Illinois Early Childhood Policy at Start Early

We're proud to share our multi-year Illinois Policy Agenda! This agenda incorporates the many advances in the field over the past four years, including @GovPritzker's Smart Start initiative, and encompasses our priorities through FY27. Read more: bit.ly/49vEJ9m

We support HB5238/SB3756! This legislation would create the Newborn Equity Support Transfers (NEST) program. The program would provide expectant and mothers on Medicaid with a $1,500 cash transfer in the 3rd trimester and $500/month for the first 6-12 months of the baby’s life.

Many EI families face gaps in services, lengthy waitlists & interruptions in care. HB4861 would extend the timeline by which EI families may request an impartial hearing to pursue due process complaints from three months to two years. Take Action for EI: bit.ly/ACT4EI

This spring we're supporting HB5225! This bill would authorize Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to diagnosis autism spectrum disorder. IL can lead the way towards ending the autism waitlist crisis by allowing trained SLPs to diagnose autism in children under the age of 3!

This morning HB4606 got out of committee unanimously, thank you to all who filed proponent slips! We're excited to come back to committee to build on the support and enthusiasm we heard for UNSS today. Special thanks to our sponsor, @laurafaverdias!

Earlier this week, @GovPritzker shared an FY27 budget proposal which includes meaningful investments in IL’s EI program and the Child Care Assistance Program, while maintaining level funding for other early childhood programs. Read our full response: bit.ly/4cFtJu3

Policy Manager Mercedes Mondragón continues our blog series on the IDEC transition in a new blog on Illinois’ current child care licensing system and our recommendations for improving the background check process. Read more: bit.ly/3MkDlQl

IHSA is launching a Parent Policy Council Leadership Network to connect parent leaders statewide, build advocacy skills, and share policy updates impacting HS & EHS. Programs: Nominate your leaders. frichtl@ilheadstart.org #IllinoisHeadStart #PolicyCouncil #ParentLeadership

Tune in tomorrow to hear @GovPritzker deliver his FY27 Budget Address!

With one week to go before @GovPritzker delivers the FY27 budget address, we invite you to take a look at our legislative agenda to learn about what we'll be advocating for this Spring! Read more about our legislative priorities: bit.ly/46x7nqK

We're proud to be a member of @ProtectILCare and thank them for advocating for Illinoisans' access to health care! Medicaid funding is a crucial support for key programs like Early Intervention, Home Visiting & Doula and Universal Newborn Support Services

We were proud to collaborate with @ChiHomeless & @UIC_CRWG to develop a plan to prevent & end homelessness among expectant parents & families with children under 3 in Illinois. Read more about this project: bit.ly/45ZjYTu

New report! Findings from the Illinois Early Learning Access Project highlight where better alignment across policies and practices can make a difference in boosting access to high quality ECE for children involved in #childwelfare. Read more: bit.ly/4bJOmVH

Without federal funding, our IL programs cannot adequately serve children and families. We applaud Congress for passing a budget which will allow us to continue providing quality services & ensure that our youngest have the resources they need to thrive: bit.ly/3LWmvai

Earlier this month, we were honored to have the work of our HIHIPP project celebrated at the @ChiHomeless victory celebration! We're excited to continue our partnership with Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness on this project. Read more about HIHIPP: bit.ly/3Z5jYgT

The Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship is open and accepting applications for the '26-'27 school year! This scholarship covers 100% of tuition & eligible fees, plus $250 in books per course. Learn more and apply today bit.ly/4k5rXnT

From our programs serving Lake County families to those across Chicago, Start Early sees firsthand how funding instability puts children and parents at risk. We joined @RepSchneider's roundtable to share why protecting early childhood funding matters locally and across Illinois.

@StartEarlyorg @smartcitiesdive Federal child care funds are still flowing to IL for now. But families and #ECE providers shouldn’t be caught in the middle in the first place. Ireta Gasner talks about the uncertainties many Illinoisans are feeling amid the threat of a funding freeze: smartcitiesdive.com/news/federal-c…

Start Early’s Ireta Gasner spoke to @smartcitiesdive about the threat to freeze federal funding for family assistance programs across 5 states. While a TRO has kept funds flowing, the looming threat is creating uncertainty for #ECE programs & families: bit.ly/3M3J3ps

Update on the ruling today from U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick:

Families across every single Congressional district and state rely on federal child care funds to afford the quality early learning and child care they need. Tell Congress to protect and prioritize these programs. #childcare ffyf.org/take-action/

In the next blog in this series, Policy Specialist Rowan Atwood shares our response to funding recommendations proposed by the Transition Advisory Council, ahead of the full launch of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Read More bit.ly/4ptV3hy