Raising Our Voices: This Year's Progress & The Road Ahead

Check out a recording from our virtual gathering on June 17, 2026!

On June 17th, Raising Illinois is bringing the coalition together for a conversation centered on the Spring 2026 Legislative Session and our plans for 2027. Panelists will discuss what moved forward this spring for infants, toddlers and expecting families, along with updates on IDEC ahead of the department's official launch in July.

During this event you will:

Get an update on what advanced in Fiscal Year 2026 and during the Spring 2026 Legislative Session
Learn more about the IDEC transition happening July 1
Hear about our priorities for Fiscal Year 2027
Learn how you can get involved & take action on behalf of our state's infants, toddlers and expecting families

Many great resources were referenced in this event, check them out below!

Resources on the federal eligibility changes to SNAP and Medicaid:

SNAP:

- SNAP Federal Impact Center (Illinois Department of Human Services)

- SNAP eligibility changes overview (Save Our SNAP Coalition)

- SNAP community outreach toolkit (Save Our SNAP Coalition)

Medicaid:

- Medicaid Federal Resource Center (Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services)

- Medicaid eligibility changes overview in English and Spanish (Cook County Health)

- Medicaid community outreach toolkit (Cook County Health)

Other resources referenced during the event:

Raising Illinois Prenatal-to-Three Policy Agenda

Raising Illinois’ Response to Approved Fiscal Year 2027 State Budget

Illinois Department of Early Childhood

Universal Newborn Support Systems

Illinois' Blueprint for Birth Equity 2025

Care Coordination of Services for Pregnant and Postpartum People

Illinois toddlers are legally entitled to Early Intervention therapies. Here’s what to know

"Just like we normalize breastfeeding I'd like to normalize WIC and make it something everyone wants."

-Stephanie Bess

Illinois Department of Human Services

Other Events From Raising Illinois

Haven't joined us before? Check out our Raising Our Voices: Nourishing Families, Fueling Impact event!

Raising Illinois' Raising Our Voices: Nourishing Families, Fueling Impact event centered on the importance of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

Check it Out!

Community Conversation Toolkit

Resources created for your community to come together and discuss solutions to challenges families with infants and toddlers are facing today.

Raising Illinois invites you to bring together diverse individuals within your community and discuss the needs of infants, toddlers and expecting families in your area as well as steps that can and should be taken to strengthen your community's early childhood system.

Community Conversations can take many shapes and forms depending on who you invite and the size of your community. It is the conversation that is critical – not the format, size or location. To help get your planning started, Raising Illinois has created a handful of helpful resources.

Learn More