See what local families and community members say they need for their children across the State
Family & Community Stories
Birth to Five Illinois has created a space for families and community members in every Illinois Region to share their experiences with local Early Childhood programs and services. Through stories about challenges and successes, we can identify the issues and work collectively to mend what is broken, while also celebrating what is working.
Region 32: What Families Say They Need
"It's not easy to find information…the topics are too broad and the options too few."
Region 31: What Families Say They Need
"When you don't quality for help, there isn't anything out there for you. You have to be able to pay for it on your own…"
Region 28: What Families Say They Need
"…how well do up-and-coming district administrators with no Early Childhood background understand the unique needs of State Board of Education Preschool for All and Prevention Initiative programming?"
Region 26: What Families Say They Need
"We have to make compromises based on what resources are available."
Region 21: What Families Say They Need
"As a staff person from a child care center, the $1 copay (for staff that would quality for the Child Care Assistance Program) has allowed me to reenter the workforce in a profession that I love."
Region 20: What Families Say They Need
"Early Intervention services are extremely limited, because there are currently no professionals in some of our communities…"
Region 19: What Families Say They Need
"The system needs to adapt to the needs of families, and logistical barriers should not be a reason a child misses accessing needed services."
Region 17: What Families Say They Need
"Transportation is a big issue. A lot of programs in districts are half day and parents work full-time. What do parents do?"
Region 16: What Families Say They Need
"It's so hard to find good care for an affordable price that covers actual working hours for the average person… not just 9:00am – 5:00pm, but all shifts."
Region 13: What Families Say They Need
"Teachers have voiced that being understaffed and not having resources or supports causes them to take on a larger load, which causes more stress and is pushing people out of the industry."
Region 12: What Families Say They Need
"…we simply need more local, quality, and affordable access to everything every day — child care, medical resources, community programs, and so much more."
Region 11: What Families Say They Need
"…it got to the point where we were donating items for [the school] to use because they didn't have the resources to get those things…"
Region 4: What Families Say They Need
"Pay for Early Childhood staff and teachers is incredibly low. Truly, not a livable wage…"
Region 1-B-D: What Families Say They Need
"Children with special needs are further at a disadvantage in receiving services in a preschool setting with the slot gap with the slot gap because of number of slots, splitting time between schools, and transportation issues."
Region 1-B-C: What Families Say They Need
"I decided to stay out of work, because I was going to be working just to pay for child care."
Region 1-B-B: What Families Say They Need
"…information is vital to ensuring there is equity in the allocation of resources throughout the Region…"
Region 1-A: What Families Say They Need
“…many programs are just not designed for the lives of families…”
Signs of Child Care Mistreatment
The first day of child care can either be a dream or a nightmare…
Just When I Think My Work as Grandma is Slowing Down, They Start to Call Me Great - By Sandy Hyde
Our area needs more support for grandparents raising grandchildren. We also need more activities for children of all ages to do.
Searching for Early Childhood Education and Services is Nonstop - By Ashley Omlor
When we moved here seven years ago, I never thought it would be a challenge to find preschools, child cares, and family services.