Birth to Five Illinois Aims for Quality Childcare
December 31, 2024
Original coverage in the Radar Free Press by Sean Ports.
Illinois is striving to become the nation’s leading state for families raising young children. In support of this vision, the state launched Birth to Five Illinois in 2021, a regional initiative aimed at improving access to equitable, high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.
In Region 47, covering Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties, regional council manager Abby Hoskins is working with families and stakeholders to address the needs of children from birth to age five.
“We’re really a backbone agency bringing everyone together,” Hoskins said. “We work to be in the community to hear from families, parents, and caregivers as to what their needs are when it comes to early childhood education and care.”
Birth to Five Illinois emerged from recommendations made by the state’s Early Childhood Funding Commission, established in 2019 to explore funding that ensures easy, equal access to early childhood programs. The commission’s work demonstrated the importance of addressing disparities in access to care based on race, ethnicity, home language, ability, and social circumstances.
Partnering with the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA), the state created a framework for 39 regional councils. These councils, built on the Illinois State Board of Education’s Regional Offices of Education (ROE) structure, function independently and focus on gathering community input to influence statewide and local policies.
In each region, Birth to Five Illinois operates through two primary councils:
The Family Council: Comprising many local families, this group centers family experiences and voices in decision-making processes.
The Action Council: This council includes educators, childcare providers, chambers of commerce, and faith-based organizations, among others, working together to address systemic challenges.
“We’re working with both our action and our family council to do what’s best for our community, so that way we can get the awareness message out there,” Hoskins said.
The need for childcare is pressing in Region 47. According to 2022 data, only 32% of children under five have access to childcare. Families often face limited options, with mental and behavioral health resources for children aged 0-8 also in short supply.
“When it comes to childcare, you kind of just have to take what you can get,” Hoskins said, highlighting the challenges families face.
Businesses in the region also feel the impact. When employees struggle to secure childcare, workforce productivity suffers which affects the local economies. To address this, Birth to Five Illinois is developing a toolkit to help employers understand childcare resources and support their employees.
Beyond local solutions, Birth to Five Illinois councils serve as advocacy bodies, channeling regional data and input to the state to inform policy and funding priorities. The Family Council is developing an early childhood resource hub, while discussions on mental health services for young children remain a focus.
“We love the community and parents to be involved,” Hoskins said, noting that Birth to Five Illinois continuously seeks new members for its councils to ensure diverse voices shape its work.
As part of Illinois’ broader transformation efforts, Birth to Five Illinois is laying the groundwork for long-term change. By amplifying family and community voices and championing equity, the organization is helping the state make progress toward its goal of ensuring all children have access to high-quality early childhood services that prepare them for school and beyond. For more information or to get involved with Birth to Five Illinois in Region 47, contact Abby Hoskins at (309) 393-2541 or visit their website.