Birth to Five Illinois continues working to connect families across southeastern Illinois with child care and early childhood resources.
Region 20 Council Manager Janice Crow provided an update during Monday afternoon’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting.
Crow said Birth to Five Illinois operates across 39 regions statewide, with Region 20 covering nine southeastern Illinois counties, including Wabash County. Over the past four years, the organization has worked to build and promote the SI Families resource hub, which connects parents and caregivers with information about services available in their communities.
Crow stressed that Birth to Five does not directly provide the services listed on the hub. Instead, it serves as a central location where families can find contact information and learn how to access available programs.
One program Birth to Five continues to promote is the Child Care Assistance Program. Crow said working families and parents attending school may qualify for assistance to reduce their child care costs. She noted that the monthly income eligibility level for a family of four has increased from $6,028 last fiscal year to $6,188 this year.
Crow said child care availability remains a significant concern across the region.
Region 20 currently has four communities without either a licensed child care center or licensed child care home. Birth to Five is working with Project CHILD, the region’s Child Care Resource and Referral agency, to promote license-exempt child care options that could allow relatives, neighbors or others to provide care after completing the required process.
Crow said families are also increasingly searching for child care outside traditional daytime hours, including evenings, weekends and overnight care.
Over the past three years, Birth to Five Region 20 has distributed nearly 5,200 pieces of information aimed at connecting parents, caregivers and community organizations with the SI Families Hub.
The organization’s councils also released a new “Changes in Early Childhood” report in June. Crow said the report highlights continued efforts to improve access to resources and collaboration among community organizations, while also identifying gaps in early childhood education and care, including the need for additional programs and retaining child care teachers.
Crow encouraged city officials and residents to explore the SI Families Hub and report any missing or incorrect information so the resource can remain up to date.
Wabash County is represented on the regional councils by Pam Oliver with Wabash Community Unit School District 348’s Preschool for All and Prevention Initiative programs. Crow praised Oliver for helping Birth to Five better understand the needs and resources available locally.
Janice Crow presents information on Birth To Five Illinois to the Mt. Carmel City Council on Monday.