2 West-Central Illinoisans Selected for Statewide Early Childhood Council

November 6, 2025

Original coverage in the Jacksonville Journal Courier by Bridgette Fox.

Two west-central Illinois residents have been named to the newly launched Birth to Five Illinois Statewide Family Leadership Council.

The nonprofit Birth to Five Illinois' goal is to create a statewide regional infrastructure of inclusive, high-quality early childhood services for all children and families in Illinois.

Kelly Ballard of Roodhouse represents Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin counties, while LeAnn Bell of Springfield represents Sangamon and Menard counties. 

Council members are meant to give the perspective of families who use early childhood services. The council has 28 members from the state’s 39 regions. 

Members were picked from among “alumni” who have served for at least three years on regional councils, officials said.

“Based on their experience as parents/caregivers and their time on the regional Birth to Five Illinois councils, this inaugural statewide group decided that finding ways to make families more aware of the available early childhood education and care resources, supports and programs is the greatest need and thus their chosen priority for the year,” officials said.

Birth to Five Illinois launched in February 2022 as a statewide, regional group that passes community input to policy makers and organizations that influence funding and broader program changes regarding early childhood services and development.

Council members will meet every other month, serving for one year; they receive a stipend, officials said.

"They (members) will be offered opportunities to participate in other state-level activities, which may include providing feedback on public-facing communication materials, co-leading parent discussion groups, or joining interviews with press," the group said.