Early Childhood Program Sees Expansion
July 16, 2026
Original coverage in the Morning Sentinel by Travis Morse.
An expanded Birth to Three program in Southern Illinois can now serve up to 250 families, adding home visitors and boosting early childhood support across four counties.
Project organizers announced recently an expansion of the Regional Office of Education #13 Birth to Three Prevention Initiative Program.
Because of the expansion, families across Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington Counties are seeing increased access to early childhood services, states a program news release.
Through collaboration between Birth to Five Illinois: Region 13, the Regional Office of Education #13, community partners, and community members, the Birth to Three program expanded its capacity to serve up to 250 families throughout the region. To support this growth, the program added additional home visitors who work directly with families of infants and toddlers by providing home visiting services, developmental support, and connections to community resources, the release states.
The expansion addresses one of the region's greatest early childhood needs — improving access to services for children from birth to age 3 and ensuring families receive support during the earliest years of a child's development, the release states.
"Our partnership with the ROE #13 Birth to Three Prevention Initiative Program demonstrates what can happen when organizations work together toward a shared goal," said Heather Pruett, Council Manager for Birth to Five Illinois: Region 13. "Birth to Five Illinois: Region 13 is committed to bringing community partners together, identifying local needs, and helping families access the services they need. Together, we're building a stronger foundation for children and families across Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington Counties."
Along with expanding program capacity, organizations across the region have increased awareness of developmental screenings, family engagement opportunities, and available early childhood services. These coordinated outreach efforts have helped connect more families to resources and have encouraged enrollment in the Birth to Three program, the news release states.
"The expansion of ROE #13's Birth to Three Prevention Initiative Program has allowed us to reach more families during one of the most important stages of a child's development," said Keli Tate, Director of the ROE #13 Birth to Three Prevention Initiative Program. "By providing home visiting services, developmental support, and connections to community resources, we are helping parents build confidence while giving children a strong foundation for lifelong learning. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity because every new slot represents another family receiving the support they need to help their child thrive."
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. The expansion of Birth to Three services in Region 13 is one example of how those partnerships are creating meaningful change for children and families, the release states.
To learn more about the work of Birth to Five Illinois: Region 13 and view the region's annual reports, visit www.birthtofiveil.com/region13/#report.
For more information on the work of the ROE #13 Birth to Three Prevention Initiative Program, visit their website at https://roe13.org/birth-to-three/.