New Effort Targets Youngest Residents

Original article by Jill Moon appeared in The Telegraph

BLOOMINGTON — Birth to Five Illinois, a statewide effort that aims to bring local residents together to address the early childhood needs within their own communities, will be holding two Virtual County Hall Meetings Thursday, Jan. 5, for Madison County. 

The nonprofit also represents Jersey, Calhoun, Greene and Macoupin counties, which is the group’s Region 40, but the Jan. 5 meetings, one from noon-1 p.m. and the other from 6-7 p.m. will focus on Madison County. Those in the Virtual County Hall Meeting will meet Birth to Five’s team for Madison County, which is the group’s Region 41. 

The team will talk about what they are doing in Madison County and that will be followed by a question-and-answer session. 

Both sessions are open to the public and will be held on Zoom. 

The Zoom links for the meetings are as follows:
Noon-1 p.m . Thursday, Jan. 5 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85198620678?pwd=ZXgyVHJaSmdpcGVtSEZBOVlYV2lVdz09
6-7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 5 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82158751059?pwd=RHpybHYrMU9KTVlReXZLOEE1RnhWZz09

Illinois has committed to building a statewide regional and community infrastructure to improve quality, equity, and access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs and services across the state, particularly for families who have been historically marginalized, said Birth to Five Illinois’ Tammy Wrobbel, Region 41 council manager.

This early childhood system, named Birth to Five Illinois, officially launched in February 2022 to fulfill a recommendation from the Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care Funding that Illinois design a system that centers family voice and racial equity in the allocation of funding.

The Birth to Five Illinois statewide regional system is comprised of dedicated staff and local councils that will amplify community voices in the state policy-making process and give local and state leaders a more accurate understanding of the early childhood gaps in the state’s 39 regions.

In addition to Wrobbel serving Madison County, Adrienne Kaesberg is the Family and Community Engagement Specialist, and Cassandra Williams is administrative support.

“Please mark your calendars to attend this virtual meeting. This work requires a village, and we are counting on you,” said Cassandra Williams, 
Regional Administrative Support Region 41. 

“Both Action and Family Councils are busy gathering and analyzing data,” she said. “After the New Year, we will be hosting focus groups and interviews with families, school officials, businesses, child care providers, state and local officials, and other local stakeholders to gather more information to make Illinois the best state for children and families.”

Call 309-603-2113 or email Birth to Five Illinois Regional 41 Council Manager Tammy Wrobbel at twrobbel@birthtofiveil.com for more information. 

For more information visit www.birthtofiveil.com/region41.