Making Illinois’ Early Childhood Services the Best They Can Be
Our Action & Family Council Interest Forms are OPEN!
On this page:
2026 Action & Family Council Interest Form
Council Interest Forms for the next year of service (October 2026 - October 2027) close on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 11:45pm.
Submissions will be reviewed by Birth to Five Illinois in August 2026. You will be contacted shortly after.
To request information in a language other than English or Spanish, please contact us at: www.birthtofiveil.com/contact.
Press the drop-down menu in the upper right corner to access the Interest Form in English or Spanish.
Learn More About Joining Our Councils
What is a Council?
A Council is a group of people who meet to work together. Typically, they review information, plan, and make decisions.
Our Action Council is a space for Early Childhood professionals and community partners to meet and talk.
Our Family Council is a space for parents and caregivers of children age eight or younger to meet and talk.
What do the Birth to Five Illinois Councils do?
There are 39 Birth to Five Illinois Regions throughout the State, and each Region has its own Family Council and Action Council. The Councils typically meet separately but work in partnership to:
Share successes and challenges in accessing Early Childhood services
Offer ideas for how to improve local programs and services
Communicate regularly with families, Early Childhood providers, policymakers, and legislators about local needs
Who can participate on the Birth to Five Illinois Councils?
Action Councils: Community members and leaders with and without experience in Early Childhood.
Family Councils: Parents and caregivers of children aged eight and under.
Qualifications
Must live, work, or have a child who receives Early Childhood in the Region.
Must be committed to working with others to overcome challenges and create solutions.
Time Commitment
We ask members of our Action and Family Councils to serve for a one-year term. We expect the Councils to meet up to two times per month. There may be some additional tasks outside of meetings.
More for Family Members
Choice: Two family members may also sit on the Region’s Action Council. If you have a child age eight or younger, you can choose if you want to submit an Interest Form for the Action or Family Council.
Compensation: If you serve on the Family Council, or serve as a family member on the Action Council, you will receive a quarterly stipend for your time and experience.
What do the Birth to Five Illinois Councils do?
There are 39 Birth to Five Illinois Regions throughout the State, and each Region has its own Family Council and Action Council.
During the first three years, our Council members:
Supported local stakeholders in coming together to identify the strengths and determine the Early Childhood needs within their own communities
Produced an Early Childhood Regional Needs Assessment for each Region that includes community recommendations for how to improve Early Childhood services for families
Supported the community in developing Regional Action Plans based on the recommendations identified in the needs assessments
Produced a Mental and Behavioral Health Needs Assessment for each Region featuring stories from families and teachers about their access challenges and successes
This year, the Birth to Five Illinois Councils will:
Continue to advocate for the successful implementation of activities identified in the Regional Action Plans (using the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process)
Update the Regional Action Plans to address the needs identified in the Mental and Behavioral Health Needs Assessments
Review the Early Childhood Regional Needs Assessment to reflect on any major changes in Early Childhood services since it was produced
Continue to deepen relationships with local community stakeholders
Continue to support efforts around the development of the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood
If I am not ready to be on a Council, are there other opportunities to participate?
Yes! Find your county and click on the link below to visit the dedicated page for your Region where you can:
Read your Region’s Community Reports
Sign up for your Region’s Newsletter
Join your Region’s Facebook Group
Contact your Regional Team to find out how else you can get involved
1: Adams, Brown, Cass, Morgan, Pike, Scott
1-A: Cook (City of Chicago)
1-B-B: Cook (West)
1-B-C: Cook (South)
1-B-D: Cook (North)
3: Bond, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery
4: Boone, Winnebago
8: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson
9: Champaign, Ford
11: Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, Shelby
12: Clay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland
13: Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, Washington
16: DeKalb
17: DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, McLean
19: DuPage
20: Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White
21: Franklin, Johnson, Massac, Williamson
24: Grundy, Kendall
26: Fulton, Hancock, McDonough, Schuyler
28: Bureau, Henry, Stark
30: Alexander, Jackson, Perry, Pulaski, Union
31: Kane
32: Iroquois, Kankakee
33: Henderson, Knox, Mercer, Warren
34: Lake
35: LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam
39: Macon, Piatt
40: Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin
41: Madison
44: McHenry
45: Monroe, Randolph
47: Lee, Ogle, Whiteside
48: Peoria
49: Rock Island
50: St. Clair
51: Menard, Sangamon
53: Mason, Tazewell, Woodford
54: Vermilion
56: Will