Quick Links

• Region 9 Media Coverage

• Region 9 Facebook Group

• Past Newsletters

• Past Council Meeting Notes

• View Regional Data Report (IECAM)

• Frequently Asked Questions

Action Council Members

• Alison Hanlon, Developmental Services Center (DSC), Early Interventionist

• Amy Kilgus Chamley, Parkland Early Childhood Education, Director

• Anne Pradzinski, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Early Childhood Professional Education Program Director

• Billie Jo Blanton, Promise Healthcare, Mental Wellness Care Manager

• Charles LeGrand, The Pavilion, Director of Business Development

• Erin Nuss, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley CUSD#5, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

• Javaite Burton, United Way of Champaign County, Director of Community Impact

• Jenny Spinks, University of Illinois Extension, INEP Program Administrator

• Kristen Neaville, Epilepsy Advocacy Network, Client Coordinator

• Lacey Boen, CCRS of Champaign County, Higher Education Navigator

• Lauren Wallace, JUMPSTART, Ford County Lead Parent Educator

• Lynn Mathews, Community Resource and Counseling Center, Executive Director

• Mariah Brown, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Family Advocate

• Mary Catherine Roberson, Office of Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-2), Interim Director of Constituent Services

• Melissa A. Walters, CRIS Rural Mass Transit District, CEO

• Nichole Kitchens, Developmental Services Center, Therapist

• Sarah Zilis, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Skylee Crawford, Gibson Area Hospital, Social Worker

Family Council Members

• Amber Wild, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Aurea Shelton, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Becky Anderson, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Frankie Ward, Elliott (Ford County)

• Jane Lin, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Mariah Chino, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Patricia Nnamani, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Rosa Lee, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Sana Zeeshan, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Sunera Saba Khan, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Tshela Ngoy, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Xia Hope, Champaign (Champaign County)

Jill Duden

Jill Duden (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Region 9. She has over 20 years of experience in child development and family services. Jill holds a Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from Eastern Illinois University. She is passionate about raising awareness of the needs of all children through advocacy and community outreach.

As the Central Region Prevention Specialist at Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, Jill created and led training sessions on child abuse prevention for professionals, parents, and community members. She worked closely with regional organizations to promote child abuse prevention efforts and has helped establish several local prevention coalitions. Previously, Jill also worked at a Crisis Nursery as the Safe Children Program Coordinator, where she managed volunteers, trained staff, and developed programs to support children and families. She also served as the Director of St. Paul’s Community Preschool for over 10 years, overseeing Early Childhood Education and fostering a safe, nurturing environment for children.

Melissa Watson

Melissa Watson (she/her) is the Family and Community Engagement Specialist for Region 9. She has worked in the Early Childhood field in Champaign-Urbana for more than a decade, where she gathered knowledge and experience as a lead teacher and program director/administrator. An alumnus of Eastern Illinois University, Melissa received her bachelor’s in general studies with a child care focus in 2020, and she will complete her master’s in Early Childhood Administration through National Louis University in 2026.

Melissa has long held a passion for Early Childhood advocacy, and she actively volunteers her time and shares resources with families in her community. In her free time, Melissa can be found reading, thrifting, or having outdoor adventures with her three young sons and husband.

Jessica Intravaia

Jessica Intravaia (she/her) is the Region 9 Administrative Support. Jessica was born in California and grew up in the Midwest. She has worked with children of all ages and has taken multiple training courses, giving her considerable knowledge of education. Most recently, Jessica worked in the private sector as a preschool teacher. She has also worked as a counselor for school-aged children in Chicago, as well as in roles that enhanced her skills in customer service, data collection, research analysis, and marketing. Jessica graduated from Eastern Illinois University (EIU) with her bachelor's degree in Geography with a concentration in Environmental Studies and a minor in Business Administration. 

Jessica knows, from a parent's perspective, how difficult it can be to obtain and afford child care, which is why she is passionate about helping families access resources. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her two amazing kiddos as well as her dachshund, Dexter.

Enlaces

• Cobertura de prensa de la Región 9 (inglés)

• Región 9: Grupo de Facebook (inglés)

• Boletines de noticias anteriores

• Notas de las últimas reuniones del Comité (inglés)

• Ver Informe de Datos Regionales (IECAM) (inglés)

• Preguntas Frecuentes

Miembros del Comité de Acción

• Alison Hanlon, Developmental Services Center (DSC), Early Interventionist

• Amy Kilgus Chamley, Parkland Early Childhood Education, Director

• Anne Pradzinski, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Early Childhood Professional Education Program Director

• Billie Jo Blanton, Promise Healthcare, Mental Wellness Care Manager

• Charles LeGrand, The Pavilion, Director of Business Development

• Erin Nuss, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley CUSD#5, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

• Javaite Burton, United Way of Champaign County, Director of Community Impact

• Jenny Spinks, University of Illinois Extension, INEP Program Administrator

• Kristen Neaville, Epilepsy Advocacy Network, Client Coordinator

• Lacey Boen, CCRS of Champaign County, Higher Education Navigator

• Lauren Wallace, JUMPSTART, Ford County Lead Parent Educator

• Lynn Mathews, Community Resource and Counseling Center, Executive Director

• Mariah Brown, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Family Advocate

• Mary Catherine Roberson, Office of Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-2), Interim Director of Constituent Services

• Melissa A. Walters, CRIS Rural Mass Transit District, CEO

• Nichole Kitchens, Developmental Services Center, Therapist

• Sarah Zilis, Child Advocate, Parent/Family Member Representative

• Skylee Crawford, Gibson Area Hospital, Social Worker

Miembros del Comité Familiar

• Amber Wild, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Aurea Shelton, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Becky Anderson, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Frankie Ward, Elliott (Ford County)

• Jane Lin, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Mariah Chino, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Patricia Nnamani, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Rosa Lee, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Sana Zeeshan, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Sunera Saba Khan, Urbana (Champaign County)

• Tshela Ngoy, Champaign (Champaign County)

• Xia Hope, Champaign (Champaign County)

Jill Duden

Jill Duden (ella/la) es la Gerente del Comité Regional para la Región 9. Tiene más de 20 años de experiencia en desarrollo infantil y servicios familiares. Jill tiene una Maestría en Ciencias en Familia y Ciencias del Consumidor de la Universidad Eastern Illinois. Es una apasionada de la concientización sobre las necesidades de todos los niños a través de la abogacía y la divulgación en la comunidad.

Como especialista en prevención de la región central de Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, Jill creó y dirigió sesiones de formación sobre prevención del maltrato infantil para profesionales, padres y miembros de la comunidad. Colaboró estrechamente con organizaciones regionales para promover los esfuerzos de prevención del maltrato infantil y ha ayudado a establecer varias coaliciones locales de prevención. Anteriormente, Jill también trabajó en una Guardería de Crisis como Coordinadora del Programa Safe Children, donde gestionó voluntarios, formó al personal y desarrolló programas de apoyo a niños y familias. También fue directora de la escuela preescolar comunitaria St.  Paul's durante más de 10 años, supervisando la educación infantil y fomentando un entorno seguro y enriquecedor para los niños.

Melissa Watson

Melissa Watson (ella/la) es la Especialista en Participación Familiar y Comunitaria de la Región 9. Ha trabajado en el campo de la primera infancia en Champaign-Urbana durante más de una década, donde ha adquirido conocimientos y experiencia como profesora principal y directora/administradora de programas. Antigua alumna de la Eastern Illinois University, Melissa se licenció en estudios generales con especialización en cuidado infantil en 2020, y completará su máster en Administración de la Primera Infancia en la National Louis University en 2026.

Melissa siente desde hace mucho tiempo una gran pasión por la defensa de la primera infancia y dedica activamente su tiempo como voluntaria y comparte recursos con las familias de su comunidad. En su tiempo libre, a Melissa le gusta leer, ir a tiendas de segunda mano o disfrutar de aventuras al aire libre con sus tres hijos pequeños y su marido.

Jessica Intravaia

Jessica Intravaia (ella/la) es el Asistente Administrativo de la Región 9. Jessica nació en California y creció en el Medio Oeste. Ha trabajado con niños de todas las edades y ha realizado múltiples cursos de capacitación, lo que le ha aportado un considerable conocimiento en educación. Más recientemente, Jessica trabajó en el sector privado como maestra de preescolar. También trabajó como consejera para niños en edad escolar en Chicago, así como en funciones que mejoraron sus habilidades en el servicio al cliente, la recopilación de datos, el análisis de investigaciones y la mercadotecnia. Jessica se graduó en la Eastern Illinois University (EIU) en la licenciatura en Geografía con una especialización en Estudios Ambientales y otra en Administración de Empresas. 

Jessica sabe, desde la perspectiva de un padre, lo difícil que puede ser obtener y costear el cuidado infantil, por lo que le apasiona ayudar a las familias a acceder a recursos. En su tiempo libre, le gusta leer y pasar tiempo con sus dos increíbles hijos y con su perro salchicha, Dexter.