Birth to Five Illinois Reports Highlight Early Childhood Progress Across State Since 2023 (Springfield, IL) – Birth to Five Illinois has released a new series of regional reports detailing major improvements in early childhood education, care and family support services across Illinois since 2023.
The newly published “Changes in Early Childhood” reports highlight accomplishments made through collaborations among Birth to Five Illinois regional teams, Action Councils, Family Councils, community organizations and local leaders working to address gaps in services identified by families.
Founded in 2021, Birth to Five Illinois operates statewide with a mission to assess available early childhood programs, identify unmet needs, and connect community stakeholders to improve services for young children and their families.
The reports build on previous regional assessments conducted by the organization. The 2023 Early Childhood Regional Needs Assessments gathered data and community feedback regarding available services, barriers to access and recommendations for improvement. In 2024, Birth to Five Illinois examined challenges related to accessing mental and behavioral health services for children and families, while also collecting locally driven solutions.
According to the organization, the latest reports focus on progress made in response to those findings and document changes in early childhood and behavioral health services throughout Illinois.
Among the examples highlighted are the Elevate Will County Child Care Provider Grants, the groundbreaking of the Educare early childhood education facility in Lake County, and the addition of 250 Birth to Three Home Visiting program slots serving families in Clinton, Jefferson, Marion and Washington counties.
The reports also provide a regional breakdown of the approximately $12 million investment Birth to Five Illinois has directed toward local early childhood collaborations across the state.
“From the ‘Elevate Will County Child Care Provider Grants’ to the Educare groundbreaking in Lake County to the addition of 250 Birth to Three Home Visiting slots across Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington Counties, there are so many significant examples of our Councils’ progress documented in these reports,” said Sonja Clark, director of operations for Birth to Five Illinois.
The organization said the reports are intended to demonstrate how local partnerships and community engagement have helped expand access to services while addressing challenges identified by families and providers in recent years.
The reports are available online through the Birth to Five Illinois website.
Birth to Five Illinois Reports Highlight Early Childhood Progress Across State Since 2023
