Raising Illinois Family Leader Applications Open!
October 1, 2026 Applications Now Open for Raising Illinois’ Family Leader Program! The Raising Illinois Family Leadership Program is accepting new applications! Raising Illinois elevates the voices, experiences, and expertise of parents, caregivers, and expectant families as partners in shaping the policies and programs that impact young children across Illinois. Through training, mentorship, and collaboration,…
Read MoreRaising Illinois Statement on Head Start NPRM
August 7, 2026 Raising Illinois Statement on Head Start NPRM Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that would fundamentally weaken the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the foundation of Head Start’s high-quality early learning, health, family engagement and comprehensive services. These services are particularly…
Read MoreSpring 2026 Legislative Wrap-Up
June 24, 2026 Spring 2026 Legislative Wrap-Up Amid state governance transition and an ever-changing federal landscape, the Illinois General Assembly advanced several key proposals relevant to expecting families, infants and toddlers In the early morning of Monday, June 1, the 104th General Assembly adjourned its spring legislative session. Lawmakers passed the final budget and implementation…
Read MoreRaising Illinois’ Response to Approved Fiscal Year 2027 State Budget
June 1, 2026 Raising Illinois’ Response to Approved Fiscal Year 2027 State Budget Our state’s prenatal-to-age-3 coalition celebrates notable increases for primary care hospitals and some early childhood programs—but most critical services for expecting families, infants and toddlers remain underfunded Raising Illinois appreciates the Illinois General Assembly for its continued investment in our state’s system…
Read MoreNational Home Visiting Week 2026
April 20, 2026 National Home Visiting Week 2026 This week is National Home Visiting Week, an opportunity to celebrate the work of home visitors who provide vital support to young children and families. Our home visiting workforce in Illinois includes many dedicated professionals — and this week, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on eight…
Read MoreThe Life Saving Power of Doula Support
April 20, 2026 The Life Saving Power of Doula Support Raising Illinois Director Simone Santiago reflects on her own birth experience and the impact of having Doula support I have been incredibly fortunate to be steeped in maternal health and early childhood care as my career and my passion. Long before my daughter was a…
Read MoreRaising Illinois’ Response to Governor JB Pritzker’s Proposed FY 2027 Budget
February 19, 2026 Raising Illinois’ Response to Governor JB Pritzker’s Proposed FY 2027 Budget This week, Governor JB Pritzker shared his proposed Fiscal Year 2027 (FY2027) Illinois state budget, which includes increased investments in the Early Intervention (EI) program and Child Care Assistance Programs, while maintaining level funding across other early childhood programs. Across the state,…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Illinois Funding Landscape
February 13, 2026 Understanding the Illinois Funding Landscape A conversation on funding design In July 2026, most early childhood programs are scheduled to transition from their legacy agencies to the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), a move that will change the ways that early childhood programs are funded. To help de-mystify this process…
Read MoreRaise Your Voice! How Will The HHS Funding Freeze Impact You?
Raise Your Voice! How Will The HHS Funding Freeze Impact You? Raising Illinois is collecting stories from providers on how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Funding Freeze will impact you, your family and your community. By filling out the form below, you consent to be added to the Raising Illinois mailing list…
Read MoreEarly Intervention Week of Action
November 24, 2025 Early Intervention Week of Action December 8-12 Take Action For Our State’s EI System! Join us for a Week of Action in support of Early Intervention! As the Governor begins drafting his fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget proposal, now is the time to let him and IDEC know that we need $40…
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