Resources on Early Learning
Early Childhood Initiatives in Illinois
The following list describes initiatives in Illinois aimed at increasing the availability, accessibility and/or quality of early childhood programs and services within the State. Some initiatives are funded with public dollars, some with private dollars, and some reflect a partnership of public and private support. A brief description and contact information is provided for each initiative. Please contact us if you know of other early childhood initiatives in Illinois that are not included below.
Birth to Five Project
The Birth to Five Project is part of a multi-state national Build Initiative to support those who set policies, provide services and advocate for children from birth through age five. The Birth to Five Project is a collaborative effort to identify gaps and barriers in Illinois' system of services and programs for families with children birth to five. Specific efforts of the Project include convening the Government Interagency Team to plan programs and services for expecting families and families with children under five; creating a web-based database and geographic information system of early learning programs; developing statewide indicators to measure the progress of Illinois' early learning system; and reducing duplication of services through cross-agency efforts.
Ann Kirwan
Ounce of Prevention
312-922-3863, ext. 326
akirwan@ounceofprevention.org
Born Learning: Mayor Daley's Early Childhood Initiative
In August 2003 Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced steps to strengthen and expand the City of Chicago's efforts to ensure young children are healthy and ready for school. Strategies identified in the Born Learning Early Childhood Initiative include creating new preschool slots for children, increasing postpartum home visits to at-risk mothers, expanding perinatal services to at-risk teen mothers, holding a citywide conference for parents and caregivers of children birth to three, launching a public awareness campaign to help parents understand how to cultivate their child's learning, and creating a Born Learning Advisory Council to coordinate the implementation of the Born Learning Plan.
Angela Ball, Special Assistant to the Mayor for Education
312-744-9500
Charter for Illinois Children
The Charter for Illinois Children is a clear and comprehensive statement of a vision for the children of Illinois, and of the responsibilities shared in helping children thrive and succeed. The groundwork for the Charter was laid in February 1999, when hundreds parents, children, community leaders, policy makers and representatives of dozens of statewide organizations from around the state came together to explore the special nature of childhood and examine the needs, talents and expectations of children. After the conference, an editorial team consolidated a "working draft," which was sent around the state for review, editing and completion.
Voices for Illinois Children, Kim Fitzgerald
312-516-5557
kfitzgerald@voices4kids.org
http://voices4kids.org
Chicago Metropolis 2020
Chicago Metropolis 2020 is a membership organization with representatives from business, labor, civic, religious and governmental organizations focused on the interdependent needs of transportation, housing, the environment, and early care and education in the Chicago metropolitan area. Chicago Metropolis 2020 produces resource guides and reports to promote broad access to affordable and high-quality early care and education.
Chicago Metropolis 2020
Sara Slaughter, Early Childhood Policy Analyst
312-332-2020
sara.r.slaughter@cm2020.org
http://www.chicagometropolis2020.org/10_15.htm
Early Learning Council
Governor Rod Blagojevich created the Illinois Early Learning Council to develop a high-quality early learning system that will be available to all children birth to five throughout the state by expanding, improving and coordinating early childhood programs and services. The Council will meet quarterly beginning in January 2004 and report annually to the Governor and General Assembly. The Governor appointed Elliot Regenstein, Director of Education Reform, Office of the Governor, and Harriet Meyer, President of the Ounce of Prevention Fund, to co-chair the Council.
Gail Gabler or Ann Kirwan
Ounce of Prevention
312-922-3863
http://www.illinois.gov/gov/elc/
Early Learning Illinois Campaign
This statewide campaign to improve and expand early learning opportunities for all Illinois children is a joint project of the Day Care Action Council, Ounce of Prevention Fund and Voices for Illinois Children.
Joan Vitale
312-516-5555
http://www.earlylearningillinois.org
Focus on Quality Initiative: McCormick Tribune Foundation
The McCormick Tribune Foundation Focus on Quality (FOQ) initiative is a multi-faceted program that promotes high-quality early care and education for children in Chicago's low-income communities. It supports quality enhancement activities such as accreditation, professional development, public awareness, and public policy.Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation
312-222-3512
alsmith@tribune.com
http://www.rrmtf.org/childrenimpact.aspx
Great START
The goal of the Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) program is to improve children's developmental and educational outcomes by encouraging increased professional preparation and retention of child care personnel in DCFS licensed centers and homes. A child's positive development in child care is dependent upon consistent interaction between the child and his/her caregiver and the level of a child care professional's formal academic preparation. Great START rewards child care professionals by supplementing their income based on education they have already attained above DCFS licensing standards.Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
866-MY-START
greatstart@inccrra.org
http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=171
Heads Up Reading in Illinois
HeadsUp! Reading is a national, distance-learning course that provides teachers and parents with the tools to enhance the reading, writing and thinking skills of young children. Taught by nationally known instructors, the course is designed to ensure that teachers provide the most effective literacy experiences for young children. Participants can obtain college credit, CEUs or in-service hours for HeadsUp! Reading.
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
800-863-0499
hur@inccrra.org
http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=101
Hug-a-Book: An Early Literacy Initiative of Family Focus, Inc.
Hug-a-Book helps teachers, parents, and other adults to instill a love of books and reading in young children of diverse backgrounds. Hug-a-Book provides customized workshops on best practices in early literacy education for early childhood centers, public schools, home child care networks, parent/child drop-in centers, homeless shelters, and substance abuse treatment centers.
Hug-a-Book
310 S. Peoria, Suite 301
Chicago, Illinois 60607
312-421-5200
hugabook@family-focus.org
http://www.family-focus.org
Illinois Apprentice Program
This program for early care and education professionals was established to assist entry-level early childhood aids, assistant teachers, and family child care providers in their movement along a career lattice through the National Apprenticeship Program. Apprentices receive wage increases as they complete 30 semester hours of college course work and on-the-job learning under the guidance of an onsite mentor. Those completing the program become certified Registered Apprentices.Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
800-649-1884
kkernosky@inccrra.org
http://www.inccrra.org/default.aspx?id=197
Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership
The Children's Mental Health Partnership grew out of the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. The Partnership is responsible for developing a Children's Mental Health Plan by June of 2005 with short and long-term recommendations on how Illinois can provide comprehensive, coordinate mental health prevention, early intervention, and treatment services for children birth to age 18. Barbara Shaw, Director of the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, has been named chair of the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership which will report progress to the Governor on an annual basis.
Carey McCann
Ounce of Prevention
312-922-3863, ext 384
cmccann@ounceofprevention.org
http://www.ivpa.org/childrensmhtf/
Illinois Director Credential
The purpose of the Illinois Director Credential project is to validate the achievement of competencies necessary for effective leadership and management of center-based early care and education programs. The goals of the Credential are to: establish professional standards in management and leadership for center-based early childhood and school age administrators; recognize the specialized knowledge and skills required to be an effective manager of a center-based program; improve the quality of programs that serve young children and their families; and improve social, emotional, cognitive and physical developmental outcomes for children.
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
800-649-1884
idc@inccrra.org
http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=165
Illinois Early Childhood Career Lattice
The term "career lattice" is meant to create the vision of a trellis that provides multiple opportunities for growth and development, as opposed to a career ladder that enables only vertical movement along a single track. A career lattice describes how individuals can move (horizontally, vertically and diagonally) within a single system or across systems as positions became available and as professional preparation enables them to seek and move into positions with more responsibility and increased compensation. The Illinois Early Childhood Career Lattice will form the foundation necessary to effectively link credential and degree programs, college faculty and administration, and community-based training entities, as well as facilitate smooth transitions through the educational system for students to attain meaningful credentials, degrees, and employment.
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
800-649-1884
careerlattice@inccrra.org
http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=165
Illinois Early Childhood Collaboration
The Illinois Early Childhood Collaboration Web site was created to make collaboration models and resources accessible to the Illinois early care and education community. It is a project of the Collaboration and Integration Committee of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Child Care Advisory Council. The site describes collaboration models and provides information in three areas: program, community, and family child care homes. The site includes profiles of Illinois early care and education program and community collaborations. Funding for the Illinois Early Childhood Collaboration Web site is provided by the IDHS Head Start State Collaboration Office.
Illinois Early Childhood Collaboration
http://www.ilearlychildhoodcollab.org
Primary Site Contact: Gina Ruther, Director
Head Start State Collaboration Office
gina@ilearlychildhoodcollab.org
Illinois Infant Toddler Credential
The Illinois Infant-Toddler Credential (ITC) is one of several credentials being developed for Gateways to Opportunity, the Illinois Early Care and Education Professional Development Network. The Illinois ITC is in the final stages of development by the Professional Development Advisory Council (PDAC), a group of highly qualified practitioners, educators, and advocates representing public and private early care and education entities from around the state. The voluntary credential validates the achievement and expertise of practitioners and serves as a symbol of professional achievement. The purpose of this credential is to formalize the knowledge of those working with children under age 3, improve the quality of services, increase positive outcomes experienced by infants and toddlers, and increase the availability of infant-toddler coursework and training. The core knowledge required for the Illinois ITC builds on the Core Content Areas required for the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity credentials. The credential will be piloted in 2006.
Gateways to Opportunity
http://www.ilgateways.com/credentials/itc.aspx
Illinois Quality Counts: Quality Rating System (QRS)
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) began implementation of the new Illinois Quality Counts: Quality Rating System (QRS) on July 1, 2007. The overall goal of QRS is to assist child care providers with program quality improvement. QRS is a voluntary system available to License-Exempt Family Child Care Providers, Licensed Family/Group Home Child Care Providers, and Licensed Centers. To participate in QRS, programs must serve a specific number or percentage of children eligible for the IDHS Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). In addition, programs must meet specific eligibility requirements based on the type of care they offer. License-Exempt Family Child Care Providers need to complete specific training requirements to become eligible for one of three progressive QRS Training Tiers. Licensed Family/Group Home Child Care Providers and Licensed Child Care Centers need to meet specific indicators of quality related to the following areas: learning environment, program administration, and provider qualifications and training. Eligible licensed programs are awarded with a “star” rating at one of four progressive levels.
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA)
qrsinfo@inccrra.org
http://www.inccrra.org
Statewide Accreditation Mentoring (SAM) Project
A new project of Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC), SAM seeks to improve the quality of care and education of all Illinois children by providing mentoring support and financial assistance to child care/education programs in center or home-based settings that are in the accreditation process through NAEYC or NAFCC.
Illinois AEYC
Kathy Howard, SAM Coordinator
815-626-3626
https://www.pdasam.com/www/index.php
Strengthening Families Illinois
Strengthening Families Illinois is a collaborative initiative bringing together more than 20 partner organizations and state agencies from the child welfare, child abuse prevention, and early childhood fields to integrate existing strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect through early care and education programs. Illinois is one of seven states selected by the Center for the Study for Social Policy to pilot this new strategy to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Guy Schingoethe, Communications and PR Coordinator
Strengthening Families Illinois
773-259-5356
guys@strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org
http://www.strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org
The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Illinois Scholarship & Compensation Project
The goals of T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education & Compensation Helps) is to improve the quality of early childhood care and education, in child care centers and family child care homes; to increase the educational level of child care givers; to increase compensation for child care givers; to decrease the turnover rate of child care providers; and to promote individual professional development. Through T.E.A.C.H. funding is available for child care professionals to obtain college credit. By attending classes at a participating institution, credit can be earned toward a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) credential, an Associate or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
800-863-0499
teachinfo@inccrra.org
http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=95
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