All or Kids: Early Childhood Network

Helping Families Receive the Best Start in Life

More people are learning about recent brain research and other studies that underscore the importance of positive experiences during every child's earliest days, months and years. At the same time, public officials are expanding state and federal funding for a variety of early childhood programs.  But too many Illinois families with very young children either don't know about services available in the community or can't find anyone to provide the particular service they need.

All Our Kids: Early Childhood Network - a collaborative effort between the Illinois Department of Human Services, local health departments, family members, the Ounce of Prevention Fund and other local agencies serving very young children and their families - is designed to overcome these obstacles in ten Illinois counties.

The overall goal of the Networks is to ensure that all children under the age of four and their families have the opportunity to receive the services they need - from prenatal care to well-baby checkups to parenting education to specialized services, such as speech therapy, physical therapy or home visits.

Who is Involved in the Networks?

The specific composition of the Networks will vary from community to community.  However, each of the ten community Networks will include a wide range of service providers as well as family members who are recipients of local services.  Network membership may include representatives from:

Health Child Development Child Care
Early Intervention Education Social Services
Recreation Advocacy Local Employees
Faith Community Parents Local Government

Where are the Networks Located?

The Ten Illinois communities include:
Adams County McLean County
City of Chicago
(North Lawndale Community)		 Stephenson County
Cook County (Town of Cicero) Tazwell County
Kane County Vermillion County
Macon County Wabash County

What will the All Our Kids: Early Childhood Networks Do?

The Early Childhood Network in each of the ten communities will develop and implement a strategic plan that will outline strategies to:

  • Assess the needs of very young children (younger than three years) and their families

  • Link the children and their families with appropriate services

  • Facilitate the coordination of services and elimination of service gaps

  • Inform others in the community about issues affecting very young children and their families

  • Identify and better understand the services families with very young children need and use

  • Address the training needs of people who work with very young children and their families

  • Evaluate the accessibility and effectiveness of the "system" of services for very young children and their families

  • Provide leadership for policy development to assure the health of very young children and their families.

Who Can I Contact for More Information?

For general information about the All Our Kids: Early Childhood Networks, please contact Joanne Kelly at the Ounce of Prevention Fund - 312.793.5246.  The Ounce of Prevention Fund is a non-profit organization with more than 17 years of experience in developing successful community projects dealing with early childhood development.  The Ounce of Prevention Fund is providing the on-going training and technical assistance to the ten community network sites.

For local information about the Network please contact Leigh Ann Michael, Macon County Network Coordinator, at 217.425.1500 ext. 1351.