The State has partnered with the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) to launch Birth to Five Illinois with the goal of creating Birth to Five Action Councils and Family Councils in each of 39 regions, built upon the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Regional Offices of Education (ROE) statewide structure but operating independently. The Birth to Five Action Councils will include parents and families, service providers, educators, and advocates who will be tasked with identifying service needs in each region. Information gathered by these Councils will be provided to the State in hopes of informing policy around birth-to-five programs over the next decade, and beyond. In addition, Birth to Five Councils can serve as regional advocacy bodies to influence local policy, including funding opportunities.

Birth to Five Illinois is a new initiative from the state of Illinois. It launched in February 2022. There are several important goals for the work:

• To support local residents in coming together to address early childhood needs within their own communities

• To make sure the State’s policies and funding priorities match the needs of each region, prioritizing voices of families, providers, and communities

• To provide equitable access to high-quality early childhood services for all children