Spreading the Word as We Strive for Equity
Scroll down to read all Birth to Five Illinois news coverage, or you can click to read the coverage from your Region.
Baby Essentials Available at ‘No Child Wet Behind’ Diaper Drive in Freeport
The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 8 Team and Council members handed out diapers and shared community resources at this fifth annual event.
Teacher Talk - O.W.L. Early Childhood Resource Hub
In this episode of Teacher Talk, Abby Hoskins, Region 47 Council Manager, talks about the O.W.L. Early Childhood Resource Hub created to meet a need identified by families in Ogle, Whiteside, and Lee Counties.
Mayor Brandon Johnson Signs Proclamation Designating April Month of The Young Child
Mayor Brandon Johnson designates April Month of the Young Child! Region 1-A Council Manager, Edna Navarro Vidaurre is quoted in the official press release.
Sauk Valley Families Can Access Early Childhood Resources through O.W.L. Early Childhood Resource Hub
The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 47 Family and Action Councils along with the Sauk Valley STARS Early Childhood Coalition, have officially launched the O.W.L. Early Childhood Resource Hub!
New Early Childhood Resource Hub Launches for Ogle, Whiteside, and Lee Counties
To fulfill one of the recommendations in their Action Plan, the Birth to Five Illinois: Region 47 Family and Action Councils have launched the O.W.L. Early Childhood Resource Hub in collaboration with the Sauk Valley STARS Early Childhood Coalition!
Healthy Kids Day Family Resource Fair
The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 45 Team (Monroe and Randolph Counties) is hosting a Healthy Kids Day Family Resource Fair with activities, local resources, and free screenings for children!
Early Childhood Screening and Family Resources
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 1-B-D (North Cook County) partners with the Childcare Network of Evanston and CFC#6 Clearbrook to offer early childhood screenings and family resources.
Wayne County Board Met Thursday Night, Updated Information on The Hotel Project on Fairfield’s West Side Provided by the Mayor
Janice Crow, the Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Illinois: Region 20, provides an overview of the organization’s mission and services across nine counties, including Wayne County.
Mayor Spotlights Early Childhood Development at Memorial Child Care Ceremony
Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher led a proclamation ceremony to celebrate “Week of the Young Child” as part of a collaboration between Birth to Five Illinois: Region 51, Memorial Health, and the City of Springfield.
Commission Hears Complaint Concerning Assessor (and Updates from Birth to Five Illinois)
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 21 Family & Community Engagement Specialist and two Family Council members met with the Massac County Commission to discuss their progress in Franklin, Johnson, Massac, and Williamson Counties.
Scott Receives Grant to Boost Early Childhood Education
The Birth to Five Illinois Planning Grant awarded to the Scott County Health Department is expected to help connect families to Early Childhood Education services and improve programs.
Community Invited to Early Childhood Resource Launch and Regional Action Plan Update
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 47 and the Sauk Valley STARS Early Childhood Coalition invite community members to a regional meeting focused on early childhood development efforts across Ogle, Whiteside, and Lee Counties.
A 100-year-old Rockford Childcare Center Abruptly Closed. If There's Such a Need for Childcare, Why Can't Centers Stay Open?
Two Action Council Members from the Birth to Five Illinois: Region 4 (Boone & Winnebago Counties) Councils were interviewed for this NPR article about the dire need for child care in the area but the challenges in keeping these critical businesses open to serve children and families.
SIUE Participates in National Week of the Young Child
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) partners with Birth to Five Illinois: Regions 50 (St. Clair County) and 41 (Madison County), Brightpoint, Madison County Alliance for Children & Families and the Metro East Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children for the National Week of the Young Child.
ROE 13 Eyes Funding for Pre-K Programs
Regional Office of Education (ROE) 13 announces that they have been awarded new subcontract with Birth to Five Illinois to continue funding important Early Childhood programs in Jefferson, Clinton, Marion and Washington Counties.
Birth to Five Illinois Seeks to Build Connections with Diverse Voices
Listen to Birth to Five Illinois: Region 49 Council Manager, Emily Cummings, and Family & Community Engagement Specialist, Heather Anderson, talk about the goals for this statewide system the Action Plan focus of their local Councils in Rock Island County, and how community members can get involved!
PRESS RELEASE: Birth to Five Illinois Awards Another Round of $3 Million
Announcing an additional $3,075,000 awarded to support both existing and new Local Early Childhood Collaborations across the State!
Lewis and Clark Launches New Human Services AAS Degree
Recommendation 1 in the Birth to Five Illinois: Region 41 (Madison County) Action Plan is to, “Build a community infrastructure to support additional teachers, support staff, specialists, and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) slots.” This new AAS degree at Lewis and Clark marks tremendous progress!
BuildingBN Podcast #93: Birth to Five Illinois’ Melissa Breeden
Melissa Breeden, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 17 Council Manager (DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, and McLean Counties) talks all things Early Childhood Education and Care (child care affordability, workforce development, community building, etc.) on the Building BN podcast.
Dixon's Preschool Offerings to Expand in New Program with 80 Slots, 4 Rooms at Lovett Center and Open Sesame
New ECEC program opens in Region 47! “The ROE 47 partnered with Birth to Five Illinois, a program aimed at improving early childhood education, to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment across the counties, looking to find out if there really was a shortage and if it was negatively affecting those in the community,.”