Introducing Birth to Five Illinois’ Area Coordinators
By: Cicely Fleming
I am so happy to share details with you about our forthcoming regional councils and to introduce you to our growing team!
My name is Cicely Fleming and at the end September 2021, I was named the State Director for Regional and Community Systems, now called Birth to Five Illinois. My position was created after the Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care Funding made several recommendations to the governor for a community and regional infrastructure. Their recommendations center racial equity in the state’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services and ensure that input from families, providers, and the local ECEC workforce forms the basis of decision-making.
As we internally finalize our criteria for 39 councils across the state, I wanted to make sure to introduce you to the Area Coordinators in your communities.
Meet the Area Coordinators
If you haven’t met your Area Coordinator yet, I am so excited to officially announce FaKelia Guyon, Diana Merdian, Jacqui Jones, Kim Hunt and Lori Longueville!
Area 1 Counties: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will
Area 1 Regions: 1-A, 1-B-B, 1-B-C, 1-B-D, 19, 24, 31, 34, 44, 56
Email: area1coordinator@inccrra.org
Area 2 Counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Henry, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago
Area 2 Regions: 4, 8, 16, 28, 35, 47, 49
Area 2 Email: area2coordinator@inccrra.org
Area 3 Counties: Adams, Brown, Cass, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, Mason, McDonough, Menard, Mercer, Morgan, Peoria, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Tazewell, Warren, Woodford
Area 3 Regions: 1, 26, 33, 48, 51, 53, 56
Area 3 Email: area3coordinator@inccrra.org
Area 4 Counties: Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby, Vermillion
Area 4 Regions: 9, 11, 17, 32, 39, 54
We are still hiring an Area Coordinator for central Illinois!
Area 5 Counties: Bond, Calhoun, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Randolph, St. Clair
Area 5 Regions: 3, 40, 41, 45, 50
Area 5 Email: area5coordinator@inccrra.org
Area 6 Counties: Alexander, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson
Area 6 Regions: 12, 13, 20, 21, 30
Area 6 Email: area6coordinator@inccrra.org
What’s Next?
In early February 2022, we will have virtual Zoom kick-offs for each of the 39 regions. From there, Illinois will begin to organize 39 councils with the goal of providing a statewide mechanism to engage local stakeholders, gather family opinion, and create a strategic plan that clearly identifies the need for expansion of quality learning in every region. In order to be successful, councils will require a wide range of stakeholders — parents and families, school district officials, early learning educators and advocates, county and municipal officials, and the business community — to work together in every community in the state to determine what resources are needed in their region; then plan for how to meet those needs. Policies and programs will be co-created by parents, providers, and local communities who will have ongoing leadership roles in the implementation and monitoring of progress.
Get Involved
Stay tuned to register for your regional kick-off the first week of February.
Consider serving on a council and spread the word!
We are seeking parents, childcare providers, educators and early learning advocates to serve on our councils. They will be our link to diverse communities, giving voice to Illinois families that often are overlooked and unheard. Applications and criteria will be released in February.
Add your colleagues and other stakeholders to our invitation list.
We want to make sure everyone is invited to the table. You can do so by filling out this form.
Email your Area Coordinator.
They are your main contact for questions, concerns and ideas.