480-30-3705 Special Education-Grants for Infants and Families – Early Intervention – Child and Family Connections
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and agencies in Illinois that provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers. Applicants must operate as one of the 25 Child and Family Connections (CFC) regional offices serving a designated geographic area. Eligible recipients are agencies located within Illinois willing to serve as a regional intake entity and service coordinator. Services support infants and toddlers birth to age three with qualifying disabilities, developmental delays, or at-risk conditions.
Program description
It is the policy of the State to enhance the development of all eligible infants and toddlers to minimize developmental delays and maximize individual potential for adult independence. It is the need of the State to implement, on a statewide basis, locally based, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency, Early Intervention (EI) services for all eligible infants and toddlers. The EI Program is a statewide program for the evaluation and assessment of infants and toddlers ages birth to three, as well as the provision of services for those who have a qualifying disability or diagnosis, a 30 percent delay in development in one or more of the five developmental domains, or who are at risk of developmental delays. Children and families access EI services through one of 25 Child and Family Connections (CFC) offices. This Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued by the State of Illinois, Illinois Department of Early Childhood, seeks agencies located within Illinois to serve as the CFC offices for designated geographic areas. (See chart in Appendix I to identify the area served by each CFC office.) CFC offices are the regional intake entities defined in state statute (325 ILCS 20) and rule (89 IL Admin. Code 500) as IDEC’s designated entity responsible for implementation of the EI Program within its designated geographic area. IDEC is required to assure the designation of regional points of entry to accomplish consistent and equitable intake and service coordination throughout the State, with services defined in Section A.2. Separate proposals for each geographical intake region must be submitted for those agencies submitting for more than one geographical intake region. Administered by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 480-30-3705).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Proposal/Project Narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Service delivery plan
- Staffing plan and qualifications
- Budget and budget narrative
- Evidence of interagency collaboration agreements
Program contact
- 👤 Katie Jacobs
- 📧 DHS.EIFiscal@illinois.gov
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Agencies located in Illinois that can serve as a Child and Family Connections (CFC) regional office. You must be willing to operate as a designated regional intake entity for your assigned geographic area.
What geographic areas can I serve?
There are 25 designated CFC office regions across Illinois. You must apply for the specific region(s) you serve. Submit separate proposals if applying for multiple regions.
What age group does this serve?
Infants and toddlers ages birth to three who have qualifying disabilities, developmental delays (30% delay in one or more domains), or risk factors for delay.
What services are funded?
Early intervention evaluation, assessment, and service coordination services. Services must be comprehensive, coordinated, and multidisciplinary across agencies.
When is the deadline?
September 30, 2026. Check the Illinois Department of Early Childhood website for any updates or rolling deadlines.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the geographic region assignments in Appendix I to identify which CFC office area you can serve. Ensure your organization has capacity to serve that specific region.
- Demonstrate your ability to provide comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary services. Partner with other agencies if needed to meet service requirements.
- Understand Illinois state statute (325 ILCS 20) and administrative rules (89 IL Admin. Code 500) that govern the EI Program. Compliance is essential.
- Show experience managing intake processes and service coordination for families of infants and toddlers. Prior early childhood program management is valuable.
- Emphasize your commitment to serving eligible children regardless of disability status, including at-risk infants and toddlers. Equity and access are core program values.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying for a geographic region you cannot adequately serve or lack capacity to manage. Failure to understand or demonstrate compliance with Illinois EI statutory and regulatory requirements. Underestimating the complexity of coordinating multidisciplinary, interagency services.
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