Amplifying the voices of families and providers to improve Early Childhood programs in Illinois

MISSION

To create a statewide regional infrastructure that will amplify input from communities in the development of policies and funding priorities. We support the mobilization of communities to build and sustain equitable access to inclusive, high-quality Early Childhood services for all children and families in the state of Illinois.

VISION

Reimagining a more equitable Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system that respects family and community voice and works to ensure it is centered and prioritized at every level of decision-making in Illinois.

VALUES/GOALS

• Family Voice: Through this transformation centered on authentic family and community engagement, we will address the inequitable distribution of resources and services and rebuild our State’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system.

• Racial Equity: In an effort to move our Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system to one where racism no longer impacts a child's success, we will work to dismantle barriers that have limited access to high-quality services for minoritized children in every corner of our State.

• Collective Impact: Birth to Five Illinois will build a system that harnesses knowledge directly from families and providers and encourages decisionmakers to ensure new and/or expanded services are created to meet community needs. This community-driven framework will directly influence policy/funding at the local, regional, and state level.

CULTURE STATEMENT

Birth to Five Illinois is committed to nurturing a community of leaders and learners actively engaged in creating an environment that supports and reflects culturally responsive practices. Centering equity is at the core of everything we do; we reflect, intentionally engage, and honor the diversity of each person. We value the celebration of accomplishment and work-life wellbeing.

RACIAL EQUITY DEFINITION

Racial equity is achieved when an individual’s racial/ethnic identity is not a factor that determines their life trajectory. Racial equity is the result of long-standing and present day embedded systemic practices and policies, not the ability of the individual or oppressed racial/ethnic group. Eradicating racial inequities requires intentional and bold efforts to address not only individual bias, but also systems and policies.

ABOUT

Illinois has a goal of becoming the best state in the nation for families raising young children by improving and expanding the delivery of child care and early learning programs for children from birth until they start Kindergarten. In 2019, the Governor established an Early Childhood Funding Commission charged with studying and making recommendations on funding goals and funding mechanisms that provide equitable access to high-quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services for all children from birth to age five. The resulting report to the governor and a companion primer made a set of recommendations to ensure all families in Illinois regardless of race, ethnicity, home language, ability, and social circumstance have the services needed to prepare their children for school.

As part of these transformation efforts, in the fall of 2021, the State partnered with the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) to launch Birth to Five Illinois with the goal of creating Community Councils in each of the State’s 39 Regions. The Birth to Five Illinois Regional Community System is built upon the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Regional Offices of Education (ROE) statewide structure but operating independently. Each Region has its own Family Council and Action Council.

Information gathered by the Birth to Five Illinois Councils is provided to the State in hopes of informing policy around birth-to-five programs over the next decade, and beyond. In addition, Birth to Five Illinois Councils can serve as regional advocacy bodies to influence local policy, including funding opportunities.