Illinois Organizations

This site provides information, programs and resources to promote and advocate for optimal child, youth and family well-being, and access to quality healthcare.

Baby TALK (Teaching Activities for Learning and Knowledge) is a community family support model which provides the framework to guide parent educators, teachers, social workers, family support specialists, nurses, physicians, librarians and city leaders in nurturing school readiness and optimal child development by supporting infants and toddlers and their parents.

Birth to Five Illinois is on a mission to shift the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) landscape across Illinois by centering the experiences of families. Where there are families, there are stories: stories of bureaucracy and systemic shortcomings, and stories of families and children thriving in the face of compassionate providers and exemplary services.

In 2004, the Illinois Department of Human Services established Caregiver Connections to bring mental health services to Illinois child care providers. This unique, free support program helps child care providers recognize, understand, and respond to the social-emotional needs of the children, birth through age 5, in their care. Local Caregiver Connections consultants and the local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies share the same territories and work in partnership to provide training and technical assistance to Illinois child care providers. The project is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services and coordinated by Chaddock.

This provides information regarding the research being conducted at the Center for Early Childhood Research, including opportunities for parents to include their children in studies.

This site offers expert professional development and support for education professionals who, in classrooms or specialized venues, serve at-risk students and those from the most difficult circumstances.

This website provides information regarding current research on young children to bring research, policy, and practice together.

The Crisis Nursery Coalition of Illinois which is an organization of seven crisis nurseries across the state of Illinois. They are located in Peoria, Springfield, Urbana, Bloomington, Rockford, Chicago and Effingham.

Several state initiatives serving young children are supported by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), including Preschool for All, Prevention Initiative, Early Childhood Special Education, Early Childhood Professional Development, and the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS). Call (217) 524-4835

This provides information and resources for special education services, child identification, and families.

This is a Preschool Least Restrictive Environment initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education. The project promotes increasing high quality inclusive education for each and every preschool aged child by providing technical assistance and professional development to early childhood professionals and families in Illinois.

This provides information on information, training opportunities and resources for early intervention professionals in Illinois.

This site provides educational resources and information on trainings and events to support quality environmental education throughout the state.

This site provides information regarding advocacy efforts, events and blogs regarding health equity and access to high-quality health care for women, children and families in Illinois.

This is a statewide quality rating and improvement system designed to make continuous quality improvement an everyday priority among early learning and development providers. The program establishes standards for helping infants, toddlers, and preschool -age children develop intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally. It provides a framework for early learning and development professionals to identify opportunities for improvement, increase their skills, and take steps to make positive changes. ExceleRate Illinois is administered through the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) under the joint direction of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Illinois State Board of Education.

This website provides information, resources and educational resources for families of children with disabilities.

This division of the Illinois Arc works to uncover the resources, funding, and services needed to help people with developmental disabilities live fulfilling lives in their own homes.

This is a statewide professional development support system designed to provide guidance, encouragement, and recognition to individuals and programs serving children, youth, and families.

Known by many as GoAEYC, this is the local affiliate to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). GoAEYC serves the North and Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. As a NAEYC affiliate, the organization is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8.

This website provides information about healthcare coverage for children in Illinois.

This site provides information and professional development opportunities for families and early care professionals. Information is also available to help find and pay for child care.

The Illinois AfterSchool Network (IAN) provides support to the after school and youth development field through professional development, leadership and networking opportunities.

This website seeks to advance infant mental health knowledge, perspectives, and practices to build and support community and competence among multidisciplinary professionals whose work impacts the lives of infants, young children, families, and caregivers.

The site provides resources and professional development opportunities to build the capacity of educational leaders to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.

This site provides information and resources for early childhood professionals. The Illinois AEYC is dedicated to improving the education and lives of young children in their own communities and throughout the state.

Illinois Cares for Kids is the one place Illinois parents, grandparents, caretakers, teachers, and child care providers can access all things related to early childhood in Illinois.

This site provides links to services for families and individuals to help meet basic needs to be healthy and self-sufficient. Resources include SNAP; cash and medical assistance; childcare assistance; rehabilitation services; reporting fraud, abuse or neglect; and a help line.

This organization is dedicated to improving the health and safety of people in Illinois.

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is a nonprofit organization advocating for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs, birth through age eight, and their families. Support is provided for classroom teachers, child care providers, early interventionists, and higher education professionals / students who work with children with special needs and their families.

The provides a collection of services for families of children from birth to age 3 who have disabilities or developmental delays or who are at risk of having developmental delays. Links to a form to request materials from the lending library is provided.

The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative (IFI) is a state-wide non-profit fatherhood organization that provides resources and programming to help dads take an active role in the education of their children.

This site provides information, resources for children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing have every opportunity to achieve their full potential.

IHSA provides assistance to Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start programs to ensure their ongoing viability and vitality to operate a high impact, community driven Head Start/Early Head Start program. IHSA advocates for its members at the federal, state and local level to secure more funding and achieve beneficial policy changes and better serve Illinois’ most vulnerable children and families.

The Illinois MTSS Network (IL MTSS-N) provides professional learning and coaching for schools and districts in order to develop and sustain a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS).

The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) is a statewide organization which is a resource for making high quality, affordable early care and education and school-age care options available for children and families in Illinois.

This is the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) who works to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. Leadership and advocacy resources are provided.

This website provides information for educators, families and stakeholders regarding education in the state of Illinois.

This site is dedicated to increasing access to professional development and credentials for early childhood leaders.

This website provides information regarding support, information, and networking services for parents of twins and higher-order multiples through its member club affiliates.

This website provides information regarding NAMI in Illinois. Links for virtual support groups, crisis information, education, advocacy and resources are provided.

This is the Illinois chapter of the Council for a Strong America who engages law enforcement, military, business, faith and sports leaders who promote evidence-based policies and programs that enable kids to be healthy, well-educated and prepared for productive lives. Information and reports are provided and include issues regarding early education.

The Parents as Teachers program is an evidence-based early childhood home visiting framework that builds strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe and ready to learn. This provides resources and information on trainings and events.

This website provides a central place for Illinois early childhood care and education professionals to learn more about how to expand, deepen, or build new local early childhood collaborations in your community. Resources and information on this website will focus on how to use a community systems development approach to strengthen and improve early childhood services and systems in local communities.

This site provides information on prevention education and public awareness, community outreach, public policy advocacy, and promotion of effective child abuse prevention programs.

This website is dedicated to supporting family members and others who have been touched by the tragedy of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or any other infant death. Information for public and professionals is provided.

Illinois STAR NET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with disabilities. STAR NET supports family-centered, researched and effective practices in early childhood education and care.

The first five years shape a child’s future. As the nation’s leading early childhood charity, Start Early, is committed to providing equitable access to quality early learning for children living in under-resourced communities.

The Autism Project (TAP) provides a variety of services and resources throughout the state of Illinois, including a referral service.

This website aims help families, businesses, and communities solve problems and learn new skills with research-based programs, webinars, virtual meetings, videos, and more.

In Illinois, the majority of early childhood services for babies, toddlers and young children are split among three state agencies – the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). A new state agency, the Department of Early Childhood will unite the majority of early childhood services into one place, making it easier for families to access critical services for stronger coordination between the various early childhood programs and services provided by the state.