Region 17
DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, McLean
Region 17 Reports
2023 Early Childhood Needs Assessment highlights data and stories from community members across the Region and includes strengths, family- and community-identified needs, and recommendations for how to make our local Early Childhood services more accessible.
2023 Addendum includes additional community feedback captured as our Team and Action and Family Councils shared the initial report’s findings throughout the Region.
2024 Action Plan is a living community document that focuses on the top priorities from our Region’s initial Early Childhood needs assessment. Council members developed Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals for each recommendation and plans and timelines to fulfill them.
2024 Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Focus on Mental & Behavioral Health features stories from families and Early Childhood providers about the challenges and successes they have accessing Mental and Behavioral Health services.
2024 Mental & Behavioral Health Addendum includes new information about the available Mental and Behavioral Health resources shared by caregivers, Early Childhood professionals, and community members after the release of our initial report.
2025 Action Plan Progress features the Region’s top Early Childhood priorities and highlights their goal progress and how to get involved.
2026 Changes in Early Childhood report highlights major changes in our Region’s Early Childhood and Mental and Behavioral Health programs, and spotlights Birth to Five Illinois’ most significant progress.
Family Council Members
Aline Cazarez, Clinton (DeWitt County)
Ashley McCaffrey, Bloomington (McLean County)
Erica Larkin, Bloomington (McLean County)
Hannah Koeppen, Lincoln (Logan County)
Hilary Pacha, Bloomington (McLean County)
Joe Falcinelli, Normal (McLean County)
Katie Fassig, Lincoln (Logan County)
Kayleigh Parker, Lincoln (Logan County)
Rachel Kridner, Chenoa (McLean County)
Ramone Pippins, Bloomington (McLean County)
Tiara Randle, Normal (McLean County)
Action Council Members
Ana Chapus, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Ashley Dowd, Heartland Community College Child Development Lab & Learning Center, Classroom Teacher
Brandee McKinley, The Baby Fold, Mental Health Consultant
Casey Peterson, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Cindy Alcazar, University of Illinois, Community Outreach Worker
Deb Rawlins, McLean County Court Appointed Special Advocate, CASA Volunteer
Emily Janssen, Scott Child and Family Center, Site Manager
Erin Wiese-Reichert, Children's Discovery Museum, Early Childhood Educator
Grace Irvin, Chestnut Health Systems, Prevention
Jennifer Skinner-Starkey, Woodland CUSD #5, Assistant Principal & Athletic Director
Jessica Smiley, Heritage Behavioral Health Center, Project Director & Social Worker
Jessie Hinshaw, Office of State Representative Sharon Chung (IL-91), Chief of Staff
Jodi Martin, Boys and Girls Club Livingston County, CEO
Joshua Crockett, Office of State Senator Dave Koehler (IL-46), Director of Constituent Outreach
Kayla Arnolts, Regional Office of Education #17, Regional Homeless Services & Program Support Specialist
Marianela Diaz, McLean County Unit District #5, Bi-lingual Family Liaison
Melissa Calvillo, Illinois State University, Instructional Assistant Professor
Pam Womack, CCR&R Network, Director
Tasha Davis, Family Community Resource Center, Program Coordinator
Meet Your Regional Team!
Melissa Breeden
Melissa Breeden (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 17. Melissa has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Theater from Illinois State University and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education Administration from National Louis University. She has also earned a Level III Child Development Credential from Heartland Community College. Melissa has led a non-profit child care program for children from six weeks to twelve years of age for the past 15 years. She is skilled at community collaboration and advocating for families. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and playing with her dog, Xena.
Becky Thacker
Becky Thacker (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 17. She has been in the Early Childhood field for 18+ years. Her experience includes teaching, administration, and professional development with various nonprofit organizations. Through these years, Becky has developed a passion for improving the quality of care for young children and families.
Becky graduated from Illinois State University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science with an emphasis on Human Development. Becky lives with her husband, two children, and puppy in Bloomington. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking with her family, and going on vacation.
Martha Saldana
Martha Saldana (she/her) is the Region 17 Administrative Support. She is convinced there is no better way to use one’s skills and knowledge than by serving the community. Martha has worked in several different roles, including food program director, office administrator at Western Avenue Community Center, and tutor for the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Heartland Community College for over four years.
Martha holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Accounting, and has experience in finance, administration, and business. She and her family immigrated to the United States from Mexico in 2012 and have been living in the Bloomington-Normal area ever since. She and her husband share their home with Nacho (a Siberian husky) and Manuel, their son, who is currently in college in California. Martha enjoys a good conversation over a cup of coffee, a bicycle ride, and listening to jazz and music from the 70’s.
Community Resources
Child Care Resources (Child Care Resource & Referral Network)
Maternal & Child Health Services (Livingston County Health Department)
McLean County Health Services (McLean County Health Department)
Women, Infant & Children Services (Logan County Health Department)
Social Service Resources Directory (Mid Central Community Action)
Región 17
DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, McLean
Informes de la Región 17
Evaluación de Necesidades de 2023 destaca datos e historias de miembros de la comunidad en toda la región e incluye fortalezas, necesidades identificadas por la familia y la comunidad, y recomendaciones sobre cómo hacer que nuestros servicios locales de la primera infancia sean más accesibles.
Adenda de Necesidades de 2023 incluyen comentarios adicionales de la comunidad capturados cuando nuestro Equipo Regional y los Comités de Acción y Familiar compartieron las conclusiones de nuestro informe inicial en toda la región.
Plan de Acción de 2024 es un documento comunitario vivo que se centra en las principales prioridades de la evaluación inicial de necesidades de la primera infancia de nuestra región. Los miembros de los Comités desarrollaron metas específicas, mensurables, alcanzables, relevantes y con plazos determinados (SMART) para cada recomendación y planes y cronogramas para cumplirlas.
Evaluación de Necesidades de Salud Mental y Conductual de 2024 presenta historias de familias y proveedores de la primera infancia sean sobre los desafíos y éxitos que tienen al acceder a los servicios de salud mental y conductual.
Adenda de Salud Mental y Conductual de 2024 incluye nueva información sobre los recursos disponibles de Salud Mental y Conductual compartidos por cuidadores, profesionales de la Primera Infancia y miembros de la comunidad tras la publicación de nuestro informe inicial.
Progreso del Plan de Acción de 2025 presenta las principales prioridades de la Región en materia de primera infancia y destaca el progreso de sus objetivos y cómo participar.
Cambios en la Primer Infancia informe de 2026 destaca los cambios más importantes en los Programas de Salud Mental y Conductual para la Primera Infancia de cada Región, y pone de relieve los avances más significativos de Birth to Five Illinois.
Miembros del Comité Familiar
Aline Cazarez, Clinton (DeWitt County)
Ashley McCaffrey, Bloomington (McLean County)
Erica Larkin, Bloomington (McLean County)
Hannah Koeppen, Lincoln (Logan County)
Hilary Pacha, Bloomington (McLean County)
Joe Falcinelli, Normal (McLean County)
Katie Fassig, Lincoln (Logan County)
Kayleigh Parker, Lincoln (Logan County)
Rachel Kridner, Chenoa (McLean County)
Ramone Pippins, Bloomington (McLean County)
Tiara Randle, Normal (McLean County)
Miembros del Comité de Acción
Ana Chapus, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Ashley Dowd, Heartland Community College Child Development Lab & Learning Center, Classroom Teacher
Brandee McKinley, The Baby Fold, Mental Health Consultant
Casey Peterson, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative
Cindy Alcazar, University of Illinois, Community Outreach Worker
Deb Rawlins, McLean County Court Appointed Special Advocate, CASA Volunteer
Emily Janssen, Scott Child and Family Center, Site Manager
Erin Wiese-Reichert, Children's Discovery Museum, Early Childhood Educator
Grace Irvin, Chestnut Health Systems, Prevention
Jennifer Skinner-Starkey, Woodland CUSD #5, Assistant Principal & Athletic Director
Jessica Smiley, Heritage Behavioral Health Center, Project Director & Social Worker
Jessie Hinshaw, Office of State Representative Sharon Chung (IL-91), Chief of Staff
Jodi Martin, Boys and Girls Club Livingston County, CEO
Joshua Crockett, Office of State Senator Dave Koehler (IL-46), Director of Constituent Outreach
Kayla Arnolts, Regional Office of Education #17, Regional Homeless Services & Program Support Specialist
Marianela Diaz, McLean County Unit District #5, Bi-lingual Family Liaison
Melissa Calvillo, Illinois State University, Instructional Assistant Professor
Pam Womack, CCR&R Network, Director
Tasha Davis, Family Community Resource Center, Program Coordinator
¡Conozca a tu equipo regional!
Melissa Breeden
Melissa Breeden (ella/la) es la Gerente del Comité Regional para la Región 17. Melissa es licenciada en Ciencias del Teatro por la Illinois State University y tiene una maestría en Administración de la Educación Infantil por la National Louis University. También obtuvo una certificación en desarrollo infantil de nivel III en Heartland Community College. Melissa ha dirigido un programa de cuidado infantil, sin fines de lucro, para niños de seis semanas a doce años, durante los últimos 15 años. Es experta en colaboración comunitaria y en la defensa de las familias. Cuando no está en el trabajo, le gusta pasar tiempo con su familia y jugar con su perro, Xena.
Becky Thacker
Becky Thacker (ella/la) es la Especialista en Participación Familiar y Comunitaria de la Región 17. Se ha dedicado al área de la primera infancia durante más de 18 años. Su experiencia incluye enseñanza, administración y desarrollo profesional con varias organizaciones sin fines de lucro. A lo largo de estos años, Becky ha desarrollado una pasión por mejorar la calidad del cuidado de los niños pequeños y las familias.
Becky se graduó en la Universidad Estatal de Illinois en 2008 con una licenciatura en Ciencias de la Familia y el Consumidor con especialidad en Desarrollo Humano. Becky vive con su esposo, sus dos hijos y un cachorro en Bloomington. En su tiempo libre, le agrada leer, hacer caminatas con su familia e irse de vacaciones.
Martha Saldana
Martha Saldana (ella/la) es el Asistente Administrativo de la Región 17. Está convencida de que no hay mejor manera de utilizar las habilidades y conocimientos propios que sirviendo a la comunidad. Martha ha trabajado en varios cargos diferentes, incluido el de directora del programa de alimentos, administradora de oficina en Western Avenue Community Center y tutora del programa de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) en Heartland Community College durante más de cuatro años.
Martha es Licenciada en Contaduría Pública y tiene experiencia en finanzas, administración y negocios. Ella y su familia emigraron a los Estados Unidos desde México en 2012 y desde entonces viven en el área de Bloomington-Normal.Ella y su esposo comparten su hogar con Nacho (un husky siberiano) y Manuel, su hijo, quien actualmente asiste a la universidad en California. Martha disfruta de una buena conversación con una taza de café, un paseo en bicicleta y escuchando jazz y música de los años 70.
Recursos Comunitarios
Recursos para el Cuidado Infantil (Child Care Resource & Referral Network)
Libro de Ayuda de DeWitt (Dewitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department)
Línea de Ayuda Confidencial para Residentes de Illinois (211)
Servicios de Salud Materno-Infantil (Livingston County Health Department)
Servicios de Salud del Condado de McLean (McLean County Health Department)
Servicios para Mujeres, Bebés y Niños (Logan County Health Department)
Directorio de Recursos de Servicios Sociales (Mid Central Community Action)