Below are resources for early childhood professionals and those serving the early childhood community.

 

Understanding the Illinois Early Childhood System: Video Series in Spanish  In response to the interest of having the early childhood videos in Spanish, Illinois Action for Children translated all eight videos and accompanying fact sheets to support your collaboration’s efforts. The videos are intended to help individuals that work with families and young children directly to understand how they can best make referrals and connect them to helpful services. This project was generously supported by the Boeing Foundation.

Family Engagement  The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning Research and Evaluation released a report looking at family engagement in health services in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Racial Equity  Wilder Research, Development and Training, and the University of Minnesota, released a report on developing an early childhood system rooted in racial equity.

Addressing Health Disparities in Early Childhood (March 15)  The first years of a child’s life plays a significant role in his/her cognitive, social, and physical development. Early experiences occurring when a child’s brain and behavior are being shaped affect a child’s ability to learn, to get along with others, and to develop an overall state of well-being. Unfortunately, not all children have the same positive experiences or opportunities, which can lead to disparities, including a child’s health and well-being.  This March 15, join Grand Rounds as they discuss how we can work together to address health disparities in early childhood through increased collaborations, public health partnerships, and early intervention.

Free Resources Address Suspension and Expulsion in Children Birth to Grade 3  This collection of resources includes laws, policy statements, research, reports, articles, videos, and more.

Home Visits: Making A Difference For Children In Low-Income Families  The educational gap between low-income children and their middle-income peers starts as early as nine months. That gap continues through a child’s life and into adulthood, creating long-lasting effects.  National Conference on State Legislatures created a new webpage on home visiting.