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36th Annual Rural Community & Economic Development Conference

Thank You for Attending Our Session!

The Importance of Early Childhood for Community Well-Being and Economic Development

Affordable, dependable child care is central to economic development, especially in rural areas. Ensuring families have access to child care requires many stakeholders — families, providers, advocates, elected officials, and business leaders — to identify local needs and co-create solutions for community well-being. Child care access barriers differ significantly depending on where families live. Hence, Birth to Five Illinois, a Statewide Early Childhood Regional and Community System, was created to establish a local office and two community Councils with members of varied experience in each of the State’s 39 Regions. Focusing on rural western Illinois and their goals to increase providers, serve more children, and strengthen family supports, learn how Birth to Five Illinois combines data with broadscale public input from local community members to build Regional Action Plans that address multiple child care issues. Find out how you can get involved to drive meaningful change in this locally focused statewide effort.

Find Your Birth to Five Illinois Region

Find your county and click on the link below to visit the dedicated page for your Region where you can:

  • Read the reports for your community

  • See who is serving on your Region’s Action Council and Family Council

  • Meet your Regional Team

  • Join your Region’s Facebook Group

  • Contact your Regional Council Manager to find out how else you can get involved

Map of Illinois with 39 Birth to Five Illinois Regions identified by number and color.

Resources Shared During the Presentation