Region 50
St. Clair


Region 50 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.



Action Council Members

  • Aimee Hart, Uni-Pres KinderCottage, Executive Director/CEO

  • Alma Grinston, The Graceful Place to Grow, Owner

  • Audrey Gonzalez, Untangled Minds PLLC, Owner/therapist

  • Carolyn Jason, SIUE Head Start, Program Director

  • Chandra Bowman, Faithful Kids Academy, Family Child Care Provider

  • Emily Alvarez, NORC at the University of Chicago, Senior Research Scientist

  • Evan Krauss, East Side Aligned, Executive Director

  • Gina Harding, O'Fallon CCSD #90, Director of Early Learning

  • Janice Moenster, Brightpoint, Director of Early Childhood Services & Family Support, Southern Region

  • Jessica Seger, Mascoutah School District #19, Early Learning Student Services Coordinator

  • Kimberley Fickinger, Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center, Director of Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services

  • Lacey Arcos, Arcos Outdoor Living Inc., President

  • Makisha Binns, Kiddos Care, Educator

  • Nicole Warren, Caregiver Connections/Centerstone and SIUE HeadStart Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

  • Selina Davis, Special Education Advocate at Trillium Consultancy, Owner

  • Shameka C. Brown, Child and Family Connections (CFC) #21 Early Intervention, Director

  • Shamyra Brown, Erikson Institute, Home Visiting Specialist

  • Stacie Hoover, Ed.D., Executive Director of SMSS, Instructional Coach, Madison County, Founder of Parenting Solutions with Dr. Hoover, and Field Supervisor for McKendree

  • Sylvia Nunn, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

  • Trena McCoy, Mason's Place Too, Owner/Operator

  • Wendy Williams, Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Head Start State Collaboration Director

Family Council Members

  • Alnette Smith, Swansea (St. Clair County)

  • Ashley Weilbacher, Millstadt (St. Clair County)

  • Cassandra Staal, O'fallon (St. Clair County)

  • Jacquelin Austin, Cahokia (St. Clair County)

  • Katie Manno, Belleville (St. Clair County)

  • Krystin Hobbs, Freeburg (St. Clair County)

  • Megan Burgess, O’fallon (St. Clair County)

  • Misti Johnson, Belleville (St. Clair County)

  • Nicole Green, East St. Louis (St. Clair County)

  • Paulina Casoni, Mascoutah (St. Clair County)

  • Roberta Johnson, East St. Louis (St. Clair County)

  • Tenesha Cooper, O'Fallon (St. Clair County)


Meet Your Regional Team!

A headshot of Stephanie Herling. Stephanie has dark long hair and is smiling. Stephanie is wearing a colorful floral shirt with an orange sweater on top. Stephanie has black eyeglasses, a beaded necklace, and gold earrings.

Stephanie Herling

Stephanie Herling (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 50. Stephanie has over 20 years of Early Childhood experience.  Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies with a minor in Sociology. Her career has ranged from teaching in child care and preschool programs to professional development and coaching. She is dedicated to ensuring families are connected to the resources in their community.  Stephanie also participates on local boards, including the Executive Committee for the Greater East St. Louis Early Learning Partnership and the Executive Board for Brightpoint, and holds professional memberships in the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Division for Early Childhood (DEC), Illinois AEYC, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

 

Madeline Graham

Madeline Graham (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 50. Madeline earned a B.S. in Political Science from Missouri State University and an M.A in Middle Eastern Studies from Tel Aviv University in Israel. After moving back to St. Clair County in 2021, she worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), serving the greater St. Louis area. Most recently, she worked for the St. Clair County Regional Office of Education where she collaborated with educators, families, and administrators across the county.

Madeline is excited to work with children and families in her community in St. Clair County. In her free time, she likes to play with her dogs, Billy and Birdie, read, and play pickleball several times per week.

 

Coming soon!


Contact Stephanie Herling

Please fill out the form below to contact Stephanie. Your message will go directly to her inbox. You may also reach her at (618) 825-3929 or (309) 270-5657.