Region 20
Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White

Region 20 Reports

Using a Collective Impact Model, between September 2022 and June 2023, we led our Action and Family Councils through data discussions to identify gaps and barriers for children and families. We coordinated focus groups, interviews, and surveys to gather input from community members across the Region. We are eager to share with you our key findings, regional strengths, family- and community-identified needs, and recommendations for how to make our Region’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs more accessible and equitable to children, families, and ECEC providers.

Recognizing we could not talk with every community member in the Region prior to completing our report, this summer and fall our Team worked with our Action and Family Councils to share the report’s findings throughout the Region, keeping with our mission to capture as much input as possible. Additional community feedback has been captured in the Addendum file below, released in November 2023.

a map of Illinois with Region 20 highlighted in blue
 

Action Council Members

  • Meagan Greenwood, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Megan Ragan, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative 

  • Alisa Adams-Miller, Wabash Area Development, Inc., Director 

  • Brandi Respondek, Gallatin Elementary School, Pre-K Coordinator & Teacher 

  • Chelsee Miller, Walmart Pharmacy, Pharmacist 

  • Hannah Hyder, Wayne County Health Department, Prevention Initiative Director 

  • Jill Andrews, Kiddie Kollege, Owner & Director 

  • Kathy Murphy, Prevention First, Coordinator

  • Kristin Stewart, Egyptian Health Department, Youth Mental Health Counselor 

  • Misty Eftink, Egyptian Health Department, Community Engagement Specialist 

  • Patricia Ingram, Group Family Child Care, Owner & Operator 

  • Paula Schnicker-Johnson, CCRR Project CHILD, Training Coordinator 

  • Sheila Foster, Eldorado Unit 4, Principal 

  • Steve Akins, Wabash & Edwards Counties AOK Early Childhood Network, AOK Coordinator 

  • Taylor Bodnar, Albion Community Health Center, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 

Family Council Members

  • Cassidy Brown, McLeansboro (Hamilton County) 

  • Christy Vaughan, McLeansboro (Hamilton County) 

  • Courtney Wood, Shawneetown (Gallatin County) 

  • Elizabeth Zurliene, Fairfield (Wayne County) 

  • Heidi Attebury, Fairfield (Wayne County) 

  • Jessica Johnson, Mcleansboro (Hamilton County) 

  • Katye Roper, Omaha (Gallatin County) 

  • Maria Gross, Omaha (Gallatin County) 

  • Rowyn McAshton, Harrisburg (Saline County)

  • Sara Nobles, Mount Erie (Wayne County) 

Meet Your Regional Team!

Portrait of Janice Crow, a light skinned person with short wavy brown hair smiling with folded arms from the torso up in front of a brick background. Janice is wearing a red flower embroidered top with a smart watch and black slim eyeglasses.

Janice Crow

Janice Crow (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 20. Janice has been working in the field of early childhood education for over 40 years. She has served in various capacities including Child Care Worker, Day Care Director, Parent Coordinator for the pre-K grant, Extraordinary Care Aide, Home Visitor, and Coordinator of the 0-3 Prevention Initiative grant. In addition to her direct work in early childhood, Janice also directs the preschool advisory board, volunteers in varying roles for her church,  serves on the McLeansboro Library Board, and has served on various boards specializing in collaborative efforts throughout her community. Most recently, Janice served as the Hamilton-Wayne County Event Coordinator for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Janice joined her husband Robert in marriage in 1984 and together they have been blessed with two children and two grandchildren. She was born and raised in McLeansboro, Illinois and still resides there today.

 

Michele Draper

Michele Draper (she/her) is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Region 20. She is an Illinois Certified Family Partnership Professional. Michele is passionate about advocating for improved access to mental health services for children and families. As a former Family Peer Support Provider, she has experience working with schools to help children feel successful and emotionally supported in an educational setting. 

Michele has organized mental health awareness events in communities throughout Southern Illinois and rallies in the State capitol. Being a keynote speaker at the first Illinois Children's Health Caucus was one of the highlights of Michele's advocacy as a parent and mental health professional. She worked to promote the Early Mental Health Act, which became law in 2018. Michele has three adult daughters, Jayda, Aysia, and Adyson, a son, Will, and a bonus son, Owen. She was raised in McLeansboro where she still resides today. When Michele is not curled up with a good book, she can be found enjoying her backyard with her husband, Michael. Her loves are doting on her plants and flowers, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.

 

Coming soon!

Contact Janice Crow

Please fill out the form below to contact Janice. Your message will go directly to her inbox. You may also reach her at (309) 393-2530.