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.

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Guest User 9/17/24 Guest User 9/17/24

WCCI In Touch Interview with Lou Ann Hayes from Birth to Five Illinois: Region 8

Lou Ann Hayes returns to WCCI to discuss how her Team and community Councils have moved the needle on the needs and recommendations in their Early Childhood Regional Needs Assessment.

Guest User 9/16/24 Guest User 9/16/24

How Does Poverty Affect Students in East St. Louis? Here are 5 Things to Know

At an in-person event with East St. Louis community members, educators, elected officials, and others, Stephanie Herling, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 50 Council Manager, discussed the top Early Childhood and Mental and Behavioral Health needs identified across St. Clair County and East St. Louis.

Guest User 9/13/24 Guest User 9/13/24

WICS Live Broadcast: Interview with Region 51 Council Manager

Ashley Earles, Region 51 Council Manager, was LIVE on WICS News Channel 20 discussing how a lack of awareness of the available healthcare services is a barrier for local families.

Guest User 9/3/24 Guest User 9/3/24

Freepod Interviews Lou Ann Hayes

FREEPOD and TimBeck2 host Tim Connors speaks with Lou Ann Hayes of Birth to Five Illinois in Freeport, a statewide organization providing equitable access to inclusive, high-quality Early Childhood services for all children and families in Illinois.

Guest User 8/13/24 Guest User 8/13/24

Home Visitation Services Fill Gaps in Mental Health Care in Rural Communities

Felicia Farden (Region 53 Council Manager) and Kari Clark (Region 48 Council Manager) discuss some of the findings in their Regional Early Childhood Needs Assessments: Focus on Mental & Behavioral Health.

Guest User 8/12/24 Guest User 8/12/24

Birth to Five Illinois Begins Rolling Out Action Plan

Amy Robinson, Region 3 Council Manager, and Meghan Rewers, Region 3 Action Council member and Crisis Nursery of Effingham Executive Director, share about the work Birth to Five Illinois is doing to make ECEC more inclusive and accessible for all community members in Bond, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, and Montgomery Counties.

Guest User 8/9/24 Guest User 8/9/24

Rotary Meeting: Paul Harris Fellows Awards Presented, New Board Sworn In: Presentation Made by Birth to Five Illinois, 2 New Rotarians Sworn

Abby Hoskins, Region 47 Council Manager, presents on the work of Birth to Five Illinois at the Rochelle Rotary Club meeting.

Guest User 8/5/24 Guest User 8/5/24

'It's Very Sad': Reports Detail the Lack of Mental and Behavioral Health Providers for Northern Illinois Kids

NPR’s Peter Medlin interviews the Birth to Five Illinois Regional Council Managers from Region 4 (Boone & Winnebago Counties) and Region 8 (Carroll, Jo Daviess, & Stephenson Counties) about the mental and behavioral health gaps and needs in northern Illinois.

Guest User 7/30/24 Guest User 7/30/24

Advocates Identify Ways to Improve Youth Behavioral Health Services in Peoria Area

WCBU interviews Birth to Five Illinois: Region 48 Family Council member, Flo James, Council Manager, Kari Clark, and Region 53 Council Manager, Felicia Farden, about what families say they need to improve local access to mental and behavioral health supports.

Guest User 7/25/24 Guest User 7/25/24

Report Documents Behavioral Health Needs of Schools in McLean and Neighboring Counties

WGLT interviews Region 17 Council Manager, Carol Weisheit, about the Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Focus on Mental & Behavioral Health for DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, and McLean Counties.

Guest User 7/12/24 Guest User 7/12/24

Sen. Dale Fowler: 'What A Great Day for Southern Illinois'

Senator Dale Fowler joins Birth to Five Illinois: Region 21 as part of the commencement of Dolly Parton's "Imagination Library" free book program in Southern Illinois.

Guest User 7/11/24 Guest User 7/11/24

Children With Special Needs Are A Priority For B-N Woman On Department Of Early Childhood Transition Team

Listen to the WGLT interview with Region 17 Action Council member, Lakeesha James-Smith, who discusses the obstacles she has faced as a mother navigating the ECEC system and how the work of Birth to Five Illinois and the Transition Advisory Committee (TAC) are simplifying the system for families.

Guest User 7/10/24 Guest User 7/10/24

Want Economic Development? Change A Diaper!

The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 8 Team discuss the link between child care and economic development in this Village Voices article.

Guest User 7/4/24 Guest User 7/4/24

Community Meeting on Early Childhood Wellness Set

Birth to Five Illinois: Region 40 is holding a community meeting to discuss Early Childhood Education and Care initiatives in Greene, Jersey, Macoupin and Calhoun counties.

Guest User 7/3/24 Guest User 7/3/24

New Birth to Five Illinois Early Childhood Community Needs Assessments Set

Iroquois County’s Times-Republic covers the release of the Birth to Five Illinois Early Childhood Needs Assessments: Focus on Mental & Behavioral Health!

Guest User 7/2/24 Guest User 7/2/24

Local Leaders Say DeKalb County Workforce Readiness Starts at Home

Birth to Five Illinois: Region 16 joins local leaders at the Annual Forum on Kindergarten Readiness in DeKalb County.

Guest User 6/27/24 Guest User 6/27/24

Buenos Dias Aurora: David Quiroz Jr. y Birth to Five Illinois

Gracias Buenos Días Aurora por entrevistar una vez más al Equipo de la Región 31 sobre su trabajo en el Condado de Kane. / Thank you Buenos Dias Aurora for once again interviewing the Region 31 Team about their work in Kane County.

Guest User 6/26/24 Guest User 6/26/24

PRESS RELEASE: New Birth to Five Illinois Community Needs Assessments

Announcing the release of the Early Childhood Needs Assessments: Focus on Mental & Behavioral Health, featuring data and stories from families and ECEC providers about their challenges and successes accessing Mental and Behavioral Health services and supports.

Guest User 6/26/24 Guest User 6/26/24

Action Plan Aims to Boost Public Awareness about Early Childhood and Child Care – and How Little Its Workers are Paid

In this interview with WGLT, Carol Weisheit, Region 17 Council Manager (Dewitt, Livingston, Logan & McLean Counties) discusses the issues local children, families, and providers face and how their Regional Action Plan is working to address them.

Guest User 6/10/24 Guest User 6/10/24

The Grand Opening for Canton’s New TLC Sensory Place

Members of the Birth to Five Illinois: Region 26 Action Council and Family Council listened to what families said they needed and took action, opening the new Trinity Lutheran Church Sensory Place for children with autism and sensory disorders.