Birth to Five Illinois Hosting Parent Cafés

April 23, 2026

Original coverage in Metropolis Planet by Terra Temple.

Birth to Five Illinois is hosting virtual Parent Cafés across its 18-county region.

For Massac County, the virtual event is set to take place from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 28. Registration is at bit.ly/40ARBYM.

The county is part of the organization’s Region 21, which also includes Franklin, Johnson and Williamson counties.

For Region 30, which consists of Alexander, Jackson, Perry, Pulaski and Union counties, the virtual café will be open from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, with registration at bit.ly/Parentscafe.

Parent Cafés, developed by Be Strong Families, are a tool that Birth to Five Illinois uses to have intentional small group conversations with families across Illinois.

“These cafés are a way to create safe spaces for parents and caregivers to talk about the challenges and successes of raising a family, finding support networks, building their community and exploring how to enhance their well-being,” said Brittney Hale, Region 21 council manager.

Birth to Five Illinois was launched in 2021 following a 2019 study. Its mission is to shift the Early Childhood Education and Care landscape across Illinois by centering the experiences of families.

“Where there are families, there are stories of systemic shortcomings and stories of families and children thriving in the face of compassionate providers and exemplary services,” Hale said.

Parent Cafés are free and open to parents in the community.