

Physicians’ Network
- The Physicians' Network
- Physicians' Network Events and Newsletters
- Physicians' Network Newsletter Archive
The Collaboration launched the Physician’s Network in July 2008 to promote a stronger connection between the early childhood community and health practitioners and to increase their awareness of early childhood developmental issues and services. The Physicians’ Network meetings are held twice a year, in April and October and are organized by the Health and Development Committee, which is facilitated by the Collaboration’s Manager of Health and Development.
To see resources connected to past presentations, or to read Physicians’ Network Newsletters from our archive, click on the tabs and browse the linked materials. You can also visit our Physicians’ Network Events page to see full recordings of recent presentations.
Recent Presentations and Corresponding Newsletters
- Fall 2022 [Fall 2022 Newsletter] Physicians’ Network Virtual Event: Recognizing and Addressing Trauma and Related Mental Health Disorders in Young Children
- Spring 2022 [Spring 2022 Newsletter] Physicians’ Network Virtual Event: “I Feel Like I’m Being Coached”: Family and Provider Perspectives of Early Intervention Services Delivered Through Telehealth
- Fall 2021 [Fall 2021 Newsletter] Physicians’ Network Virtual Event: Horses and Zebras: An Out-of-the-Box Approach to Addressing Early Childhood Health Challenges, Dr. Shalowitz
- Spring 2021 [Spring 2021 Newsletter] Physicans’ Network Web Series: Helping Every Child Thrive: Health Equity in Early Childhood
- Fall 2020 [Fall Newsletter] Practical Considerations for effective Early Childhood Tele-Health Visits. Susan Sirota, MD and Tomitra Latimer, MD
- Spring 2020 [Spring 2020 Newsletter] Physician’s Network 3-Part Web Series: Running on Empty: The Cost of Caring in the Time of COVID-19. Juanona Brewster, MDiv, MTS, MJ
Past Presentations and Corresponding Newsletters
- Fall 2019 [Fall 2019 Newsletter] – Interventions for Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: ECHO Autism Initiative. Sarah Bauer, MD
- Spring 2019 [Spring 2019 Newsletter] – Building Resilience: Coping with Trauma. Marjorie Fujara, MD, FAAP
- Fall 2018 [Fall 2018 Newsletter] – Toxic Stress in Early Childhood and Trauma Informed Care. Juanona Brewster, MDiv, MTS, MJ
- Spring 2018 [Spring 2018 Newsletter] – Anxiety and Depression in Young Children. Gwendolyn Messer, MD, FAAP
- Fall 2017 [Fall 2017 Newsletter] – Social-Emotional Screening, Changes to Child Health Examination Form and What the New Illinois Public Policies Mean for You. Panel Presentation. Presenting Panelists:
- Marla Skinner – Representative of 4th Senate District Office of Senator Kimberly A. Lightford
- Lisa DeNunzio-DeVivo – Oak Park Township Community Mental Health Board
- Jennie Pinkwater – Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Spring 2017 [Spring 2017 Newsletter] – Sensory Processing in Early Childhood. Kim Bryze, PhD, OTR/L
- Fall 2016 [Fall 2016 Newsletter] – Gender Identity in Early Childhood. Jennifer Leininger
- Gender Identity: Model Policy for Student Support
- Gender Identity: Lurie Education Handout
- Gender Identity: Program
- Gender Identity: Understanding Gender Variance
- Gender Identity: The Gender Affirmative Model
- Gender Identity: Working with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Patients
- Gender Identity: Key Terms
- Spring 2016 [Spring 2016 Newsletter] – Helping Doctors and Families Navigate Support Services for Children ages 3-5. Panel Discussion. Panelists:
- Karen Boozell, River Forest School District 90
- Michele Suedbeck, Oak Park School District 97
- Amanda Thompson, South Berwyn School District 100
- Ernest Cherullo, Cicero School District 99
- Fall 2015 [Fall 2015 Newsletter] – Thriving Through Early Childhood: Building Social Emotional Resiliency, Carla M. Beatrici, PsyD
- Spring 2015 [Spring 2015 Newsletter] –Partnering Between Child care and Pediatricians to Address Children’s Behavioral Challenges. Marealita Pierce, MD, FAAP
- Fall 2014 [Fall 2014 Newsletter] –Becoming a Breastfeeding Friendly Practice: Beyond Breast is Best. Jennifer A. Perez, MD, FAAP, CLS
- Spring 2014 [Spring 2014 Newsletter] – Bullying and Cyberbullying. Carolyn Strong
Physicians’ Network Newsletter Archive
View our newsletters paired with resources and the Physicans’ Network Event topic by clicking on the ‘Physicians’ Network Events and Newsletter’ tab.
- Social Determinant of Health Impacts on Mental and Physical Health – Fall 2021
- Health Equity in Early Childhood -Spring 2021
- Telehealth in the New Normal – Fall 2020
- Special COVID-19 Edition – Spring 2020
- Physicians’ Network October 2019 Newsletter
- Physicians’ Network April Newsletter
- Collaboration for Early Childhood: Fall 2018 Update for Physicians
- Collaboration for Early Childhood: Physicians Spring 2018 Update
- Collaboration for Early Childhood: Physicians Newsletter & Breakfast – Fall 2017
- Collaboration for Early Childhood April Physicians Newsletter & Breakfast – Spring 2017
- Collaboration for Early Childhood October Physicians Newsletter & Breakfast – Fall 2016
- Collaboration for Early Childhood Physicians Newsletter & Breakfast– Spring 2016
- Physicians Network Newsletter April 2015
- Physicians Network Newsletter October 2015
- Physicians Network Newsletter October 2014
- Physicians Network Newsletter May 2014
- Physicians Network Newsletter October 2013
- Physicians Network Newsletter April 2013
- Physicians Network Newsletter April 2012
- Physicians Network Newsletter October 2012
- Physicians Network Newsletter May 2011
- Physicians Network Newsletter December 2011
- Physicians Network Newsletter February 2010
- Physicians Network Newsletter November 2010
Health Professionals’ Resources
The following information is categorized so that you can quickly find services and resources to help you support the children and families that you serve. Another tool is the Health Connection Hub, a database designed to expand the resource and referral network available to health and social service providers and community members.
Click on any topic to see more information. We also have an additional library of information that you can share with parents and caregivers about early intervention and early childhood special education.
Autism
Child Development
Supporting children’s healthy development. In addition to developmental screenings, there are a variety of resources that health professionals can share with parents to support their child’s healthy development and to better understand developmental milestones. Here are a couple places to start:
Developmental and Maternal Health Screening
A developmental screening is a brief check that provides a snapshot of a child’s communication, motor, cognitive, self-help and social-emotional skills. These screenings can indentify a child’s areas of strength; they can also determine whether a child’s development is appropriate for his or her age, and if a child’s development is on track. The CDC provides a helpful overview of developmental monitoring and screening:
The Collaboration provides training and technical assistance to health professionals to conduct developmental screenings through the Collaboration’s Developmental Screening Project:
- The Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3)
- Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE-2)
- How Parents Can Schedule a Developmental Screening for Their Child
Screening for autism in toddlers can be done using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F):
Maternal health includes the physical and mental health of women across the full spectrum of pregnancy, birth, and the first year postpartum.
Maternal depression (clinical depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth) affects as many as one in eight new mothers. Maternal depression is not the same thing as the “baby blues;” it is an illness that requires medical care and can be treated successfully. This illness impacts not only the mother, but the husband/partner, the baby, and the entire family unit. For more information, the National Institute for Mental Health provides extensive information about maternal/postpartum depression. Postpartum Progress, a non-profit organization, also has information and links to resources. Screening new mothers for mental health concerns can help mothers get the treatment that they need quickly so that they can focus on being a parent.
To screen mothers for mental health concerns:
Resources and networks that can be shared with new families to support postpartum mental health:
- Healthcare Alternative Systems Inc. (HAS)
Phone: 773-292-4242 – (Provides services in English and Spanish). - PCC Family Health Centers
14 W. Lake St., Oak Park 60302
6201 W. Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn 60402
Phone: 708-383-0113 / 708-386-0845
Breastfeeding Support Line: 708-524-7679, ext. 1 - Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois Helpline
Phone: 847-205-4455 - Voices for Illinois Children – Building Better Lives
Phone: 312-456-0600
Early Childhood Mental Health
If you are seeking early childhood mental health resources to share with families, a good place to start would be the Erikson Institute’s Center for Children & Families.
Families can also be referred to us here at the Collaboration for Early Childhood. We can provide connections to resources and our Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant.
Early Intervention & Early Childhood Special Education
Early intervention is a term used to describe the services and supports that are available to babies and young children ages 0-3 with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. It includes speech therapy, physical therapy and other types of services based on the needs of the child and family. Here are some key resources to support families seeking early intervention services:
- Center for Parent Information and Resources: Overview of Early Intervention
- Making a Referral: The Early Intervention Referral Process
- Illinois Early Intervention Program: A Guide for Families
- Illinois Intervention Clearinghouse
- American Academy of Pediatrics Illinois Chapter: EI Toolkit
- PDF: Illinois Early Intervention Standardized Referral Form
- PDF: Illinois Early Intervention Program Referral Fax Back Form
- PDF: Making a Referral
The Illinois Department of Human Services Bureau of Early Intervention coordinates services for children under 36 months of age through a network of Child and Family Connections (CFC) Offices. CFC 7 serves children living in West Suburban Cook County.
Early Childhood Special Education refers to services for children, three through five years of age with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. Services are provided through local school districts and special education cooperatives. Here are some key resources to support families seeking early childhood special education services:
- Special Education Referral Process
- Local School District Special Education Services (including Oak Park Elementary School District 97 and River Forest Public School District 90)
- Cook County Special Education Cooperatives
- Western Cook County School Districts
- PDF: Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Referrals for Evaluation and Consent Forms
Other resources for young children with disabilities or developmental delays:
- Developmental Referral and Services Online Directory
- Early Childhood Resource Directory
- West Suburban Special Recreation Association
- Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
If families have concerns about their child’s development, the first step is to schedule a developmental screening to see where their child is at and to assess whether early intervention or early childhood special education services are needed. To share more about screenings with families, visit the “Developmental and Maternal Health Screening” tab on this page.
Important Hotline Numbers
- National Postpartum Depression (PPD) MOMS HELPLINE: 1-800 773-6667 OR (800) PPDMOMS
- Fussy Baby Network: 1-888-431-2229 (888-431-BABY)
- American Association of Poison Control Centers (24/7): 1-800-222-1222
- Illinois Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-25A-BUSE (1-800-252-2873); TTY 1-800-358-5117
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 1-800-799-7233; hearing impaired: 1-855-812-1001; TTY: 1-800-787-3224. Online chat is also available everyday from 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. central time at www.thehotline.org.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7): 1-800-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Online chat is also available.
- Pillars 24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 708-485-5254
- Pillars 24 Hour Sexual Assault Hotline: 708-482-9600
- Thrive Counseling Center 24/7 Crisis Team: 708-383-7500
- The Veteran’s Crisis Line (24/7): 1-800-273-8255 and press 1; or text 838255.
Sensory Processing
Informational Documents and Articles about Sensory Processing
- Uncovering the Biological Basis for Sensory Processing Disorders
- Sensory Processing Issues Explained
- The Debate Over Sensory Processing
- What is Sensory Defensiveness? [PDF]
- What Is Sensory Processing Disorder? [PDF]
- The Effects of Infant and Maternal Sensory Processing on Infant Fussing, Crying, and Sleep [PDF]
- The Development of Sensory Over-responsivity From Infancy to Elementary School [PDF]
- References for Sensory Processing [PDF]
Books on Sensory Processing
- Sensory Integration and the Child
- Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight
- The Out-of-Sync Child
- Sensational Kids
- Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Signals
Online Resource Centers for Sensory Processing Disorder
Standardized Illinois Early Intervention Referral Form
The Standardized Illinois Early Intervention Referral Form should be completed by the referring party (i.e. a physician or early childhood care and education provider) with the parent or guardian. Be sure to check (√) the appropriate boxes in Section 4 and have the parent or guardian complete and sign Section 6. This will allow the referring party to receive information about the outcome of the referral.
Fax the completed form to the appropriate Child and Family Connections (CFC) office. See the list of CFC service areas and fax #s on pages 7-10 of the Collaboration’s Developmental Referral & Services Directory.
The West Cook County area, which includes Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park, is CFC 7. The CFC 7 fax # is (708) 449-7071 or (708) 449-7173.
CFC will assign the family a service coordinator who must contact the family (usually by phone) within 2 business days. Please share this information with the parent or guardian and let them know to expect a phone call.
Support a strong start and a bright future.
We champion high-quality early childhood care and learning experiences and support for families so all children develop their full potential.
