Spreading the Word as We Strive for Equity
Scroll down to read all Birth to Five Illinois news coverage, or you can click to read the coverage from your Region.
CommunityVotes Rockford 2025 - Birth to Five Illinois Wins Platinum in the Child Care Services Category
Birth to Five Illinois was voted Platinum (first place!) as part of the CommunityVotes Rockford 2025 campaign! Congratulations to our Region 4 Team and Council members in Boone and Winnebago Counties!
Manley Meets with Birth to Five, Early Intervention Community Collaboration
Read about the Birth to Five Illinois Community Collaboration Meetings that led to the establishment of the Illinois Legislative Neurodiversity Caucus by Representative Manley and Senator Cappel!
Birth to Five Illinois Working to Improve Access to Early Childhood Education
Region 49 (Rock Island County) Council Manager, Emily Cummings, and Family & Community Engagement Specialist, Heather Anderson, go LIVE on WQAD to discuss their Early Childhood Action Plan!
Birth to Five Illinois to Host Parenting Workshop in Moline
Emily Cummings, Region 49 Council Manager, returns to KWQC to discuss several areas of focus for her Team and Council members based on the recommendations of Rock Island County families.
Lets Talk Local - Birth to Five Illinois (w/ Nicole Bach)
Check out Nicole Bach (Regional Council Manager) and Kris Cozzi (Family & Community Engagement Specialist) from Birth to Five Illinois: Region 44 (McHenry County) on this episode of Let’s Talk Local!
Along the Rock: S3 Ep 2-It Takes a Village: Local Resources for Raising Children in the Sauk Valley
Read and/or watch Abby Hoskins from Birth to Five Illinois: Region 47 and Anji Garza, representing the Sauk Valley STARS Coalition, discuss their collaborative efforts to support children and families in Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counties!
United Way Screenings
FREE developmental screenings are available for children from birth to age five in Champaign County through a partnership between Birth to Five Illinois, United Way of Champaign County, the Champaign County Home Visiting Consortium.
20 Under 40: Brittany N. Peterson — Young People Belong in the Conversation
Congratulations to Brittany Peterson, the Birth to Five Illinois: Region 1 Family & Community Engagement Specialist, for being recognized as one of the 2025 ‘20 under 40’ by the Jacksonville Journal-Courier!
GUEST COLUMNIST - Early Childhood Programs: A Smart Business Investment with Real Returns
Livia Bane, Region 4 Council Manager (Boone & Winnebago Counties) is a featured Guest Columnist in the December 2025 issue of the Voice from the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
Guest DJ #4: Birth to Five Illinois
Susan Carrington, Region 16 Council Manager (DeKalb County) is featured again as the Guest DJ on 94.9 WDKB!
Birth to Five Illinois Council Includes Local Rep
Ali Denault to represent Kankakee and Iroquois Counties on the Birth to Five Illinois Statewide Family Leadership Council!
Birth to Five Illinois Reflects on Accomplishments, Future Goals in Serving Local Families
Emily Cummings, Region 49 Council Manager, goes LIVE on KWQC to discuss the progress her Teams, Councils, and community members are making for children and families in Rock Island County!
Collaboration Highlights: Lunch & Learn - Sauk Valley
The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 47 Team, Council members, and representatives from their Community Collaboration partner, Sauk Valley STARS, present on the O.W.L. Early Childhood Resource Hub during this Community Systems Statewide Supports Lunch and Learn!
Advocates Push for Protecting Preschool as Harlem School District Considers Cuts
“Moms and early childhood education supports sound the alarm on possible major reductions.” Hear what Birth to Five Illinois: Region 4 Council Manager (Livia Bane) and Family Council member (Olivia Carstens) had to say.
Birth to Five Illinois at the 38th District Networking Event Hosted by Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin
Two members of the Region 1-B-C Team (South Cook County) step up to the podium to provide updates to community members and elected officials in Country Club Hills!
Lou Ann Hayes & CCR&R Director Kim Lamz, On Air with WCCI
Hear Birth to Five Illinois: Region 8’s Council Manager and the local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency’s Director discuss the exciting opening of a new child development center in Mount Carroll, Illinois!
Answering the Call: Strengthening Our Early Childhood System Together
Hear from David Quiroz, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 31 (Kane County) Council Manager, and many others about how collaboration and partnerships are strengthening the Early Childhood system in the School District U-46 area.
Manley Advocates for Improved Early Childhood Education with Birth to Five Illinois
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 56 (Will County) and Region 24 (Grundy & Kendall Counties) meet regularly Rep. Manley and other legislators to discuss local family needs and how to make Will County and the surrounding areas a leader in Early Intervention advocacy.
Illinois Birth to Five with Melissa Breeden
Listen to Melissa Breeden, Region 17 Council Manager (DeWitt, Livingston, Logan & McLean Counties) on the ROE #17 POD podcast!
Childcare Group Receives Grant
Highlighting Birth to Five Illinois funding in Region 12 awarded to the Crawford County Kids Association.