Birth to Five Illinois Celebrates Increased Early Childhood Capacity Through Lake County Educare
June 8, 2026
Birth to Five Illinois celebrates the groundbreaking of Educare Lake County and is proud to have served as a vital connector between community leaders, family representatives, and Start Early to spark the project's momentum. The development of this Early Learning Center demonstrates the powerful effect of listening and responding to community needs.
The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 34 (Lake County) Family and Action Councils learned that families had trouble accessing affordable child care. The Region’s 2023 Early Childhood Needs Assessment highlighted that 66% of children from birth to age five in Lake County did not have access to an Early Childhood program, indicating that many families who may wish to enroll their children are unable to do so.
Once the Region 34 Action and Family Councils identified this need for added child care capacity in the Region, they clarified their next step as a goal within their Regional Action Plan, presenting to several groups who had the potential to increase their capacity. When Start Early expressed interest in exploring possibilities in Lake County, Birth to Five Illinois served as a trusted partner, connecting them with vital leaders in the community.
Dane Cruz, Region 34 Council Manager, said, “We are thrilled to support the groundbreaking of Educare Lake County, a transformative early learning program designed to expand access to high-quality Early Childhood Education right here in Lake County. Our Council members feel proud to have raised awareness of the need for more Early Childhood slots, and to see someone actually doing something about it is so encouraging.”
Educare Lake County is scheduled to open in late 2027 and will enroll children between the ages of six weeks to five years old.
Learn more about Educare Lake County: https://educarelakecounty.org/
Visit www.birthtofiveil.com/region34 to learn more about Birth to Five Illinois and its work in Lake County.
Pictured: Birth to Five Illinois: Region 34 Team and Council members at the groundbreaking.