See what local families say they need for their children across the State

Family Stories

Birth to Five Illinois has created this welcoming space for parents and caregivers to share their family story of ECEC challenges and successes. It is our hope that as families share their stories, we will amplify the disparities in the system so we can work collectively and strategically to mend what is broken, while also celebrating what’s working.

If you have a story to share, please visit our submission page.

The Struggles of a Single Mom - By the Durbin Family
Region 19: What Families Say They Need 
Region 16: What Families Say They Need

Region 16: What Families Say They Need

"It's so hard to find good care for an affordable price that covers actual working hours for the average person… not just 9:00am – 5:00pm, but all shifts."

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Region 1-B-D: What Families Say They Need 

Region 1-B-D: What Families Say They Need 

"Children with special needs are further at a disadvantage in receiving services in a preschool setting with the slot gap with the slot gap because of number of slots, splitting time between schools, and transportation issues."

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Region 1-B-B: What Families Say They Need 
17 Years Searching for Quality Child Care, and Still More to Go! - By Anonymous

17 Years Searching for Quality Child Care, and Still More to Go! - By Anonymous

We have also had instances where one child was at a home-based child care center in one part of the county, and another one was at a different home-based child care center simply because there weren't openings for both of them in the same place or any others.

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