Resources:
Tri-State Development Summit

Thank You for Attending Our Session!

The Importance of Early Childhood for Community Well-Being and Economic Development

Affordable, dependable child care is central to economic development, especially in rural areas. Ensuring families have access to child care requires many stakeholders—families, providers, advocates, elected officials, and business leaders—to identify local needs and co-create solutions for community well-being. Child care access barriers differ significantly depending on where families live. Hence, Birth to Five Illinois, a Statewide Early Childhood Regional and Community System, was created to establish a local office and two community Councils with members of varied experience in each of the State’s 39 Regions. Focusing on rural western Illinois and their goals to increase providers, serve more children, and strengthen family supports, learn how Birth to Five Illinois combines data with broadscale public input from local community members to build Regional Action Plans that address multiple child care issues. Find out how you can get involved to drive meaningful change in this locally focused statewide effort.

Resources Shared During the Presentation

• Birth to Five Illinois: Animation Video

• Child Care Boosts Community & Economic Development (Child Care Aware of America)

• Helping Families & Shaping Futures: A Step-by-Step Guide on Becoming a Home Child Care Provider (SAL Community Services)

• Integrated Referral & Intake System (IRIS) in Illinois

• Illinois Cares for Kids: Careers

• Illinois Cares for Kids: Consumer Education Website

• Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM): Data Tools

• Economic Innovations Group (EIG): Distressed Communities Index

• Shaping Bright Futures - Gateways to Opportunity® Credentials (INCCRRA)

• Strong Towns: You Don’t Have to Move to Live in a Better Place (video)

• Rural Vitality in Northern & Central Illinois - Recorded Presentation by Dr.  Mark C. White (May 2, 2024)

Find Your Birth to Five Illinois Region

Find your county and click on the link below to visit the dedicated page for your Region where you can:

• Read your Region’s Community Reports.

• See who is serving on your Region’s Action Council and Family Council.

• Meet your Regional Team.

• Sign up for your Region’s Newsletter.

• Join your Region’s Facebook Group.

• Contact your Regional Team to find out how else you can get involved.

1: Adams, Brown, Cass, Morgan, Pike, Scott
1-A: Cook (City of Chicago)
1-B-B: Cook (West)
1-B-C: Cook (South)
1-B-D: Cook (North)
3: Bond, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery
4: Boone, Winnebago
8: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson
9: Champaign, Ford
11: Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, Shelby
12: Clay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland
13: Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, Washington
16: DeKalb
17: DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, McLean
19: DuPage
20: Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White
21: Franklin, Johnson, Massac, Williamson
24: Grundy, Kendall
26: Fulton, Hancock, McDonough, Schuyler
28: Bureau, Henry, Stark
30: Alexander, Jackson, Perry, Pulaski, Union
31: Kane
32: Iroquois, Kankakee
33: Henderson, Knox, Mercer, Warren
34: Lake
35: LaSalle, Marshall Putnam
39: Macon, Piatt
40: Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin
41: Madison
44: McHenry
45: Monroe, Randolph
47: Lee, Ogle, Whiteside
48: Peoria
49: Rock Island
50: St. Clair
51: Sangamon, Menard
53: Mason, Tazewell, Woodford
54: Vermilion
56: Will