Region 1-B-C
Cook County (South)
Region 1-B-C Reports
Early Childhood Regional Needs Assessment highlights data and stories from community members across the Region and includes strengths, family- and community-identified needs, and recommendations for how to make our local Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services more accessible and equitable.
Addendum includes additional community feedback captured as our Regional Team and Action and Family Councils shared our initial report’s findings throughout the Region.
Action Plan is a living community document that focuses on the top priorities from our Region’s initial ECEC needs assessment. Council members developed Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals for each recommendation and plans and timelines to fulfill them.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Focus on Mental & Behavioral Health features stories from families and ECEC providers about the challenges and successes they have accessing Mental and Behavioral Health services.
NEW Mental & Behavioral Health Addendum includes new information about the available Mental and Behavioral Health resources shared by caregivers, Early Childhood professionals, and community members after the release of our initial report.
Family Council Members
Angela Ballard, Homewood (Cook County)
Brittany Currin, Lansing (Cook County)
Cheviah Rials, Harvey (Cook County)
Diana Lopez, Park Forest (Cook County)
Josefina Ornelas, Lynwood (Cook County)
Kamilat Soyege, Orland Park (Cook County)
Regina Harden, Chicago Heights (Cook County)
Simone Gatlin, Oak Lawn (Cook County)
Tiara Magee, Summit (Cook County)
Action Council Members
Adam Woodworth, Children's Museum in Oak Lawn, Executive Director
Alexandra Widdel, Good Shepherd Center, Training Supervisor
Anna Broccolo, South Suburban Special Recreation Association (SSSRA), Public Relations Manager
Brumentha Bony, Illinois Action for Children, Program Manager of Consultation Programs
Camesha Wilks, Hope Sitter & Day Care Services, Director of Home Child Care
Chanel Kennedy-Bertrand, Governors State University, Programmer Analyst
Cherise Williams, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Cynthia Tolar, Children on a Mission, Group Family Child Care Provider/Owner
Danielle Taylor, Richton Park Public Library, Head of Youth Services
DeAndra Dyson, S.E.E.D., Executive Director
Diamond Ross, Cook County Department of Public Health, Public Health Educator
Dominique Cobbs, University of Illinois Extension, Community Health Educator
Dr. LaTia Greer, Now Prosper Coaching & Consulting, Mental Health Consultant
Greg Ellison, Youth Education Development Academy, CEO
Gwendolyn Hale, Under Carrie's Care, Family Advocate
James McCombs, University of Illinois Extension, SNAP-Ed Educator
Janice Martin, Under Carrie's Care, Executive Director
Karina Slaughter, Chicago Commons, Chief Early Learning Officer
Keidra Key-Griffin, Family Child Care Provider, Owner & Operator
Kelly Jones, Cook County Department of Public Health, Health Educator
Kelly Tavormina, Metropolitan Family Services, Nurse Supervisor
Medina Bailey, Nurturing Development & Learning Academy, Executive Director
Nalissia Lightning, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Natashia Harris, Calumet Park School District #132, Special Education Director
Tamika Howard, Illinois Department of Corrections, Correctional Officer
Meet Your Regional Team!
Ashonti Jackson
Ashonti Jackson (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 1-B-C (Cook South). Ashonti comes with 10+years of experience working in the nonprofit sector. She is a proud HBCU alumni with a Bachelors of Science degree in Family and Consumer Science from Alabama A&M University. She is a member of the Latino Policy Forum 2024 MLA cohort and a member of the Willies Warriors 2024 Leadership Cohort with the Chicago Foundation for Women. Ashonti is skilled in building community collaborations and developing community outreach strategies that provide family supports, with a strong focus on marginalized communities.
Ashonti is an avid community organizer and has many years of volunteer experience. Ashonti is a mother to one daughter. She was born and raised in south suburban Cook County, where she currently resides and sits as the steering chair for her community’s youth advisory board. Ashonti has seen firsthand the great possibilities that can develop from communities coming together. She is looking forward to doing great things in Region 1-B-C.
Jaime F. Garibay
Jaime F. Garibay (he/him/él) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 1-B-C (Cook South). Jaime found his passion for social services after high school while interning in an Early Childhood agency through Chicago's After School Matters program for teens. From there, Jaime built his career in various roles within the Early Childhood Education and Care field. He has overseen and executed operations critical to Head Start/Early Head Start, state-funded preschool, Prevention Initiative, and child care, while helping children and families access services through advocacy and the identification of partners to better address community needs.
Jaime received his associate degree in Social Work through City Colleges of Chicago. He is currently working towards attaining his bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education Administration. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, and the culinary arts. Jaime and his husband are roller coaster enthusiasts who love traveling and going to different theme parks.
Leah M. Armour
Leah M. Armour (she/her) is the Region 1-B-C (Cook South) Administrative Support. Leah was born and raised in Chicago and currently resides in Flossmoor, Illinois. As a mother of two small children, Leah has experienced firsthand the challenges associated with obtaining adequate Early Childhood Education and Care.
Through her experiences both as a mother and as an enthusiastic professional with 10+ years of experience working in Education Systems throughout the country, Leah has a proven knowledge of confidential correspondence, operations management, productivity, and performance management. Leah is excited to leverage her skills in this position to impact the community significantly and positively.
Contact Ashonti Jackson
Please fill out the form below to contact Ashonti. Your message will go directly to her inbox. You may also reach her at (309) 270-5684.
Región 1-B-C
Condado de Cook (Sur)
Informes de la Región 1-B-C
La Evaluación de necesidades regionales de la primera infancia destaca datos e historias de miembros de la comunidad en toda la región e incluye fortalezas, necesidades identificadas por la familia y la comunidad, y recomendaciones sobre cómo hacer que nuestros servicios locales de educación y atención de la primera infancia (ECEC) sean más accesibles y equitativos.
La Adenda incluyen comentarios adicionales de la comunidad capturados cuando nuestro Equipo Regional y los Comités de Acción y Familiar compartieron las conclusiones de nuestro informe inicial en toda la región.
El Plan de acción es un documento comunitario vivo que se centra en las principales prioridades de la evaluación inicial de necesidades de ECEC de nuestra región. Los miembros del consejo desarrollaron metas específicas, mensurables, alcanzables, relevantes y con plazos determinados (SMART) para cada recomendación y planes y cronogramas para cumplirlas.
Evaluación de necesidades de la primera infancia: enfoque en la salud mental y conductual presenta historias de familias y proveedores de ECEC sobre los desafíos y éxitos que tienen al acceder a los servicios de salud mental y conductual.
La NUEVA Adenda de Salud Mental y Conductual incluye nueva información sobre los recursos disponibles de Salud Mental y Conductual compartidos por cuidadores, profesionales de la Primera Infancia y miembros de la comunidad tras la publicación de nuestro informe inicial.
Enlaces
Miembros del Comité Familiar
Angela Ballard, Homewood (Cook County)
Brittany Currin, Lansing (Cook County)
Cheviah Rials, Harvey (Cook County)
Diana Lopez, Park Forest (Cook County)
Josefina Ornelas, Lynwood (Cook County)
Kamilat Soyege, Orland Park (Cook County)
Regina Harden, Chicago Heights (Cook County)
Simone Gatlin, Oak Lawn (Cook County)
Tiara Magee, Summit (Cook County)
Miembros del Comité de Acción
Adam Woodworth, Children's Museum in Oak Lawn, Executive Director
Alexandra Widdel, Good Shepherd Center, Training Supervisor
Anna Broccolo, South Suburban Special Recreation Association (SSSRA), Public Relations Manager
Brumentha Bony, Illinois Action for Children, Program Manager of Consultation Programs
Camesha Wilks, Hope Sitter & Day Care Services, Director of Home Child Care
Chanel Kennedy-Bertrand, Governors State University, Programmer Analyst
Cherise Williams, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Cynthia Tolar, Children on a Mission, Group Family Child Care Provider/Owner
Danielle Taylor, Richton Park Public Library, Head of Youth Services
DeAndra Dyson, S.E.E.D., Executive Director
Diamond Ross, Cook County Department of Public Health, Public Health Educator
Dominique Cobbs, University of Illinois Extension, Community Health Educator
Dr. LaTia Greer, Now Prosper Coaching & Consulting, Mental Health Consultant
Greg Ellison, Youth Education Development Academy, CEO
Gwendolyn Hale, Under Carrie's Care, Family Advocate
James McCombs, University of Illinois Extension, SNAP-Ed Educator
Janice Martin, Under Carrie's Care, Executive Director
Karina Slaughter, Chicago Commons, Chief Early Learning Officer
Keidra Key-Griffin, Family Child Care Provider, Owner & Operator
Kelly Jones, Cook County Department of Public Health, Health Educator
Kelly Tavormina, Metropolitan Family Services, Nurse Supervisor
Medina Bailey, Nurturing Development & Learning Academy, Executive Director
Nalissia Lightning, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Natashia Harris, Calumet Park School District #132, Special Education Director
Tamika Howard, Illinois Department of Corrections, Correctional Officer
¡Conozca a tu equipo regional!
Ashonti Jackson
Ashonti Jackson (ella/la) es la Gerente del Comité Regional de la Región 1-BC (Cook Sur). Ashonti cuenta con más de 10 años de experiencia trabajando en el sector no lucrativo. Ella es una orgullosa ex alumna de la HBCU con una licenciatura en Ciencias de la Familia y del Consumidor de la Universidad Alabama A&M. Es miembro del grupo Latino Policy Forum 2024 MLA y del grupo Willies Warriors 2024 Leadership con la Chicago Foundation for Women. Ashonti es experta en crear colaboraciones comunitarias y desarrollar estrategias de extensión comunitaria que brinden apoyo a las familias, con un fuerte enfoque en las comunidades marginadas.
Ashonti es una ávida organizadora comunitaria y cuenta con muchos años de experiencia como voluntaria. Ashonti es madre de una hija. Nació y creció en el suburbio sur del condado de Cook, donde reside actualmente y es la presidenta del consejo asesor juvenil de su comunidad. Ashonti ha visto de primera mano las grandes posibilidades que pueden surgir cuando las comunidades se unen. Ella espera con ansias hacer grandes cosas en la Región 1-B-C.
Jaime F. Garibay
Jaime F. Garibay (él/lo) es el Especialista en Participación Familiar y Comunitaria de la Región 1-B-C (Cook South). Jaime descubrió su pasión por la labor social después de la escuela secundaria, al realizar una pasantía en una agencia de la primera infancia mediante el programa para adolescentes After School Matters de Chicago. A partir de ese momento, Jaime desarrolló su carrera mediante varios roles dentro del campo de la Atención y Educación de la Primera Infancia (ECEC, por sus siglas en inglés). Ha supervisado y ejecutado operaciones críticas para Head Start/Early Head Start, el preescolar financiado por el estado, el cuidado de niños y la Iniciativa de Prevención, a la vez que asistido a niños y familias a acceder a los servicios mediante la defensoría y la identificación de asociados, de manera de abordar mejor las necesidades de la comunidad.
Jaime obtuvo un título de asociado en Trabajo Social a través de los Colegios Universitarios de la Ciudad de Chicago. Actualmente está estudiando para obtener su licenciatura en Administración de Educación de la Primera Infancia. Durante su tiempo libre, disfruta de las artes culinarias y pasar tiempo con familiares y amigos. A Jaime y a su esposo les encantan las montañas rusas, y aman viajar y visitar diferentes parques temáticos.
Leah M. Armour
Leah M. Armor (ella/la) es el Asistente Administrativo de la Región 1-B-C (Cook South). Leah nació y creció en Chicago y actualmente reside en Flossmoor, Illinois. Como madre de dos niños pequeños, Leah ha conocido en primera persona los desafíos que presenta el acceso a una adecuada Atención y Educación de la Primera Infancia (ECEC).
A través de su experiencia como madre, y como apasionada profesional con más de 10 años de experiencia en sistemas educativos en todo el país, Leah tiene comprobados conocimientos de correspondencia confidencial, gestión de operaciones, productividad y gestión del desempeño. Leah está encantada de poder emplear sus conocimientos en este puesto y así poder generar efectos positivos y significativos en la comunidad.
Contacta a Ashonti Jackson
Por favor, complete el siguiente formulario para ponerse en contacto con Ashonti. Su mensaje irá directamente a su buzón de correo electrónico. También puede comunicarse con ella al (309) 270-5684.