Regional Early Childhood Group Asks County for Help Expanding Local Outreach and Mental Health Supports

August 12, 2025

Original coverage in Citizen Portal.

Representatives from Birth to Five Illinois asked the Iroquois County Board during public comment to help publicize a centralized network of early childhood referrals and to support expanded mental and behavioral health supports for children and early childhood workers.

Liz Gibson, Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Illinois, said her office — one of 39 across the state — has worked three years in the region identifying local early childhood needs and building supports. She told the board Birth to Five Illinois’ goals include a centralized community network for early childhood information and referrals, mental health supports for children and the workforce, and targeted outreach for parents of children ages 8 and younger.

Gibson said the group will forward a brief timeline and recommendations to the board and encouraged members to visit Birth to Five Illinois’ website and contact the regional office in Bradley for more information. "We need to work to make sure that we're getting that information out to our families and to our workforce because the children, they're our future," Gibson said.

Why it matters: county support for outreach and referral networks could improve access to early childhood services and behavioral health resources for children and providers in Iroquois County.

Next steps: Birth to Five Illinois representatives left informational materials with the board and offered to meet with county staff in person or by Zoom to follow up; the group’s contact information was included in materials distributed to board members.