Initiative Promotes Resources for Families of Young Children

July 12, 2025

Original coverage in the Jackson Journal-Courier by Bridgette Fox.

A nonprofit that works to connect Illinois families to early childhood education and care resources is making progress but has its sights set on doing more, according to the organization.

Birth to Five Illinois works with parents of children ages birth to 5 years to figure out what they don't have but need or could benefit from having. The nonprofit then passes that information to legislators and works with them to overcome bureaucracy and service shortfalls to bolster the tools of early childhood development. 

The nonprofit started after the state partnered with the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies to find out how to better support families and their young children. Region 1 covers Morgan, Cass, Pike, Brown, Adam and Scott counties.

“We do not advocate for policy or budget considerations,” Region 1 director Bridget English said. “We simply tell the legislators what we're hearing on the ground from their constituents.”

It can be hard to quantify the group's progress in helping families because Birth to Five Illinois is not actually providing the services, English said. 

Instead, when one of its advisory councils, which are made up of parents or childcare workers, have an issue or want to share something, Birth to Five Illinois connects them with the person or group best suited to help. 

“There's so much excitement that happens when you're sitting in a meeting and you hear somebody talking," said Brittany Peterson, Birth to Five Illinois' Region 1 engagement specialist. "You're like, ‘Oh, you have hammers, and I know I was talking to somebody at this other table last week who had nails, I need to connect you.’”

For example, Birth to Five Illinois has coordinated with area health departments to set up information sessions about developmental screenings at libraries in places such as Winchester and Clayton.

“We're not in the community necessarily to help facilitate that and keep that going, but the Scott County Health Department is,” English said.

Future goals include improving access to behavioral and mental health resources, English said, noting the lack of access is one of parents' main complaints. 

“There's a huge gap in service providers, full stop, but specifically service providers for children throughout the region,” English said. “We don't have enough pediatricians, right? So a lot of people are going to primary care physicians, which may not be even performing those developmental milestone screenings.”

Birth to Five Illinois also can compile lists of resources — in booklet or PDF form — with contact information, which in turn helps people access what resources are available, English said.

Another issue Birth to Five Illinois continues to work on is the shrinking childcare workforce.

“What we heard from both action and family (councils) was, ‘Please take care of the people who are taking care of our kids,’” English said. “Turnover, burnout, people leaving the field in droves.”

Resources provided by Birth to Five Illinois are available online at birthtofiveil.com/region1, along with a contact form for people interested in reaching out.