Financially Secure Families
Improving the Economic Health of Families Will Have a Direct and Profound Impact on Illinois’ Infants and Toddlers
Research is clear that poverty is the single greatest threat to children’s well-being. Unfortunately, poverty disproportionately impacts families with young children. Parents of infants and toddlers face countless barriers when accessing income supports, employment policies that are compatible with parenting (such as paid family and medical leave) and affordable child care programs.
Recommended Strategies
The objectives below provide tangible and achievable steps that policymakers in Illinois can take to improve the economic health, well-being and success of the state’s infants and toddlers and their families.
Income Supports for Families
Alleviate financial constraints of families by simplifying access to income support programs through policy change, investment and collaboration.
Family-friendly Work Policies
Cohesion between families with infants and toddlers and employers can improve the physical and economic health of those families and their communities.
News & Resources
Spring 2025 Legislative Wrap-Up
August 22, 2025 Spring 2025 Legislative Wrap-Up Despite an uncertain federal landscape, expecting families, infants and toddlers in our state have much to celebrate after the most recent session of the Illinois General Assembly In the…
Stand For Early Head Start
June 11, 2025 Stand For Early Head Start Share your Early Head Start story! We’re collecting real stories from families, alumni, educators, advocates, business leaders and partners to amplify the transformative power of Head Start programs…
Raising Illinois’ Response to Approved Fiscal Year 2026 State Budget
June 3, 2025 Raising Illinois’ Response to Approved Fiscal Year 2026 State Budget Our state’s prenatal-to-age-3 coalition appreciates the ongoing commitment to strengthening child care and economic supports for families-yet other maternal health and early childhood…