Community Meeting on Early Childhood Wellness Set

July 4, 2024

Original coverage in My Journal Courier by Eden MacDougall.

Birth to Five Illinois will have a community meeting later this month to discuss early childhood education and care initiatives in Greene, Jersey, Macoupin and Calhoun counties.

Topics will include Birth to Five Illinois' action plan for mental health, behavioral health and early childhood education options in those counties.

The meeting will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. July 25 at the Janke Building at 700 College Ave. on the Blackburn College campus.

The action plan was developed with Greene County Health Department, West Central Child Care and community partners and includes finding ways to spread awareness about existing programs for children and creating new ones.

An Early Childhood Needs Assessment found several issues that need to be addressed in the region, including a lack of childcare for children ages 5 and under in Greene and Calhoun counties, forcing families to travel to Macoupin County or farther to find care.

Birth to Five Illinois is working to create a statewide infrastructure of early childhood programs that value community and family input, ensure racial equality and offer a collective, positive impact on communities.