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. 

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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.

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News & Resources

Take Action for Early Intervention

18 March 2024
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Take Action For Early Intervention Our Babies Can’t Wait! Lee En Español Illinois’ Early Intervention (EI) program provides critical services to children under age 3 who have or are at risk for significant developmental delays and…

Introducing: 2024 Family Leaders

23 February 2024
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February 23, 2024 Introducing: 2024 Family Leaders Welcome to our 6 new Family Leaders! After a year marked by remarkable prenatal-to-three achievements and the launch of Governor Pritzker’s Smart Start Illinois initiative, we are thrilled to…

Raising Illinois’ Response to Governor JB Pritzker’s Proposed FY 2025 Budget

22 February 2024
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Our state’s prenatal-to-three coalition celebrates this ongoing commitment to Illinois’ littlest learners and their families, but calls for greater investments for critical services.

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Discover who’s moving this work forward. Learn more.