Child Development
Initiative
Noggin
May 28th, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions: For Parents and Caregivers
What is Noggin?
Noggin is a Chicagoland organization that provides developmental support for children and their families, grounded in relationships, play, and everyday experiences.
Can I request a Noggin Provider within Early Intervention?
Noggin is a Chicagoland organization that provides developmental support for children and their families, grounded in relationships, play, and everyday experiences.
What ages do you work with?
Noggin works with children of all ages.
1
My child did not qualify or no longer qualifies for Developmental Therapy in Early Intervention. What should I do?
If your child is aging out of the Early Intervention system and did not meet criteria for services, you may still qualify for private services with a Child Development Specialist.
What is the difference between Early Intervention Developmental Therapy and Private Developmental Support Services through Noggin?
Developmental Therapy in the Early Intervention system is a state-sanctioned form of treatment for children from 0-3. Outside of the EI system, Developmental Therapy does not exist. Fortunately, Developmental Therapists with expertise in the field of Child Development can play a supportive and consultative role throughout development outside of Early Intervention.
In this capacity, Noggin service providers may still:
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Perform comprehensive assessments/evaluations of your child’s development
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Collaborate to create a CDSP (Comprehensive Development Support Plan) for your child with specific family goals designed to support and promote growth in all areas of development.
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Provide in-home play-based expert-guided support and consultation.
Can we receive EI services and private developmental support at the same time?
Yes, it is possible to receive both services simultaneously, so long as there is no indication of a conflict
of interest (see conflict of interest statement in the Onboarding Master document).
Who will be providing services to my child?
If your child qualifies for Illinois Early Intervention services covered by Medicaid, they will work with a state-credentialed Developmental Therapist. This therapist may be employed by Noggin.
If your child is evaluated for Early Intervention services and is determined to be ineligible, Noggin may still be able to provide private developmental support services. However, children ages 0–3 may not receive private developmental support services from the same professional who previously evaluated them for Early Intervention and determined that they were ineligible for services.
After your child exits Early Intervention services at age three, they may continue receiving services through Noggin from their previous Early Intervention specialist on a private-pay basis, where appropriate.
2
What does a session look like?
Play-based, flexible, built around your child’s interests and routines, and can take place in a variety of environments.
Do parents participate in play sessions?
Yes, Noggin is a family-centered model.
What kinds of challenges do you help with?
Noggin services target a range of difficulties across the five developmental domains: Gross physical, fine motor, cognitive development, socioemotional development, and self-help skills.
Where do we start?
Early Intervention: Referral through Illinois Early Intervention
https://hfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/hfs/sitecollectiondocuments/hfs650.pdf
*A request for a Noggin provider can be made once your child has been evaluated for services through the State of Illinois
Private Services: Contact Noggin directly