Birth to Five Illinois Urges Public Participation

July 24, 2026

Original coverage in The Sentinel by Travis Morse.

With Jefferson County participation falling, Birth to Five Illinois is urging local parents, caregivers and community members to join councils guiding early childhood services.

Birth to Five Illinois is asking the public to consider serving on one of its local Family Council or Action Council groups to help shape the future of early childhood services in the Jefferson County area.

Brittany Gowler, Region 13 Family & Community Engagement Specialist for Birth to Five Illinois, recently made a presentation before the Mount Vernon City Council, encouraging local parents, caregivers, and community members to get involved.

Birth to Five Illinois Region 13 serves Jefferson, Marion, Clinton, and Washington Counties, but the organization has recently seen a decrease in participation from Jefferson County residents. For that reason, the organization is trying to get the word out to encourage more community involvement. Gowler has brought informational flyers to past city council meetings, and also directed people to the Birth to Five Illinois Facebook group.

“Currently, we need more people from Jefferson County so that’s why I’m here,” Gowler said to the city council on July 20. “So if you know anyone, please invite them.”

According to a news release from the organization, Birth to Five Illinois was created to ensure that the experiences of families and communities help guide decisions about early childhood services for children.

The public can participate by joining a local Family Council or Action Council. Council members play an important role in “identifying community strengths, discussing local needs, and helping develop solutions that support young children and their families,” the release states.

“We meet once a month via Zoom and just talk about meeting goals and keeping programs here for children and families and the success of those,” Gowler said of the council groups.

Family Council is made up of parents and caregivers of children ages birth to 8 who want to share their experiences and help improve services for local families. Family Council members also receive a stipend for participating.

Action Council brings together early childhood professionals, community organizations, businesses, educators, healthcare providers, and local leaders who are committed to strengthening services and opportunities for young children and families, the release states.

“While Region 13 serves Jefferson, Marion, Clinton, and Washington Counties, we have seen a decrease in participation from Jefferson County this year,” Gowler said. “We are especially encouraging families, caregivers, professionals, and community members from Jefferson County to submit an Interest Form so that the unique strengths, needs, and experiences of the community continue to be represented in local decision-making.”

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, childcare provider, educator, healthcare professional, business owner, or simply someone who cares about the future of young children, your experience matters, the release states.

“There's a whole community out there that's just willing to be cracked open, and through Birth to Five Illinois, I've been able to meet new people and find some really good support,” said Jeffery Callahan, a Family Council Member from Jefferson County.

Birth to Five Illinois works in every community across the state to assess early childhood programs, gather input from families and providers, and bring together community partners to address local needs, Sentinel archives state.

Interest Forms to join a Family or Action Council are open now through Aug. 14. To learn more or to submit an Interest Form, visit www.birthtofiveil.com/councils.

“Together, we can ensure every child and family in Jefferson County has a voice in shaping a stronger early childhood system,” the news release states.