleconferencing, Internet and Web based services are occasionally used as ways to provide technical assistance. Instructional videocassettes and a lending library are frequently used. Self-study modules are occasionally used; for example, a self-study program for physicians called Caring for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: New Roles for Physicians.

TA system operations

The DHS Training Office keeps an annual master calendar of all DHS training events. The Part C program contracts with a training agency to provide a comprehensive system of training and maintain a master calendar of training events specifically for the early intervention system The Lead Agency meets annually with the training agency to review training needs and plan training for the coming year.

Local monitoring results from a variety of sources are used to identify needs for training and technical assistance. The monitoring process includes interviews with providers, parents, local ICCs, and parent liaisons. Family/client satisfaction surveys are also used to identify technical assistance needs. The Lead Agency meets monthly with CFC managers to review issues that can be addressed by technical assistance.

The state TA system is funded through the Early Intervention revolving fund which includes Federal sources such as Part C and Medicaid. State funding sources include Lead Agency and General Revenue Funds.

Evaluation of the TA system

The training agency provides information on early intervention training events, numbers of participants, and evaluation results. Performance measures of key functions of the early intervention system have been identified and are monitored on a monthly basis

Relationship of TA system to the monitoring/supervision of local programs

Outcomes of local monitoring determine most of the needs and priorities to be addressed by technical assistance. Technical assistance is targeted to CFC agencies with performance measures that need improvement.

Relationship of TA system to the state’s Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)

Currently, the state Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) is a separate endeavor from the early intervention TA system and incorporated in the CSPD program of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Technical assistance services are related to Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Early Intervention Certification, which requires 12 hours of credit within 15 months of an individual’s enrollment in the system.

Relationship with Section 619 of Part B

Technical assistance activities involve the state’s Section 619, Preschool program especially as related to child find and transition. The EI TA system and 619 Program work together to provide training to CFC and LEA staff around child find and transition activities. A common reporting form on child find activities provides information, which helps plans for future training needs.

For further information, contact:

• Janet Gully
• Part C Program Manager
• Department of Human Services
• Division of Community Health and Prevention
• Bureau of Early Intervention
• 222 South College, 2^nd Floor
• Springfield, IL 62704
• Phone: (217) 782-1981
• Fax: (217) 524-6248
• Email: dhsvr50@dhs.state.il.us
• Web site: www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=32009