September 19, 2025
Our FY2025 Progress Report and FY2026 Priorities
Reflecting on last year's wins and setting this year's goals
As we reflect on Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025), we celebrate a year of progress and growth for Illinois' youngest children and their families. Even in the face of uncertainty, Raising Illinois’ dedicated champions and partners can take pride in our state’s collective achievements that continue to make a meaningful impact during the most formative years of a child's life—the first three.
Each year, our coalition sets the policy priorities which spearhead our collective work. Our FY25 wins were achieved through collaborative state budget advocacy, legislative advocacy, administrative and implementation advocacy, and public awareness and engagement. We're excited to share with you how our coalition moved the needle in FY 2025, and as we look to the year ahead, we are emboldened to secure and build on the advancements we’ve made for Illinois’ youngest children, families and those who care for them.
Highlights from our FY2025 Progress Report include:
- Implementation of Medicaid coverage for doula services and lactation support services, as directed under the Improving Health Care for Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals Act
- Additional FY 2025 award increases for Prevention Initiative programs to raise compensation for home visitors and supervisors
- Appropriation of $748.1 million in FY 2026 (level with FY 2025) for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to administer the Early Childhood Block Grant, including Prevention Initiative-Center Based
- Collection of more than 3,500 signatures combined across two petitions, including one authored by Raising Illinois Family Leaders, calling for increased EI funding
- Completion of a state strategic plan for promoting policy changes to Medicaid and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) that would increase WIC participation, as part of a national cohort of states supported by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Appropriation of $5 million in FY 2026 (level with FY 2025) for the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE)
Highlights from our FY2026 Priorities include:
- Advance the statewide recommendations for expanding Universal Newborn Support Services (UNSS), developed through the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems project
- Ensure the effective transition of home visiting program administration to the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood, with a focus on funding alignment, data integration and support for immigrant families and other priority populations
- Continue exploring opportunities to make Smart Start Workforce Grants more accessible to programs serving infants and toddlers, including uplifting the recommendations collected through Raising Illinois’ provider focus group
- Significantly increase state investment in Early Intervention, in line with the findings of the statewide cost model report, to substantially raise rates for providers and more effectively serve families
- Establish a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program, with substantial protections for low-wage workers and sufficient time off for new parents and infants to bond
- Continue informing the transition and redesign process for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood, with particular focus on PN3 workforce needs, cross-training, mental health consultation and data integration
We encourage you to join us in advancing new and refreshed priorities, amplifying efforts and sharing information about our collective work. Get involved today to join the Raising Illinois coalition and be a part of our robust and diverse advocacy efforts!