Illinois Action for Children

Illinois Action for Children

Individual and Family Services

Chicago, IL 7,225 followers

Building Strong Families & Powerful Communities™

About us

Illinois Action for Children is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to quality, accessible early learning and care opportunities for children. With nearly 600 employees representing more than 20 programs and service across four sites, we have championed the cause of quality child care and early education for families and children throughout Illinois for over 50 years. Illinois Action for Children is a state and national leader in the early care and education community, distinguished by its "Strong Families, Powerful Communities" approach to child development, preschool education and other family and community supports. This broad approach to supporting children by supporting families is a proven and effective means to address overarching issues of endemic poverty, which are the root cause of the educational failure of America's poorest children. Illinois Action for Children's outreach and work with low-income, hard-to-reach families, has led us to research and implement highly effective and innovative programs and advocacy to ensure that early care and education, and other opportunities, are accessible to the children most in need. Highlights from our programs include: - Public Policy & Advocacy organizing to expand access to child care and early education, and other supports. - Early Learning Programs to make early education available to young children so they will be ready to succeed when they start school. - Resource and Referral Program to connect child care providers, parents, and employers with resources such as child care referrals, professional development, health services and community supports. Our mission is to be a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most.

Industry
Individual and Family Services
Company size
501-1,000 employees
Headquarters
Chicago, IL
Type
Nonprofit
Founded
1969
Specialties
Child Care Assistance, Child Care Provider Resources, Early Care & Education Public Policy & Advocacy, Early Care & Education Models, Head Start, and Early Head Start

Locations

Employees at Illinois Action for Children

Updates

  • View organization page for Illinois Action for Children, graphic

    7,225 followers

    🎉 A Historic Moment! 🎉 Today, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed SB1 (the Department of Early Childhood Act) into law, creating the first Department of Early Childhood in Illinois! 🏛️✨ A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the advocates whose work and dedication made this milestone possible. Your passion for early childhood education has paved the way for a brighter future for our children. 🌟👶📚 Lastly, a huge thank you to state leaders including Governor JB Pritzker, Senator Lightford, and Representative Canty for continuously championing children and families in Illinois.

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  • 🎉 Join us for Illinois Action for Children’s annual event on Thursday, October 10, at the iconic Harold Washington Library Center! This year, we’re celebrating a milestone—our 55th anniversary! 🎉 Don’t miss this special evening dedicated to supporting children and families across Illinois. Visit our event page for more information and to purchase your tickets today: https://lnkd.in/g6Yhi5Vg #IAFCturns55

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  • Our research reveals that providers need more training and staff to ensure the best care for children with disabilities. As a state, we can support professional development and credentialing in special education for the early childhood workforce to bridge this gap. Read more provider experiences in our reports on child care for children with disabilities: https://bit.ly/4d4U6qn #disabilityawareness #disabilitypridemonth

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  • Meet our newest Emerging Leadership Fellows! 🌟 These dedicated individuals are part of the MWLI Early Childhood Emerging Leaders Fellowship, an innovative program empowering diverse, mid-level child care providers and early learning teachers. Over the next nine months, the fellows will develop their leadership, advocacy, and systems change skills to make a lasting impact on Illinois’ early childhood landscape. 👶🏫 📣 Join us in celebrating their commitment to shaping the future of early childhood education!

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  • 🎉 Exciting Deal for Back to School! 🎉 Our amazing partners at Constructive Playthings are offering an exclusive 20% off your entire purchase to our IAFC community! 🛍️✨ From blocks and furniture to playground, sensory, and STEM materials, they have everything you need for early childhood education. Don't miss out on this fantastic deal to enhance your classroom or play area for the coming school year! 🧩 Use code IAFC2024 at checkout ⏰ Hurry, offer ends August 31! 🛍️ Shop now: https://lnkd.in/emjm96t

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  • Illinois Action for Children reposted this

    View organization page for SAL Community Services, graphic

    740 followers

    🎉 We are thrilled to announce that our very own Ciara Llave has been selected as an Emerging Leadership Fellow with Illinois Action for Children! 🌟 Ciara, along with other dedicated individuals, is part of the MWLI Early Childhood Emerging Leaders Fellowship. This innovative program empowers diverse, mid-level child care providers and early learning teachers. Over the next nine months, Ciara will develop her leadership, advocacy, and systems change skills to make a lasting impact on Illinois’ early childhood landscape. 👶🏫 📣 Join us in celebrating Ciara’s commitment to shaping the future of early childhood education! We are so proud of her and excited to see the amazing contributions she will make. Congratulations, Ciara! 🎉👏 #Leadership #EarlyChildhoodEducation #EmergingLeaders #IllinoisActionForChildren #SALCommunityServices

    Meet our newest Emerging Leadership Fellows! 🌟 These dedicated individuals are part of the MWLI Early Childhood Emerging Leaders Fellowship, an innovative program empowering diverse, mid-level child care providers and early learning teachers. Over the next nine months, the fellows will develop their leadership, advocacy, and systems change skills to make a lasting impact on Illinois’ early childhood landscape. 👶🏫 📣 Join us in celebrating their commitment to shaping the future of early childhood education!

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  • Illinois Action for Children reposted this

    View profile for Amber Peters, graphic

    Executive Director at Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL)

    The EduDream data project below offered our non-profit direction, accountability, and opportunities for years to come to make a BIG collective impact. Thank you EduDream for spending most of the year with us co-creating impact measurements and so much for our organization and community. Illinois Action for Children thank you for supporting this journey to "up our game" for our most important, the children and families. If you lead an organization and you need help strategically sorting it all out, don't walk, run fast and call EduDream. Thank you the EPEL dream data team Patricia Chamberlain, Joy D'Amico, Jaclyn Vasquez, and Julie Kallenbach for sitting on this project with me. You ladies are "Um-AMAZING!" #earlychildhoodcommunitycollaboration #birthtofive2000days

    View organization page for EduDream, graphic

    1,625 followers

    Is your organization seeking clarity on intended outcomes, impact measurement, and data collection processes or practices? The EduDream team partnered with Elgin Partnership for Early Learning as part of our ongoing partnership with Illinois Action for Children to do just that. Over the span of eight months, we co-created actionable strategic outcomes and metrics with Executive Director Amber Peters and her team. They walked away with a clear data collection strategy to implement over the coming years. Read Amber's feedback on our partnership and the end result: "We are beyond grateful and received much more than we dreamed. This might be the most excited that I have been in the past eight years because I feel we have a solid action plan and direction for the work that is organized and measurable." Contact us to see how we can help at https://lnkd.in/g5rnS4Zw. #ClientAppreciation #DataStrategy #Research

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