PRESS RELEASE: Birth to Five Illinois Publishes 39 Early Childhood Action Plans
PRESS RELEASE
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For more information, contact:
Maggie Koller (she/her)
Communications Manager
(309) 233-0434
mkoller@birthtofiveil.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2024
BIRTH TO FIVE ILLINOIS PUBLISHES 39 EARLY CHILDHOOD ACTION PLANS
Putting Family Recommendations Into Action
Birth to Five Illinois has published 39 Regional Action Plans to move the needle on the community-driven recommendations identified in the 39 Early Childhood Regional Needs Assessments.
The needs assessment reports, released in July 2023, include recommendations from families and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) providers for how to improve services at the local, regional, and state levels and make the ECEC system more accessible and equitable for all children. The Birth to Five Illinois Action Councils and Family Councils in each of the State’s Regions have now built a plan for how to collectively close gaps and provide families with the support they say they need.
“We are so excited to put authentic family voice in action,” said Dena Chapman, Family & Community Engagement Manager for Birth to Five Illinois. “True to collective impact, each of these plans was created by community, for community, to chart a path to real change.”
Recommendations in the Action Plans are rooted in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), a method that involves setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals, gathering feedback, evaluating progress on a regular basis, and making data-driven decisions. Council members also identified key partners who could help implement each goal, determined a timeframe for achievement, and considered potential risks and barriers.
“The Birth to Five Illinois Team is honored to have supported communities across the State in the creation of these next steps,” said Cicely L. Fleming, Director, Birth to Five Illinois. “Each plan outlines ways for the Region to move forward as a community on identified barriers and/or goals by leveraging local and (when possible) state resources.”
Regional Action Plans will be used to help communities across the State raise awareness of ECEC services, expand the reach of services and resources to families, and advocate for better access to programs. Anticipated in June 2024, Birth to Five Illinois will release regional needs assessments focused on available Mental and Behavioral Health supports for children, families, and ECEC providers.
The Regional Action Plans may be found at: www.birthtofiveil.com/reports/#action.
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About Birth to Five Illinois
Birth to Five Illinois’ mission is to create a statewide regional infrastructure that will amplify input from communities in the development of policies and funding priorities. We support the mobilization of communities to build and sustain equitable access to inclusive, high-quality early childhood services for all children and families in the state of Illinois.