Spreading the Word as We Strive for Equity
Scroll down to read all Birth to Five Illinois news coverage, or you can click to read the coverage from your Region.
Kane County Parent Cafés Aim to Bring in Fathers, Male Caregivers
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 31 (Kane County), the Kane County Health Department, Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning, and Elgin Area School District U-46 are offering virtual Parent Cafés in Spanish and English.
Birth to Five Illinois to Celebrate Week of the Young Child
Representatives from Birth to Five Illinois: Region 13 joined Salem Mayor Nic Farley for a proclamation signing recognizing April 11-17 as Week of the Young Child.
Community Organizations to Host Child Abuse Prevention Walk April 10
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 13 (Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington Counties) and the Take Action Coalition of Clinton County are hosting a walk on April 10th.
Report Details Massive Economic Impact of Illinois' Child Care Crisis; Business Leaders Call for Greater Public Investments in Early Childhood Priorities
Tiffani Saunders, former Birth to Five Illinois: Region 51 Family Council member and current Alumni group member, shared her family story as part of the ReadyNation Illinois News Conference.
Birth to Five Illinois on The ReVue
Donna Rardin, Family & Community Engagement Specialist, and April Carruthers, Family Council Member, from Region 12 promote their upcoming Parent Cafe on The Revue.
Champaign County Hosts Listening Session on Youth Mental Health Services
The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 9 (Champaign & Ford Counties) Listening Session is featured on NewsChannel20!
Supporting Families and Early Childhood in Illinois with Birth to Five
In this one-hour The Local Lens - Lawrenceville Unfiltered podcast, Ann Oswalt and Donna Rardin discuss what the Region 12 Team and Councils are doing to support families and Early Childhood development in Clay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence, and Richland Counties.
Teacher Talk - Featuring Birth to Five Illinois
Abby Hoskins, Region 47 Council Manager, returns to Regional Office of Education #47 Teacher Talk to provide updates on the Councils’ focus areas (based on the needs of local families) and successes in Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counites.
Southern Illinois Healthcare Launches “FindHelp” Resource
Region 30 demonstrates Collective Impact in action! Through collaboration and partnerships, their community-identified need for an online platform for parents and caregivers to find resources led to the development of FindHelp for Southern Illinois.
Recent Closures Leaves Families On a 'Hunger Games'-Style Search for Child Care
Melissa Breeden (Region 17 Council Manager) and Hilary Pancha (mom of five children and Region 17 Family Council Member) discuss the recent child care closures in Bloomington-Normal.
Parent Spotlight: Dulce Trujillo
Dulce Trujillo, Elgin community member and Birth to Five Illinois: Region 31 (Kane County) Family Council member, shares her story in this Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning (EPEL) Parent Spotlight.
Early Childhood Mental Health Starts at Birth, According to Birth to Five Illinois Leaders: Community Focus With Callie Luttman
Jill Duden (Region 9 Council Manager) and Angie Hunt (Region 11 Council Manager) discuss how they are working to improve the way Early Childhood systems work together and normalizing mental health as health for children and families.
Supporting Young Children’s Mental Health in Our Community
Read a piece written by Ashley Earles, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 51 Council Manager and Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce Member, and featured in the Chamber’s Quarterly News & Updates.
Pike County to Celebrate Child Care Providers Past, Present and Future Tuesday, March 10
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 1, part of the The Pike County Child Care Task Force (PCCCTF), will recognize local child care providers at “Provider Palooza”.
Helping Our Youngest Learners with Birth to Five Illinois
Read this article, co-authored by Lynn Matthews, Executive Director of the Community Resource & Counseling Center, and Jill Duden Birth to Five Illinois: Region 9 Council Manager (Champaign & Ford Counties).
Readers Write: Regional Birth to Five Illinois Promotes Early Childhood Services
Read this “Readers Write” Letter to the Editor submitted by Janice Crow highlighting the work of the Birth to Five Illinois: Region 20 Team and Councils.
Early Childhood Mental Health Symposium
Now, you can watch a recording of the DuPage County Early Childhood Mental Health Symposium, co-hosted in September 2025 by Birth to Five Illinois: Region 19, the DuPage County Health Department, and KidsMatter!
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 51 News
The Chatham Chamber shares new Community Resource Directory flyers made by the Region 51 Team (Menard & Sangamon Counties) and several of their partners!
New Day Care and Academy Fills Former Rockford Day Nursery
A new child care and Early Childhood Education academy has filled the former Rockford Day Nursery!
Region 34 Council Manager Invited to Join Roundtable on Affordability with Congressman Jeffries
Dane Cruz, Region 34 Council Manager, joined Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Congressman Brad Schneider, and several community leaders to discuss affordability challenges for families in Cook and Lake Counties.