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.
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 17: What Families Say They Need
"Transportation is a big issue. A lot of programs in districts are half day and parents work full-time. What do parents do?"
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."
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
"…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
"…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 8: What Families Say They Need
"Without a workforce, we are only talking about problems and not taking action. Children must be served, but we need people to serve them…"
Region 4: What Families Say They Need
"Pay for Early Childhood staff and teachers is incredibly low. Truly, not a livable wage…"
Region 3: What Families Say They Need
"My child, who is three years old, has had six different child care settings due to closures and staff turnover."
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
"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
"…information is vital to ensuring there is equity in the allocation of resources throughout the Region…"
Region 1-A: What Families Say They Need
“…many programs are just not designed for the lives of families…”
Region 1: What Families Say They Need
"We really need to look at supporting working families and their essential need for affordable child care."
A Parent’s Perspective on Children’s Mental Illness: Liza Long
“Until people are willing to put their names on these stories, this isn’t real.”
Is It Any Wonder? - By Anonymous
…when someone asks me “how did you do it?” I do not have an answer.
Good, Dependable, Affordable Child Care is Pretty Much Nonexistent – By Breanna Kobus
Knowing it would be next to impossible to find a sitter that could handle his condition and his colostomy bag, I kept him in the salon while I worked, which wasn’t always easy.
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
They just said we were on a waitlist for that intervention, and nothing ever happened.
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.