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Newsletter
September 2021
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Gov. Pritzker Announces Nation-Leading Child Care Investments |
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Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services' (IDHS) Secretary Grace Hou announced a series of nation-leading investments to strengthen access to child care for families seeking to reenter the workforce while simultaneously bolstering child care educators and their employees. As families across Illinois continue to get back on their feet amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, IDHS is expanding Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) eligibility to include three months of free coverage for unemployed parents or caregivers who meet the CCAP eligibility requirements to help residents get back to work.
The Pritzker administration is also providing bonuses of up to $1,000 for eligible child care workers. These bonuses will be followed by two more rounds of Child Care Restoration Grants (CCRG), plus an additional phase of grants in 2022, with $300 million to be made available to educators across the State.
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National Hispanic American Heritage Month |
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Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans past and present who have inspired others to success. All across Illinois, Hispanic and Latinx residents bring cultural richness and economic stability to local communities. They are serving as government officials, business owners, community leaders and activists, and improving the lives of those around them. Please see this video from Lilian Jimenez, Associate Director, Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Office of Welcoming Centers for Refugee and Immigrant Services.
In addition, the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic/Latino Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
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Raising Illinois Launches a New Website |
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Raising Illinois, previously known as the Prenatal to Three (PN3) Initiative, is a collective effort to close the opportunity gap for Illinois' earliest learners. The science is clear: the first three years of a child’s life are the most critical for healthy development. By investing early, it is possible to lay the foundation for all Illinois children to have a strong start in school and life. However, the root causes of historic disparities and how to create an equitable and cohesive early childhood development system for Illinois’ expecting families, infants and toddlers, and the communities in which they live must be addressed. This effort is the chance to make a powerful commitment to the State's youngest generation. Visit the new Raising Illinois website to learn more and to get involved. |
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Cicely Fleming Named Director for Regional and Community Systems |
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The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) is pleased to announce Cicely Fleming as its new State Director for Regional and Community Systems. Building on over a decade of planning and foundational investments, Governor JB Pritzker has committed to improving Illinois’ governance structure by launching a statewide regional and community infrastructure with the goal of improving quality, equity, and accessibility in the State’s early childhood system. The work to build Illinois’ regional planning council infrastructure is a public-private partnership with the newly established Early Childhood Transformation Team. As State Director for Regional and Community Systems, Cicely Fleming will lead the implementation of this ambitious plan to engage communities across the State in meeting the needs of young families. |
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Town Hall: Early Childhood Transformation Team |
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Over the past 18 months, the State has worked hard to provide the child care workforce with the supports and resources they need to stay safe, stay open, and build back better as the State enters the next stage of this pandemic.
Please join the Early Childhood Transformation Team for the "Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Statewide Townhall: Looking Back to Move Forward", as they review data collected through the Child Care Restoration Grant (CCRG) reporting process since the onset of the federal relief funding and also look ahead to future strategies to continue to support the child care infrastructure across Illinois.
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English Language Townhall
When: Thursday, September 30, 2021
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Sign up: The Town Hall will be hosted as a webinar presentation by INCCRRA. Register at the link below.
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Spanish Language Townhall
When: Thursday, September 30, 2021
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Sign up: The Town Hall will be hosted as a webinar presentation by INCCRRA. Register at the link below.
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Please note: Space is limited, and early registration is encouraged. This webinar does not qualify for CEUs or training credit. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Gateways CCRG website within 72 hours following the presentation. All the information provided will be translated, and the same presentation will also be offered in Spanish.
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New Research on English Learners: Policy and Practice Implications |
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The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, and Latino Policy Forum invite you to hear firsthand about the cutting-edge research conducted within Chicago Public Schools, which has state and national implications as they consider expanding and transforming preschool services.
The event will also feature Dr. Carmen Ayala, State Superintendent at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and commentary from bilingual education experts. Please join the live stream to participate in the conversation. You are invited to hear how this research should influence English Learner practice and improve policy in Illinois and the nation. Translation will be provided. Habrá interpretación al español disponible.
When: October 26, 2021/ Martes, 26 de octubre de 2021 - 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
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2021 Sharing a Vision Conference & Equity Symposium Sessions |
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Registration is open for the "Sharing A Vision Virtual Conference" on October 7-8, 2021. Attendees are invited to continue their learning journeys after the conference by attending one or more of the Equity Symposium sessions. Click on the buttons below to register. |
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Family Advisory Committee Seeks Representation for Region Four |
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The Illinois Early Learning Council (ELC) Family Advisory Committee (FAC) was formed to ensure parent and family voices are heard throughout Illinois' early childhood policy development and decision-making processes. The FAC is seeking an additional representative who lives in one of the Region Four counties: Rock Island, Henry, LaSalle, Logan, Cass, Adams, Brown, Peoria, McDonough, Fulton, Bureau, Putnam, Stark, Marshall, Woodford, Knox, Mercer, Warren, Henderson, Hancock, Schuyler, Mason, Menard, or Tazewell. Click on the button below for a flier with more information on the opportunity and how to request an application. |
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Survey for Early Childhood Program Administrators & Colleagues |
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Since 2017, when Illinois passed legislation to reduce exclusion from licensed child care and preschool programs, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have asked program administrators about their experiences implementing these changes. This fall marks the fourth year of this survey, which aims to identify what supports programs need to comply with the law.
The survey is accessible online until October 13, 2021, using the link below and will take less than 10 minutes to complete. All school-, center-, or home-based programs serving children under the age of five in Illinois are eligible to participate. Please feel free to forward this survey to others who may be eligible. Administrators who complete the survey will be able to enter a raffle to win one of five $50 Amazon e-gift cards.
If you have any questions about the study, please feel free to contact the principal investigator, Dr. Kate Zinsser, at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Phone: 312.996.5494
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New Career Opportunities at SAL Family and Community Services |
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SAL Family and Community Services and the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership (EHS CCP) currently have multiple positions open in early childhood education and family services. EHS CCP provides comprehensive, individualized services to lower-income infants and toddlers up to age four, as well as to pregnant mothers and their families living in Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties.
Job positions include: Eligibility Coordinator, Payroll and Benefits Coordinator, Office and Billing Coordinator, Support Specialist (Child Care Assistance Program), Assistant Director and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Coordinator, and Early Childhood Education Assistant Teacher.
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Upcoming Opportunities at the Illinois Resource Center |
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Virtual Collaboration Opportunities
The Illinois Resource Center (IRC) is kicking off a new series of virtual collaboration opportunities for educators and leaders serving multilingual learners. At these “drop-in” monthly events, the purpose is to meet other educators across the State, ask questions, receive feedback, and share ideas and resources.
All educators are welcome:
- 1st Saturday of the month at 9 a.m.: Oct. 2, Nov. 6, Dec. 4, Jan. 8, Feb. 4, Mar. 5, Apr. 2, May 7, and Jun. 4.
- 1st Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.: Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 5, Feb. 2, Mar. 2, Apr. 6, May 4, and Jun. 1.
- 1st Thursday of the month at 4 p.m.: Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2, Jan. 6, Feb. 2, Mar. 3, Apr. 7, May 5,and Jun. 2.
- Leaders, Coordinators, Administrators and Coaches: one Thursday per month at 4:30 p.m.: Oct. 28, Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, Mar. 17, Apr. 21, May 19, and Jun. 16.
Email Carly Spina at [email protected] for the Zoom link to the "drop-in" you wish to attend.
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Graduate Courses for ESL/Bilingual Endorsements
In partnership with National Louis University, the IRC is also offering online graduate courses for the ESL/Bilingual endorsements. Click here to learn more.
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Upcoming Opportunities at STAR NET Region II |
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STAR NET Region II invites interested early childhood teachers to join with their Region II area colleagues at virtual events that will be held monthly.
The following dates are for the future Teacher Chats:
- October 23, 2021
- November 17, 2021
- December 9, 2021
- January 20, 2022
- February 17, 2022
- April 14, 2022
STAR NET Region II also has webinars scheduled this fall on topics including Outdoor Play for Children, Play Facilitation in a Play-Based Assessment, Early Childhood Outcomes, and Peers and Play.
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Don't Miss This Opportunity to Enhance/Expand Your ECE Program |
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In the coming months, Illinois will be releasing information about the Illinois Early Childhood Construction Grant (ECCG) Program, a state-sponsored initiative to invest in quality early childhood education (ECE) facilities where they are most needed. The ECCG Program will provide $100 million in grants for early childhood education providers to renovate, expand, or newly construct facilities to serve more children. IFF’s Quality Facilities for All (QFA) Technical Assistance Program will provide free technical assistance to support nonprofit infant-toddler care providers applying to the Illinois ECCG. This FAQ sheet provides details on both the Illinois ECCG Program and the QFA Technical Assistance Program. |
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Adult Learning Resource Center (ALRC): Learn English or Get a GED |
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Interested adults are invited to call or text the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline, (800) 321-9511, to find English and GED classes at an Adult Education program near you. The Illinois Adult Learning Hotline can now be reached in four different ways:
- Text (800) 321-9511 to find an Adult Education program near you.
- Call (800) 321-9511 to find an Adult Education program near you.
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Complete an online request form at: adultlearninghotline.org
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Chat online with a Hotline operator.
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CDC Update on COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy |
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the COVID-19 vaccination for all people ages 12 years and older, including women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. This data suggests the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy. Pregnant women and those who have recently given birth are more likely to get severely ill with the COVID-19 virus compared to women who are not pregnant. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy decreases this risk.
View the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations related to pregnancy and breastfeeding by clicking the button below.
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Click below to access COVID-19 Resources for: |
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A Descriptive Profile of Illinois’ Home Visiting Workforce |
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As a part of the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5), the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) with the support of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD) has updated the Gateways Registry for home visitors in order to gather a more comprehensive picture of Illinois’ home visiting workforce. Enhancements were made to capture the evidence-based program model used by those reporting their role as home visitor. An outreach campaign took place from March through June 2021 to encourage all home visitors in Illinois to join the Gateways Registry or update their existing profile with this new information. The outcome is improved data on the home visiting roles and models, demographics, education and credentials, and employment in the home visiting workforce, as detailed in the report. |
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IRIS Launched in Four Home Visiting Communities |
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As a part of the PDG B-5 program, GOECD is excited to announce that the Integrated Referral and Intake System, also known as IRIS, has launched in four home visiting communities throughout the State. This work is part of Illinois’ vision of a future in which there are coordinated points of entry throughout the State for home visiting as well as other early childhood care and education (ECEC) services.
IRIS is now operating through the following entities and areas: (1) Children’s Home and Aid Child Care Resource and Referral Program in Madison and St. Clair counties; (2) DuPage Home Visiting Network in DuPage county; (3) Sangamon Success 0-3 Initiative through the SIU Medicine Department of Pediatrics in Sangamon county; and (4) Sauk Valley STARS Early Childhood Coalition through the Regional Office of Education 47 in Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties.
In preparation for the launch of IRIS in their respective communities, the four collaboratives have engaged in community systems development work since January 2021 that involved developing a vision for IRIS in the community, identifying referral partners, creating community standards of agreement, configuring IRIS for the community, and developing data standards. In support of the communities’ implementation process, KU-CPPR continues to provide technical assistance support to each of the communities, as well as facilitate IRIS Learning Communities.
To connect with the four collaboratives, contact:
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PDG B-5 Education Reimbursement Initiative |
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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. |
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Illinois Continues to Lead in Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health |
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Governor JB Pritzker approved the allocation of Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funding for the elements of Public Act 101-0654 that call for supports across the continuum of Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health (I/ECMH). GOECD hosted ZERO TO THREE (ZTT) and Start Early for a DC:0-5™ Overview Training in late August. Over 70 leaders from the medical field, early intervention experts, clinical leaders, and advocates registered to learn more about the DC:0-5™ Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood tool. Illinois is committed to prioritizing investments along the continuum of prevention, promotion, and intervention of I/ECMH. This work also aligns with sustainability efforts from Health and Family Services to allow ICD-10 codes from the ZTT DC:0-5™ crosswalk that are billable in Illinois. To learn more about Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in Illinois, visit I/ECMHC webpage on the GOECD website. |
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GOECD at the 27th Annual Prevent Child Abuse Conference |
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GOECD's Christine Brambila, Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Manager will participate on the panel, "Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation: What You Need To Know and How It Works". This panel will feature the home visiting program Children's Home and Aid Society practicing I/ECMHC, and Christine will highlight cross-system efforts to support I/ECMHC in Illinois. Prevent Child Abuse's virtual conference will be held October 14 & 15, 2021. |
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GOECD at the ZERO TO THREE Annual Virtual Conference |
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Christine Brambila, GOECD's Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Manager, will be co-presenting with Tiffany Burkhart, Senior Researcher at Chapin Hall, and Amanda Walsh, Director of the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership, at the national ZERO TO THREE Annual Virtual Conference: October 25th through October 29th. The presentation will: feature the long-standing investments in I/ECMHC in Illinois, beginning with the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership; share research from Chapin Hall's evaluation of the Illinois Model of I/ECMHC; and discuss the cross-systems sustainability efforts under the leadership of GOECD. |
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Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Expansion |
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With Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funding, GOECD is expanding the I/ECMH workforce in Caregiver Connections. With this investment, Caregiver Connections can increase access to I/ECMH consultation, training, and technical assistance, reducing wait times for child care programs to receive the needed I/ECMH consultation services. The goal of these efforts is to move towards a more proactive and preventative approach for I/ECMH.
New Caregiver Connections positions, both full-time and part-time, will be opening shortly across Illinois. If you would like to learn more, please click the button below to view the job description and/or contact Charlotte Henderson ([email protected]) to be connected with your local Caregiver Connections partner agency.
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Gateways I/ECMHC Database Continues to Grow! |
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In partnership with the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA), the Gateways Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Database launched in Spring 2021. There are currently over 70 Gateways approved consultants listed on the database. Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants (I/ECMHC) are available in every county in Illinois. They speak English, Spanish, French, and Chinese! Click the link below to find an I/ECMH Consultant in your community. To learn more about I/ECMHC, visit the GOECD webpage. |
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New Data Available on IECAM |
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The Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM) online database now has FY2020 early childhood program and service data for the following programs:
- Preschool For All, Preschool for All Expansion, and Prevention Initiative
- Head Start and Early Head Start
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
The data search is generally available for the following geographic areas: state, county, township, municipality, State Senate district, State House district, U.S. congressional district, elementary school district, unit school district, zip code tabulation area (ZCTA), Chicago community area, Illinois State Board of Education regions, and Illinois Department of Human Services regions.
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Early CHOICES Inclusive Education Series |
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The Early CHOICES Inclusive Education series includes topics that explore key ideas about inclusion in early childhood education for children ages birth through five years of age. Topics range from defining inclusion to understanding the benefits of inclusion. |
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