A special Week of the Young Child Declaration Celebration was held on April 17th, 2026, in Region 51 to bring community leaders together to highlight the critical importance of Early Childhood development. 

Listen from 27:10 to 27:50 for the shout-out to the Birth to Five Illinois: Region 24 Team and Councils for all they are doing to support families in Grundy and Kendall Counties!

Birth to Five Illinois: Region 28 has partnered with locally owned establishments to offer a week of special deals to recognize the Week of the Young Child across Bureau, Henry and Stark counties.

“Supporting young children and families requires a coordinated, community-wide approach,” said Valerie Varju, Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Illinois: Region 19. “This proclamation highlights the importance of working together to ensure families can access the resources and supports they need during the most critical years of development.”

Nicole Bach, Region 44 Council Manager (McHenry County) provides Birth to Five Illinois updates on the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce Business Bites podcast!

Birth to Five Illinois: Regions 8, 9, 17, 28, and 54 are hosting Parent Cafés!

Jill Duden (Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Illinois: Region 9) and Lauren Wallace (lead parent educator for Jumpstart in Ford County) discuss the benefits of home visiting in this Ford County Chronicle article.

Birth to Five Illinois: Region 31 (Kane County), the Kane County Health Department, Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning, and Elgin Area School District U-46 are offering virtual Parent Cafés in Spanish and English.

Representatives from Birth to Five Illinois: Region 13 joined Salem Mayor Nic Farley for a proclamation signing recognizing April 11-17 as Week of the Young Child.

Regional Councils Managers from Region 3 (Heather Nah) and Region 26 (Paul Larson) are featured Guest Advocates in the Spring 2026 Issue of The Prairie Career Advocate.

Birth to Five Illinois: Region 13 (Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington Counties) and the Take Action Coalition of Clinton County are hosting a walk on April 10th.

Tiffani Saunders, former Birth to Five Illinois: Region 51 Family Council member and current Alumni group member, shared her family story as part of the ReadyNation Illinois News Conference.

Donna Rardin, Family & Community Engagement Specialist, and April Carruthers, Family Council Member, from Region 12 promote their upcoming Parent Cafe on The Revue.

The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 9 (Champaign & Ford Counties) Listening Session is featured on NewsChannel20!

In this one-hour The Local Lens - Lawrenceville Unfiltered podcast, Ann Oswalt and Donna Rardin discuss what the Region 12 Team and Councils are doing to support families and Early Childhood development in Clay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence, and Richland Counties.

Abby Hoskins, Region 47 Council Manager, returns to Regional Office of Education #47 Teacher Talk to provide updates on the Councils’ focus areas (based on the needs of local families) and successes in Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counites.

Region 30 demonstrates Collective Impact in action! Through collaboration and partnerships, their community-identified need for an online platform for parents and caregivers to find resources led to the development of FindHelp for Southern Illinois.

Melissa Breeden (Region 17 Council Manager) and Hilary Pancha (mom of five children and Region 17 Family Council Member) discuss the recent child care closures in Bloomington-Normal.

Dulce Trujillo, Elgin community member and Birth to Five Illinois: Region 31 (Kane County) Family Council member, shares her story in this Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning (EPEL) Parent Spotlight.

As a result of community partnerships to improve Early Childhood Education and Care services for children and families in Birth to Five Illinois: Region 28, The Basics Illinois is being implemented in Bureau, Henry, and Stark Counties!