Region 17
DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, McLean
Region 17 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.
In Memoriam
Judy Engelbrecht (1957-2024)
Region 17 Action Council Member (2022-2024)
Owner & Director, Faithful Friends Christian Preschool & Daycare
Longtime Educator & Administrator Throughout Her Community
Family Council Members
Aline Cazarez, Clinton (DeWitt County)
Amy Chipman, Normal (McLean County)
Ana Chapus, Bloomington (McLean County)
Ashley Giebelhausen, Bloomington (McLean County)
Erica Larkin, Bloomington (McLean County)
Hilary Pacha, Bloomington (McLean County)
Kayleigh Parker, Lincoln (Logan County)
Lindsay Bachman, Lexington (McLean County)
Rachel Kridner, Chenoa (McLean County)
Ramone Pippins, Bloomington (McLean County)
Samantha McDonald, Bloomington (McLean County)
Action Council Members
Casey Peterson, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Catrina Parker, McLean County Health Department, Family Engagement Specialist
Cindy Alcazar, University of Illinois, Community Outreach Worker
Dawn Wickenhauser, Family Child Care Provider, Owner & Operator
Deb Rawlins, McLean County Court Appointed Special Advocate, CASA Volunteer
Debra Honegger, Pontiac School District, Director of Curriculum and Instruction/Coordinator of Early Learning Program
Emily Janssen, Scott Child and Family Center, Site Manager
Erin Wiese-Reichert, Children's Discover Museum, Early Childhood Educator
Jessica Smiley, Heritage Behavioral Health, Project Director Heritage Behavioral Health
Joshua Crockett, Office of State Senator Dave Koehler, Director of Constituent Outreach
Julie Engelsdorfer, Self Employed, Board-Certified Music Therapist
Kathleen Lorenz, Home Sweet Home Ministries, Director of Administration
Kela Leshoure, STGi OHS, Early Childhood Specialist
Lakeesha Smith, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Langston Pates, Team Relocation, Owner
Lisa Hood, Regional Office of Education #17, Research Director
Miranda Lin, Illinois State University, Teaching and Learning, Professor
Molly Allen, Regional Office of Education #17, Assistant Superintendent
Pam Womack, CCR&R Network, Director
Tasha Davis, Family Community Resource Center, Program Coordinator
Meet Your Regional Team!
Melissa Breeden
Melissa Breeden (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 17. Melissa has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Theater from Illinois State University and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education Administration from National Louis University. She has also earned a Level III Child Development Credential from Heartland Community College. Melissa has led a non-profit child care program for children from six weeks to twelve years of age for the past 15 years. She is skilled at community collaboration and advocating for families. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and playing with her dog, Xena.
Becky Thacker
Becky Thacker (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 17. She has been in the Early Childhood field for 18+ years. Her experience includes teaching, administration, and professional development with various nonprofit organizations. Through these years, Becky has developed a passion for improving the quality of care for young children and families.
Becky graduated from Illinois State University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science with an emphasis on Human Development. Becky lives with her husband, two children, and puppy in Bloomington. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking with her family, and going on vacation.
Martha Saldana
Martha Saldana (she/her) is the Region 17 Administrative Support. She is convinced there is no better way to use one’s skills and knowledge than by serving the community. Martha has worked in several different roles, including food program director, office administrator at Western Avenue Community Center, and tutor for the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Heartland Community College for over four years.
Martha holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Accounting, and has experience in finance, administration, and business. She and her family immigrated to the United States from Mexico in 2012 and have been living in the Bloomington-Normal area ever since. She and her husband share their home with Nacho (a Siberian husky) and Manuel, their son, who is currently in college in California. Martha enjoys a good conversation over a cup of coffee, a bicycle ride, and listening to jazz and music from the 70’s.
Contact Melissa Breeden
Please fill out the form below to contact Melissa. Your message will go directly to her inbox. You may also reach her at (309) 270-5408.
Región 17
DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, McLean
Informes de la Región 17
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.
En Memoria
Judy Engelbrecht (1957-2024)
Miembro del Comité de Acción de la Región 17 (2022-2024)
Dueña y Directora de Faithful Friends Christian Preschool & Daycare
Educadora y administradora en su comunidad dese hace mucho tiempo
Miembros del Comité Familiar
Aline Cazarez, Clinton (DeWitt County)
Amy Chipman, Normal (McLean County)
Ana Chapus, Bloomington (McLean County)
Ashley Giebelhausen, Bloomington (McLean County)
Erica Larkin, Bloomington (McLean County)
Hilary Pacha, Bloomington (McLean County)
Kayleigh Parker, Lincoln (Logan County)
Lindsay Bachman, Lexington (McLean County)
Rachel Kridner, Chenoa (McLean County)
Ramone Pippins, Bloomington (McLean County)
Samantha McDonald, Bloomington (McLean County)
Miembros del Comité de Acción
Casey Peterson, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Catrina Parker, McLean County Health Department, Family Engagement Specialist
Cindy Alcazar, University of Illinois, Community Outreach Worker
Dawn Wickenhauser, Family Child Care Provider, Owner & Operator
Deb Rawlins, McLean County Court Appointed Special Advocate, CASA Volunteer
Debra Honegger, Pontiac School District, Director of Curriculum and Instruction/Coordinator of Early Learning Program
Emily Janssen, Scott Child and Family Center, Site Manager
Erin Wiese-Reichert, Children's Discover Museum, Early Childhood Educator
Jessica Smiley, Heritage Behavioral Health, Project Director Heritage Behavioral Health
Joshua Crockett, Office of State Senator Dave Koehler, Director of Constituent Outreach
Julie Engelsdorfer, Self Employed, Board-Certified Music Therapist
Kathleen Lorenz, Home Sweet Home Ministries, Director of Administration
Kela Leshoure, STGi OHS, Early Childhood Specialist
Lakeesha Smith, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Langston Pates, Team Relocation, Owner
Lisa Hood, Regional Office of Education #17, Research Director
Miranda Lin, Illinois State University, Teaching and Learning, Professor
Molly Allen, Regional Office of Education #17, Assistant Superintendent
Pam Womack, CCR&R Network, Director
Tasha Davis, Family Community Resource Center, Program Coordinator
¡Conozca a tu equipo regional!
Melissa Breeden
Melissa Breeden (ella/la) es la Gerente del Comité Regional para la Región 17. Melissa es licenciada en Ciencias del Teatro por la Illinois State University y tiene una maestría en Administración de la Educación Infantil por la National Louis University. También obtuvo una certificación en desarrollo infantil de nivel III en Heartland Community College. Melissa ha dirigido un programa de cuidado infantil, sin fines de lucro, para niños de seis semanas a doce años, durante los últimos 15 años. Es experta en colaboración comunitaria y en la defensa de las familias. Cuando no está en el trabajo, le gusta pasar tiempo con su familia y jugar con su perro, Xena.
Becky Thacker
Becky Thacker (ella/la) es la Especialista en Participación Familiar y Comunitaria de la Región 17. Se ha dedicado al área de la primera infancia durante más de 18 años. Su experiencia incluye enseñanza, administración y desarrollo profesional con varias organizaciones sin fines de lucro. A lo largo de estos años, Becky ha desarrollado una pasión por mejorar la calidad del cuidado de los niños pequeños y las familias.
Becky se graduó en la Universidad Estatal de Illinois en 2008 con una licenciatura en Ciencias de la Familia y el Consumidor con especialidad en Desarrollo Humano. Becky vive con su esposo, sus dos hijos y un cachorro en Bloomington. En su tiempo libre, le agrada leer, hacer caminatas con su familia e irse de vacaciones.
Martha Saldana
Martha Saldana (ella/la) es el Asistente Administrativo de la Región 17. Está convencida de que no hay mejor manera de utilizar las habilidades y conocimientos propios que sirviendo a la comunidad. Martha ha trabajado en varios cargos diferentes, incluido el de directora del programa de alimentos, administradora de oficina en Western Avenue Community Center y tutora del programa de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) en Heartland Community College durante más de cuatro años.
Martha es Licenciada en Contaduría Pública y tiene experiencia en finanzas, administración y negocios. Ella y su familia emigraron a los Estados Unidos desde México en 2012 y desde entonces viven en el área de Bloomington-Normal.Ella y su esposo comparten su hogar con Nacho (un husky siberiano) y Manuel, su hijo, quien actualmente asiste a la universidad en California. Martha disfruta de una buena conversación con una taza de café, un paseo en bicicleta y escuchando jazz y música de los años 70.
Contacta a Melissa Breeden
Por favor, complete el siguiente formulario para ponerse en contacto con Melissa. Su mensaje irá directamente a su buzón de correo electrónico. También puede comunicarse con ella al (309) 270-5408.