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.
Early Childhood Mental Health Starts at Birth, According to Birth to Five Illinois Leaders: Community Focus With Callie Luttman
Jill Duden (Region 9 Council Manager) and Angie Hunt (Region 11 Council Manager) discuss how they are working to improve the way Early Childhood systems work together and normalizing mental health as health for children and families.
Supporting Young Children’s Mental Health in Our Community
Read a piece written by Ashley Earles, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 51 Council Manager and Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce Member, and featured in the Chamber’s Quarterly News & Updates.
Pike County to Celebrate Child Care Providers Past, Present and Future Tuesday, March 10
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 1, part of the The Pike County Child Care Task Force (PCCCTF), will recognize local child care providers at “Provider Palooza”.
Helping Our Youngest Learners with Birth to Five Illinois
Read this article, co-authored by Lynn Matthews, Executive Director of the Community Resource & Counseling Center, and Jill Duden Birth to Five Illinois: Region 9 Council Manager (Champaign & Ford Counties).
Readers Write: Regional Birth to Five Illinois Promotes Early Childhood Services
Read this “Readers Write” Letter to the Editor submitted by Janice Crow highlighting the work of the Birth to Five Illinois: Region 20 Team and Councils.
Early Childhood Mental Health Symposium
Now, you can watch a recording of the DuPage County Early Childhood Mental Health Symposium, co-hosted in September 2025 by Birth to Five Illinois: Region 19, the DuPage County Health Department, and KidsMatter!
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 51 News
The Chatham Chamber shares new Community Resource Directory flyers made by the Region 51 Team (Menard & Sangamon Counties) and several of their partners!
New Day Care and Academy Fills Former Rockford Day Nursery
A new child care and Early Childhood Education academy has filled the former Rockford Day Nursery!
Region 34 Council Manager Invited to Join Roundtable on Affordability with Congressman Jeffries
Dane Cruz, Region 34 Council Manager, joined Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Congressman Brad Schneider, and several community leaders to discuss affordability challenges for families in Cook and Lake Counties.
Birth to Five Illinois Updates its Action Plan Including Progress on Crisis Nursery
Region 49 Council Manager, Emily Cummings, and Family & Community Engagement Specialist, Heather Anderson, share important Action Plan updates for Rock Island County.
INTERVIEW: Birth to Five Illinois
Emily Cummings and Heather Anderson from Region 49 talk about their efforts to support families in Rock Island County on this WHBF-TV interview.
Saline County Receives $12,500 Grant as Birth to Five Illinois Hits $12 Million Milestone
WSIL News 3 announces the group in Region 20 that received one of our Planning Grants!
Birth to Five Awards Grants to West-Central Illinois Groups
Jacksonville Journal-Courier announces groups in Regions 1, 11, and 40 that received one of our Planning Grants!
Coles Co. Child Care Collaboration gets Birth to Five Illinois Grant
WAND News announces the group in Region 11 that received one of our Planning Grants!
Saline County Early Childhood Receives Grant from Birth to Five Illinois
WRUL announces the group in Region 20 that received one of our Planning Grants!
PRESS RELEASE: Birth to Five Illinois Reaches $12M Funding Milestone to Support Early Childhood Collaborations
Announcing the new Birth to Five Illinois Planning Grant recipients and $12M in funding allocated to Local Early Childhood Collaborations.
Issues & Attitudes, February 9th, 2026
Angie Hunt, Region 11 Council Manager, describes Birth to Five Illinois and provides updates on the family-centered efforts in Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, and Shelby Counties in this WEIU Issues & Attitudes episode.
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!