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Illinois Early Intervention Provider/Therapist Needs Survey

Created by the IL EI Grassroots Alliance, a small group of experienced EI therapists who believe that providers should have a louder voice in the IL EI system. After receiving almost 3000 supporters to our petition on Change.org, we met with representatives from DHS, legislators offices and other advocacy groups. They are aware of the large numbers of providers leaving EI at this time and have asked for more information about WHY this is happening. This survey is intended to collect data about EI Providers, their current experiences in the system and what would improve working conditions. Results of this survey will be compiled and shared as we advocate for improvements. This survey is completely anonymous. There are a few areas where you can share your contact information if you choose to do so.
1.How many clients (families) per week do you currently serve in Illinois Early Intervention system (IL EI)][?
2.How long have you worked in IL Early Intervention?
3.Do you work in other settings in addition to IL EI?
4.If you work in an additional setting, please explain the reason why:
5.If you work in settings other than EI, what percentage of your caseload consists of IL Early Intervention clients? 
6.What is your discipline?
7.How are you employed in the EI System?
8.If you have picked up any new families for ongoing therapy in September, October or November 2022, what is the average length of time that families were waiting for therapy to begin?
9.If you carry your own individual health insurance policy, approximately how much per month do you pay for the monthly premium?
10.We want DHS/EI Bureau to know what changes are needed by IL EI Providers. How important are the following improvements to the Early Intervention System to you as a provider? Please rate the following in importance:
Unimportant
Helpful, but not critical
Important
Very Important
Extremely Important (Necessary for EI to continue)
Increased wages with consistent increases (e.g. yearly)
State providing a health insurance plan for providers to opt into
Payment for cancellations/no shows
Mileage Reimbursement
Payments of vouchers/EOBs from the State of IL within 2-3 weeks of submission
11.Now rate the above choices in order of importance to you from 1 (MOST important) - 5 (LEAST important).

1= your highest priority
5= your least priority
12.If all other factors remained the same, what percentage wage increase would be significant enough that you would be able to remain an EI provider?
13.If no changes are implemented in Illinois early intervention within the next year, which of the following options are you considering? (Mark all that apply)
14.If some of the above changes (increased wages, mileage reimbursement, payment for cancellation/no show etc) were implemented within the next year, which of the following options would you consider? (Mark all that apply)
15.Would you be willing to add LVV clients to your caseload at this time, if EI was pushing this service delivery model to families currently on waitlists for face to face in person services? If yes, please indicate approximately how many families you could serve weekly through LVV:
16.The following are procedural changes that, if implemented, could improve providers current working conditions. DHS has shown interest in discussing a few of these changes & wants feedback on which would most impact provider satisfaction. Please rate each change in terms of its value to you as an EI provider.
Not Helpful
Minimally Helpful
Helpful
Very Helpful
Extremely Helpful/Necessary
Create an anonymous system to report concerns related to CFCs 
Create an independent source for providers to request to fix authorization errors without involving CFCs/SCs
Have every IFSP meeting authorized as a standard minimum 60 minutes regardless of actual time utilized
Require all CFCs to house waitlists for all services to decrease burden on providers
Require EI families to agree to a hybrid system of service delivery at intake (combination of in person and LVV services)
Waive requirement for Developmental Therapists to complete 120 cont ed hours before they can practice as DTs in EI
Waive 1 year of the continuing education requirement for provider renewals
17.How would some of the above changes affect your experience as a provider in EI? We will collect these comments to present to DHS. Here’s your opportunity to be heard!
18.Which of the below actions would you be willing to do to achieve these improvements for providers working in IL EI? (Mark all that apply)
19.Would you be interested in being part of an IL EI Providers Union (could provide access to affordable healthcare, regular raises, negotiate on our behalf, etc)?
20.Would you be interested in joining the efforts of the IL EI Grassroots Alliance (the provider group who created this survey as part of their work for improved working conditions for EI Providers). We are a small group of experienced IL EI providers who see the need for Providers to have a larger voice in the EI system.
21.If you are a provider who has left early intervention in the past year, DHS is specifically interested in hearing from you. Please share your name, phone number &/or email address here if we can reach out to you for input:
22.PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORIES: What is the most difficult part of being an EI provider right now? What do you want DHS/EI Bureau to know about how EI is functioning? What impacts have you seen to the EI system in 2022? Your personal stories are powerful drivers of change!