Governor Issues Vaccination Requirement for Child Care Staff |
|
To prevent further spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of Illinois' youngest residents, on Friday, October 22, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker joined Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Department of Human Services Secretary Grace Hou, and Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith to announce new vaccination or weekly testing requirements for individuals who work in licensed day care centers. |
|
National State of Emergency Declared in Children's Mental Health |
|
Pediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and children’s hospitals have witnessed soaring rates of mental health challenges among children, adolescents, and their families over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) have come together to declare a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health.
More than 140,000 children in the United States lost a primary and/or secondary caregiver, with children of color disproportionately impacted. These organizations are caring for young people with increasing rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality that will have lasting impacts on them, their families, and their communities. The AAP, AACAP, and CHA call for the identification of strategies to meet these challenges through innovation and action, using state, local, and national approaches to improve the access to, and quality of, care across the continuum of mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment, especially for communities of color who face inequities resulting from structural racism.
Under the "Featured Resources" section of this newsletter below, you can find the 2021 Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) Annual Report.
|
|
Governor Pritzker Featured in CBS This Morning Video on Addressing the Child Care Crisis |
|
With the country's child care system in crisis, states are using more than $50 billion in federal relief money to test some creative solutions, but the money is temporary. Despite a logjam in Congress over President Biden's proposal for more permanent relief, advocates like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker remain optimistic that this crisis may provide an opportunity. |
|
Apply for Raising Illinois' Family Leader Program |
|
Raising Illinois is a diverse group of individuals and organizations across the State committed to supporting our youngest generation by ensuring families can access high-quality health care, engage in quality learning experiences, and establish economic security.
Raising Illinois honors and incorporates family and beneficiary voices in everything they do—in setting priorities, making decisions, and guiding actions. Thus, they are looking for 12 parents from across Illinois who would like to:
- Develop their leadership
- Learn about early childhood policies
- Share their ideas and experiences within the early childhood space
- Meet with other parents to learn from and support each other
For more information and to apply, please click on the buttons below. Applications must be completed by Wednesday, November 3rd. Please contact Jesse Rojo at Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) with questions: jrojo@cofionline.org.
|
|
For Families Who Have Experienced Housing Insecurity/Homelessness - Participate in an IHDA Listening Session |
|
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) wants to hear directly from Illinoisans regarding their housing needs. Innovations to Improve Maternal Outcomes in Illinois (I PROMOTE-IL) and the Collaborative on Child Homelessness Illinois want to make sure that the voices of pregnant/postpartum people and families with young children with lived experiences of homelessness or housing insecurity are heard.
Two-hour virtual Listening Sessions will occur in early to mid-November 2021 and in January 2022 (final date and time TBD). Participants will receive a $30 stipend paid for by I PROMOTE-IL.
The information shared will be summarized to identify housing needs and incorporated into the Illinois Housing Blueprint. This statewide project is gathering data to inform a housing plan with the goal of creating housing that is welcoming and supportive of all people in Illinois.
Please share this opportunity with families and individuals you know who may have experienced housing insecurity or homelessness. Interested Illinoisans can click the button below to complete the Housing Insecurity Listening Sessions Interest Form.
|
|
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Limited Waiver Opportunity |
|
On October 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a change to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program rules for a limited time as a result of the COVID-19 national emergency. Now, borrowers may receive credit for past payments made on loans that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF. Click on the button below for new rules on qualifying payments; how to find out if you qualify for additional payments; next steps that can be taken based on loan type; and frequently asked questions.
|
|
Debt Reimbursement Opportunity for Illinois Early Educators |
|
Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Education Reimbursement
If you have attended, or currently attend, an accredited Illinois college or university, you can apply for a maximum of $600 to repay existing debt owed directly to your higher education institution. Funding will be given to early educators (center director, assistant director, teacher, assistant teacher, family child care provider, family child care assistant, group home provider, group home assistant, Preschool for All teacher, or Preschool for All teacher aide) working directly with children ages birth through five who are employed by an Illinois early childhood program and are currently enrolled in coursework at an accredited Illinois college or university. Illinois early educators who are attempting to enroll in coursework at an accredited Illinois college or university but are blocked from doing so due to a current outstanding balance may also apply. Educators performing other direct services in early childhood settings and educators working in license-exempt programs are not being considered for reimbursement through this program at this time.
|
|
INCCRRA is Hiring: Regional & Community Systems Department |
|
Illinois is launching an exciting statewide regional and community infrastructure with the goal of improving quality, equity, and accessibility in the State’s early childhood system to better serve the ever-changing needs of children and families across Illinois. To support the implementation and expansion of this transformative work, the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) is hiring for the following positions in their newly launched Regional and Community Systems Department:
- Family & Community Engagement Manager
- Grants & Community Relations Manager
- Communications Manager
- Area Coordinators (6 consultants)
|
|
IDHS Division of Early Childhood is Hiring for a Quality Initiatives Administrator |
|
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Early Childhood is seeking to hire a dynamic, independent, and critical thinker who is organized, detail-oriented, and a conscientious learner with the ability to communicate vertically and horizontally, to serve as the Quality Initiatives Administrator and oversee the Bureau of Quality Initiatives. The Administrator will plan, develop, organize, control, manage policy and customer services, Early Childhood Collaboration and Program Development, and Quality Improvements. The administrator will also develop and maintain ongoing communications with public and private organizations and develop, recommend, and implement policies and procedures pertaining to Early Childhood programs. The position will close at 11:59pm on November 2, 2021.
|
|
New Resources to Help Families Catch Up on Childhood Vaccinations |
|
During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been doing their part by staying at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. An unfortunate result is that many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a website with information for families and those who care for children to help them catch up on missed vaccinations. The site includes fact sheets, posters, social media templates, and sample newsletter articles to encourage caregivers to get back on track with childhood vaccinations. |
|
Update: 2021 Statewide B-5 Needs Assessment |
|
As part of the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5), the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD) has contracted with the American Institutes of Research (AIR) to address gaps that were identified in the initial Statewide Needs Assessment, which was conducted in 2020. The updated Needs Assessment will include:
Project A - The Data Matrix Project: A data matrix will outline the overlaps and conflicts between existing data definitions. AIR will convene stakeholders and facilitate meetings to build consensus and develop recommendations to resolve existing data gaps in Illinois’ Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system.
Project B - The Family Needs Study: AIR will conduct a qualitative study that aims to hear and understand from families how they engage with the ECEC system, what their needs are, and how the ECEC system might better address those needs. The study will include families with children prenatal to three years old, as well as families with children ages three to five years old.
Statewide Needs Assessment Timeline
- October – Recruiting and Data Collection
- November – Data Analysis
- December – Initial Report
- January-February 2022 – Public Dissemination Activities
For Project B - The Family Needs Study, GOECD and AIR will soon be releasing an online survey for Illinois parents with young children. Stay tuned for information on this opportunity to elevate family voice and help Illinois improve our ECEC programs and services for children birth through five years old and their families.
|
|
GOECD Launches Strategic Planning Process |
|
The Morten Group has been retained to facilitate a strategic planning process that reflects Illinois’ early childhood mixed delivery system. The process is funded by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5). The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD) is the lead office for the grant, as well as the strategic planning process.
The Morten Group will facilitate a process that includes the development of racial and social justice objectives that will strengthen the State’s long-term ability to fulfill its mission. The previous Strategic Plan was completed in 2020. The updated plan will reflect and advance the goals of GOECD as well as the PDG B-5 activities, Early Childhood Funding Commission, Early Childhood Transformation Team, Learning Renewal Initiative, Title V, Raising Illinois, Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan, among other initiatives.
The Strategic Plan is part of a larger Comprehensive System Planning Process with the intent of moving from a “mixed” delivery system to a system that provides comprehensive services from birth to age five for all children. The efforts include a statewide Needs Assessment, review of Illinois’ funding system, establishment of Regional Councils, development of an Early Childhood Participation Dataset, alignment with the Chicago Early Childhood Integrated Data System, and establishment of an Early Educator Workforce Commission, among others.
|
|
Illinois Community Colleges’ Economic Impacts Statewide Report |
|
In 2020-21, the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) contracted with Northern Illinois University (NIU) Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) to conduct an in-depth study of the economic impacts of the Illinois Community College System (ICCS). The ICCS Economic Impact Study (EIS) report includes the following components:
- An environmental scan demonstrates the need for, and value of, community colleges as a key component of state and regional workforce initiatives. External factors such as demographics and the labor market are examined and highlight how the ICCS is well-positioned to meet community need and quickly place students in occupations and industries in demand.
- A student-level outcome analysis highlights the substantial return on investment from community college certificates and degrees. Subgroup analysis on student demographics, types/lengths of certificates and degrees, and areas of study are examined.
- An economic impact analysis establishes the importance of community colleges as economic engines and employment hubs in their host communities.
|
|
Serving Families with Child Welfare Involvement: Guidance for Illinois Home Visiting and Doula Programs |
|
Funded by the Illinois Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, a toolkit is now available from Children’s Home & Aid to support home visiting and doula programs serving families with child welfare involvement. This toolkit is designed for universal use across home visiting models and funders.
The toolkit provides guidance on best practice procedures when working to coordinate, collaborate, and communicate between two systems that have historically functioned separately from one another. The toolkit intentionally limits prescriptive guidance because all programs, communities, and collaborations function differently, and the guidance should be flexible to meet local needs.
A self-paced webinar is coming soon from the Start Early Professional Learning Network that will dive deeper into the content areas of the toolkit and provide additional resources and supports.
|
|
Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership 2021 Annual Report |
|
The 2021 Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) Annual Report has been released. By statute, ICMHP submits an annual report to the Governor on the state of children's mental health in Illinois and current efforts to address it. This year's Annual Report provides an abbreviated description of the current state of children’s mental health. It also describes the process to develop a new Children’s Mental Health Plan that strategically, and with appropriate diversity and representation, builds the supports and interagency partnerships necessary to build a brighter future for all children and their families across the State. |
|
Illinois BUILD Team Launches New Webpage |
|
The BUILD Initiative is a national organization that advances work on behalf of young children from prenatal to age five, their families, and communities. Each year, the BUILD Initiative State Services Team works closely with early childhood leaders and their cross-sector teams in partner states, including Illinois, to create and improve systems that help children and families thrive. The Illinois BUILD Team launched a new webpage on the GOECD website. Visit the page to see the Illinois BUILD Team purpose, priority areas of support, members, and recommended resources on equity and the importance of cross-systems work in early childhood.
|
|
Study Finds Discipline Disparities in Preschool Driven by Racial Bias |
|
Why are Black children more likely to be expelled or disciplined in preschool than their white peers? A new Northwestern study finds that teachers tend to complain more about Black students and identify their behavior as problematic compared to white students — even though researchers found no differences when the children observed in a laboratory setting designed to elicit typical vs. atypical patterns of misbehavior. The researchers’ work builds on the well-known fact that Black children are disproportionally excluded from preschool because of biases in disciplinary practices. |
|
Infographic & Website: Breadth of the Three Child Outcomes |
|
The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) produced an infographic and a webpage on the Breadth of Three Child Outcomes. The three child outcomes, measured by early intervention and early childhood special education systems, encompass functional skills and behaviors that are meaningful for a child's participation in everyday routines. They cut across developmental domains to represent the integrated nature of how children develop, learn, and thrive. The breadth of these outcomes provides a framework for describing and consistently measuring children's functional skills and behaviors across settings and situations.
|
|
Click below to access COVID-19 Resources for: |
|
GOECD strives to be mindful of the type of information you would like to receive from us. If you have not already done so, please complete this short form to help us better customize the emails we send to you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
