Birth to Five Illinois amplifying family voice in Franklin, Johnson, Massac, Williamson counties
Original article appeared in Metropolis Planet
VIENNA — According to the report of the Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care Funding, “the beating heart of an effective ECEC system is the community, and in order to provide for community input, the commission urges creation of a formal community and regional infrastructure.”
In response to this recommendation, the state has partnered with the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies to build Birth to Five Illinois.
This equity-driven statewide regional system is comprised of staff and local councils that will amplify family, provider and community voices in the state policy-making process and give local and state leaders a more accurate understanding of the early childhood gaps in each region.
A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday, Sept. 30, at Birth to Five Illinois’ new regional office at 418 Court St., on the square in Vienna, in the recently renovated Shoemaker Building.
Goals for Birth to Five Illinois include:
Supporting local residents in coming together to address early childhood needs within their own communities;
Making sure the state’s early childhood policies and funding priorities match the needs of each region, prioritizing the voices of families and local residents; and
Providing equitable access to high-quality early childhood services for all children.
Since its official statewide launch in February 2022, Birth to Five Illinois has been building its foundation. As of July 2022, 39 regional council managers have been hired across the state. Birth to Five Illinois anticipates the addition of regional support staff — a Family & Community Engagement specialist and administrative support — to be hired in all 39 regions by Thanksgiving 2022.
Tonya Frehner is the regional council manager for Region 21, which serves Franklin, Johnson, Massac and Williamson counties. A current resident of Johnson County with deep connections to the community, Frehner brings 20-plus years of nonprofit, educational, community and policy leadership experience to the position. Most recently, she served for 17 years as the executive director for the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children.
Rounding out the Region 21 team are Chelsi Diles, Family & Community Engagement specialist, and Rebecca Holcomb, administrative support.
As the Region 21 council manager, Frehner’s initial tasks include:
Setting up a Birth to Five Family Council and a Birth to Five Action Council for the region.
With the support of Illinois Action for Children, completing a regional scan that will include a demographic, programmatic, workforce and facilities landscape analysis, as well as an assessment of the gaps and needs in early childhood services in the region.
Region 21 residents who are passionate about early childhood and interested in working with other community members to overcome challenges and create solutions are encouraged to visit the Region 21 webpage at birthtofiveil.com/region21.