Birth to Five Illinois Helps Vermilion County Families
Families in Vermilion County struggling to find affordable child care or transportation to and from daycare or preschool — the Birth to Five Illinois Region 54 team wants to remind those families they are not alone.
For the last five years, the organization has worked to bring together parents, caregivers, and community leaders to help figure out what the gaps are within early childhood services, while also finding solutions by listening to the community’s needs.
“We want to make sure that we bridge the gap between what exists and what families say they need,” said Tammy Pollitt, regional council manager for Birth to Five Illinois in Vermilion County. “We’re here to find out what our community says we need, and then spread awareness.”
Since launching, the organization has helped create an early childhood resource magnet, compiled mental and behavioral health provider lists, and supported local parents as they organize playgroups, foster parent support circles and other grassroots efforts.
Laken Waltz, family and community engagement specialist with Birth to Five Illinois, is a mother herself and says she worked at a daycare to help cover the cost.
“I know what it’s like to not know where to turn. Helping parents find resources here is just super fulfilling,” said Waltz.
“For me, I think it was just a big part of my personal experience of not knowing what’s out there and not knowing where to turn for specific services for my own kids,” Waltz added. “ I ended up working at a daycare just so I could have free childcare for my kiddos.’’
She added that she got involved with Birth to Five Illinois because after working in daycare, she realized she wanted to build her career around working with kids.
“And then this position popped up, and I was like, ‘This is perfect,’” Waltz said. “I do like to support those parents, because I know what it’s like… having such limited resources and just helping them find those is just super fulfilling.”
“We want to make sure that we bridge the gap between what exists and what families say they need,” said Pollitt. “It’s super exciting that we’re in year five, and we’ve seen a lot of improvement in the early childhood system here in Vermilion County, and we hope it continues that way.”
One of those ideas was creating a support group.
“We started a parent‑child circle,” Pollitt said. “So what it is is parents get together, and the kids play, and the parents talk,” she added. “They meet at the library, and the kiddos play, and the parents talk… It’s a parent‑child circle, and it’s a support group, just to support each other.”
You can find more information by going to their website www.birthtofiveil.com/resources
There you can find local resources for childcare, mental health care, special needs care, and so much more.
Both Waltz and Pollitt highly recommend parents check out the local Head Start as well. There have been some rumors, they say, of the early childhood learning center closing, but it is not, and they both said there is a huge demand for teachers there and everywhere.