Get Involved
Action Center
Our coalition is made up of advocates of all kinds: early childhood providers, policy professionals, legislators, parents and community members, and we know that advocacy is nothing without action. Here in our Action Center, you'll find a variety of different actions that you can take in support of Illinois' infants, toddlers and expecting families. If you have an action you'd like to see here, send the information to communications@raisingillinois.org. Actions will be updated regularly, so check this space often and make sure you're following us on Twitter @RaisingIllinois for the latest updates!
Free Legal Clinic
Equip For Equality
Equip for Equality (EFE) is hosting a free, in-person legal clinic at the Joliet Public Library on Sunday, July 14th from 5-8pm to assist families experiencing delays in accessing EI services. Families can receive support filing complaints if they've waited longer than the state-mandated timelines at any point in the EI process.
Families from any community are welcome to attend - the event is not limited to Joliet residents. However, EFE is asking attendees to register in advance using the link in the flyer so they can plan staffing accordingly.
Timeline: July 14th 5-8 pm
Joliet Public Library, Room 201
150 N Ottawa Street, Joliet
IDEC Listening Sessions
Illinois Dept of Early Childhood
In June 2025, the Department of Early Childhood Act was signed into law establishing the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) to unite the majority of early childhood services into one place, making it easier for families to access critical services for stronger coordination between the various early childhood programs and services provided by the state.
The new Illinois Department of Early Childhood transition is an opportunity to better align services and supports for families. One of the first priorities of IDEC is the Illinois Daycare Licensure process. In partnership with DCFS, IDHS, and ISBE, and with the support of the Civic Consulting Alliance (CCA), IDEC has launched a project with the goal to design and advance a comprehensive, equitable model for day care licensing that is safe for families, simpler for providers, and anchored in a continuum of quality.
Join a listening session:
IDEC: One Year In--Reflections and the Road Ahead Town Hall
We, the Village
Join our partners at We, the Village for a Town Hall reflecting on the first year of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood and sharing insight on the future vision for the department.
Timeline: July 15, 2025, 12-1:30 pm CT
Make Your Voice Heard on Early Childhood Education and Care!
University of Illinois, Northwestern University and Western Illinois University
Calling all parents and caregivers!! Please complete a survey on your views of early childhood education in the state of Illinois. This survey is part of a research-practice partnership to understand how Multilingual children and families are currently being served in birth to five settings across our state and to develop training, support, and messaging that can help create equitable and accessible early learning experiences for multilingual learners and their families.
Timeline: Ongoing
Free Webinar: Addressing Suspension and Expulsion in Early Childhood Education Settings: An IECMH-Informed Approach
Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health
The Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health Policy & Systems Development Workgroup, in collaboration with its Briefing Paper Subgroup, has developed a valuable resource, "Addressing Suspension and Expulsion in Early Childhood Education Settings: An IECMH-Informed Approach," to aid in advocacy efforts on the critical issue of suspension and expulsion in early childhood education.
To enhance the practical application of this tool, Allison Lowe-Fotos, Aditi Subramaniam, Angela Webster, and Anat Weisenfreund have created an engaging 1.5-hour webinar based on its content.
This free webinar takes a strengths-based, systems approach to framing the issue of suspension and expulsion. It explores its relevance for infant and early childhood mental health providers and organizations, while emphasizing the importance of a proactive stance. Featuring real-world examples from two states that have successfully implemented strategies to reduce suspension and expulsion, the webinar also demonstrates how this tool can be used to support similar efforts in other states and organizations.
Coffee With Daniela
Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Daniela Velez-Clucas, Shriver Center Healthcare Justice/Immigration Attorney is hosting bi-weekly virtual gatherings where enrollment assisters and community members can bring their questions regarding immigrant eligibility for health coverage, enrollment in Medicaid/Medicaid-like programs like HBIA/HBIS and other questions at the intersection of immigration law and health care coverage.
Daniela Velez-Clucas, abogada de justicia de salud/inmigracion del Centro
Shriver, esta organizando reuniones virtuales quincenales donde las asistentes de
inscripcion y las miembros de la comunidad pueden hacer sus preguntas sobre elegibilidad de las inmigrantes para la cobertura de salud, inscripcion en Medicaid y programas similares a Medicaid, como HBIA/HBIS y otras preguntas en la interseccion de la ley de inmigracion y la cobertura de atencion medica.
Questions/Preguntas: danielavelezclucas@povertylaw.org
Timeline: Every other Friday morning from 10-11 a.m. CT
Illinois Nontraditional-Hour Child Care Study (INCCS)
Erikson Institute
Over one in three young children in the U.S. are in child care during nontraditional hours (NTH; including early mornings, evenings, nights, and weekends). This project addresses critical gaps in knowledge about what quality looks like in child care; the experiences of families who search for and use NTH child care; the lived experiences of providers who offer care during these hours; and the types of supports needed to maintain, sustain, and grow the supply of NTH care. The knowledge gathered will provide IDHS and other states with new knowledge to inform policy development aimed at building supply and increasing equitable access, enhancing quality, and sustaining a thriving NTH child care workforce.
We invite you to read the report, and continue to check this space for updates! This study will continue into 2026.
Disclaimer: The foregoing is publicly available information about upcoming events, resources, and reminders from third-party organizations. In some cases, Raising Illinois & Start Early have included links to other websites that are not owned or controlled in any way by Raising Illinois or Start Early, but that contain additional information about the events, resources or reminders. By clicking on any of the links above, you agree to be directed to the external website and you acknowledge and agree that Raising Illinois & Start Early shall not be held responsible or accountable for any information contained on such site. Please note that Raising Illinois & Start Early do not monitor any of the websites linked herein and do not endorse or approve any information posted on any such sites.