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See what local families say they need for their children across the State
Family Stories
Birth to Five Illinois is on a mission to shift the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) landscape across Illinois by centering the voices and experiences of families. Where there are families, there are stories: stories of bureaucracy and systemic shortcomings, and stories of families and children thriving in the face of compassionate providers and exemplary services. We are here for it all!
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.
![Region 50: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/e1d4f579-1e85-4bb4-ae02-9f48f40a9607/iStock-858357962.jpg)
Region 50: What Families Say They Need
"Finding a program that had an opening was hard but once they found out that my child had a special need, they would start explaining all the reasons why they wouldn't be the best fit…"
![Region 48: What Families Say They Need](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/a3b02e69-73ed-4683-8324-31a8d1e6d50b/pexels-photo-3913426.jpg)
Region 48: What Families Say They Need
"I gave up my career to stay home because I couldn't find affordable care, waitlists, and my children having special needs…"
![Region 47: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/512f9d71-274d-47b3-9e8d-5d895aa03686/pexels-magda-ehlers-1319572.jpg)
Region 47: What Families Say They Need
"The question is how do parents know they are eligible for services?..."
![Region 45: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/771e19c9-d305-4819-9f36-c4d28a5f8053/pexels-yan-krukov-8612990.jpg)
Region 45: What Families Say They Need
“When programs are not housed in our community, parents and even educators are unaware of the services they provide.”
![Region 44: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/8cb3ed0b-1e81-4f00-b22a-b4a00fc7328b/pexels-keira-burton-6623865.jpg)
Region 44: What Families Say They Need
"We can't open the economy until we open the child care centers…"
![Region 41: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/f3226ae0-9407-4dcc-ae7a-9992947c9117/iStock-1078379726.jpg)
Region 41: What Families Say They Need
"We need an intervention plan in place before children are identified with a disability."
![Region 40: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/7d237c04-be89-4fa5-b986-a2bbd043a97e/pexels-pixabay-220455.jpg)
Region 40: What Families Say They Need
"There is already a staff shortage… It is beginning to take its toll on me and how I interact with my students and families."
![Region 32: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/2993f9e8-9ef4-4ef2-b3da-581082a10a70/pexels-rene-asmussen-325690.jpg)
Region 32: What Families Say They Need
"It's not easy to find information…the topics are too broad and the options too few."
![Region 26: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/d0502f35-3172-44ea-83e9-b78446c41774/iStock-1173451698.jpg)
Region 26: What Families Say They Need
"We have to make compromises based on what resources are available."
Region 20: What Families Say They Need
"Early Intervention services are extremely limited, because there are currently no professionals in some of our communities…"
![Region 19: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/c63a9908-0e01-4ec0-afbf-e6ec8f58263b/pexels-rodnae-productions-5637739.jpg)
Region 19: What Families Say They Need
"The system needs to adapt to the needs of families, and logistical barriers should not be a reason a child misses accessing needed services."
![Region 13: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/3236c351-ddb6-4b00-b43e-d69f90211003/pexels-ksenia-chernaya-8535230.jpg)
Region 13: What Families Say They Need
"Teachers have voiced that being understaffed and not having resources or supports causes them to take on a larger load, which causes more stress and is pushing people out of the industry."
![Region 12: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/c3274dd3-74ea-4374-9888-7cd33ca90655/iStock-1316223895.jpg)
Region 12: What Families Say They Need
"…we simply need more local, quality, and affordable access to everything every day — child care, medical resources, community programs, and so much more."
![Region 11: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/a4265f99-d083-436a-b1b9-23adf92aa039/pexels-pixabay-37539.jpg)
Region 11: What Families Say They Need
"…it got to the point where we were donating items for [the school] to use because they didn't have the resources to get those things…"
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."
![Region 1-B-C: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/0333e7c1-e526-4667-b091-7b33e1bc9a5e/pexels-yan-krukov-8612993.jpg)
Region 1-B-C: What Families Say They Need
"I decided to stay out of work, because I was going to be working just to pay for child care."
![Region 1-B-B: What Families Say They Need ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/24ddf468-c3ea-45bc-89f2-02b9e1c625b2/pexels-ron-lach-9872963.jpg)
Region 1-B-B: What Families Say They Need
"…information is vital to ensuring there is equity in the allocation of resources throughout the Region…"
![Wyatt’s Story – By Anonymous ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/1689870829611-ZOIKHW981UE8VOSX8ZBO/Wyatt%27s+Story.jpg)
Wyatt’s Story – By Anonymous
Our Birth to Three program has been wonderful in helping us get the services we need and making sure Wyatt is ready to start Pre-K…
![Son with Special Needs without Any Services – By Anonymous ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/1689870506481-2G88989RLEF4D0F3JVTS/Son+with+Special+Needs+without+Any+Services.jpg)
Son with Special Needs without Any Services – By Anonymous
They just said we were on a waitlist for that intervention, and nothing ever happened.
![Sitting, Waiting, and Wishing - By Jessica Wilson ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba6b3017614378f01ce468/1687796280730-J12O15K8AUYU7J6EGX6O/Jessica+Wilson.jpg)
Sitting, Waiting, and Wishing - By Jessica Wilson
Time has not been on our side. It feels like we are wasting the most crucial time of development in his life.