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. We are here for it all!
MISSION
To create a statewide regional infrastructure that will amplify input from communities in the development of policies and funding priorities. We support the mobilization of communities to build and sustain equitable access to inclusive, high-quality Early Childhood services for all children and families in the state of Illinois.
VISION
Reimagining a more equitable Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system that respects family and community voice and works to ensure it is centered and prioritized at every level of decision-making in Illinois.
VALUES/GOALS
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Family Voice: Through this transformation centered on authentic family and community engagement, we will address the inequitable distribution of resources and services and rebuild our State’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system.
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Racial Equity: In an effort to move our Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system to one where racism no longer impacts a child’s success, we will work to dismantle barriers that have limited access to high-quality services for minoritized children in every corner of our State.
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Collective Impact: Birth to Five Illinois will build a system that harnesses knowledge directly from families and providers and encourages decision makers to ensure new and/or expanded services are created to meet community needs. This community-driven framework will directly influence policy/funding at the local, regional, and state levels.
Categories: Community Organizations/Services, Non-Profit/Volunteer