Birth to Five Illinois Team members from Region 47 (Lee, Ogle, Whiteside) and Region 33 (Henderson, Knox, Mercer, Warren) go on Quad Cities Live to talk about the Early Childhood resource guides and websites their Councils created to meet the needs of families.

Jill Duden returns to the Rantoul Roundup to share what Birth to Five Illinois is doing to identify the Early Childhood needs and work with the community to close the gaps in Champaign and Ford Counties.

Hear Early Childhood needs and progress updates from Liz Gibson, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 32 Council Manager (Iroquois and Kankakee Counties) in this WGFA radio interview.

Jill Duden and Melissa Watson from Birth to Five Illinois, representing Region 9 (Champaign and Ford Counties) return to “Catch the Beat on Market Street” to provide updates on their Councils’ progress bridging the gap between what Early Childhood services exists and what families say they need.

Read the interview with Kari Clark, our Region 48 Council Manager (Peoria County)!

David Quiroz, Region 31 Council Manager returns to Buenos Dias Aurora to share updates on Birth to Five Illinois’ progress for Kane County’s youngest learners.

The President and CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council thinks changes to the 45F employer tax credit may help with the local child care crisis. He is part of a recently formed child care alliance, led by YWCA McLean County and including representatives from Birth to Five Illinois.

“Birth to Five Illinois: Region 53 is working to build stronger connections in community, to look at what is working well, where families face challenges, and how we all can work together to make raising young children a little easier. “

Birth to Five Illinois: Region 21 Team members highlight the need for more child care in this news segment on the One Shawnee Summit!

Birth to Five Illinois Team members from Region 26 (Fulton, Hancock, McDonough, and Schuyler Counties) and Region 33 (Henderson, Knox, Mercer, and Warren Counties) presented at the Tri-State Development Summit.

The Birth to Five Illinois Team and Council members working in Henderson, Knox, Mercer, and Warren Counties (Region 33) are supporting parents and caregivers by launching the Before K Early Childhood Universal Resource.

Congratulations to Malia Jones, Region 16 (DeKalb County) Family & Community Engagement Specialist, for being a 2026 Rising Leader Award Recipient!

Birth to Five Illinois in Region 51 receives an award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois along with eight other nonprofits acknowledged for working to improve the health of the state.

Birth to Five Illinois: Region 51 partnered with StarNet Regions I & III and Community Child Care Connection to provide Pyramid Model Training for local child care directors.

See how Paul Larson, Region 26 Council Manager, says that Birth to Five Illinois is using local data for change in Fulton, Hancock, McDonough, and Schuyler Counties.

In this Letter to the Editor by Jennifer Miller, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 4 Administrative Support, she describes how her Facebook group management supports the organization’s mission.

“The scavenger hunt is a fun reminder that learning happens everywhere—not just in classrooms,” said Bridget English, Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Illinois Region 1..

Vermilion Advantage is partnering with Birth to Five Illinois to connect employers and families with Early Childhood resources and explore solutions to help address the child care challenges facing Vermilion County’s local workforce and community.

Ashlyn Horn, Region 8 Administrative Support, goes live on WIFR to discuss how her Birth to Five Illinois Team uses Facebook to helps connect families with local resources and events in Carroll, Jo Daviess, and Stephenson Counties!

Read updates from Birth to Five Illinois: Region 53 (Mason, Tazewell and Woodford Counties) in this Mason County Democrat article!