Raising Illinois
Introducing Raising Illinois: a Collective Effort Driven by Collective Voices
Were you unable to join our virtual gathering of advocates? That's okay! You can still learn about Raising Illinois and our vision to solve high stake problems facing infants, toddlers & families by watching the event recording.
Come together with advocates from across Illinois to demonstrate powerful and broad support of the state's infants and toddlers and those who care for them.
Closing the opportunity gap for our youngest learners
The science is clear: the first three years of a child’s life are the most critical for healthy development. By investing early, we can lay the foundation for all Illinois children to have a strong start in school and life. But, to get it right, we must also address the root causes of historic disparities and create an equitable and cohesive early childhood development system for Illinois’ expecting families, infants and toddlers, and the communities in which they live. This is our chance to make a powerful commitment to our youngest generation.
75% of Illinois'
infants & toddlers
left without access
to child care
Only 1 in 4 Infants & Toddlers in Illinois Can Access Licensed Child Care
and only 5% have access to high-quality care. Barriers also exist in home visiting, early intervention and other critical services for children prenatal-to-age 3. Learn more about the Illinois Prenatal to Three Agenda.
Our Priorities
Creating the strongest foundation for success in school and life
Illinois infants and toddlers see the greatest disparities in funding to support them during their formative years. Our children are shortchanged exactly when the potential benefit is greatest. Our coalition of 100+ diverse stakeholders is working to ensure every Illinois family with children under age 3 has affordable and equitable access to high-quality learning experiences, health services and economic supports. This will create the strongest foundation for infants’ and toddlers’ success in school and life.
Stories from the Field
News & Resources
Introducing: 2022 Family Leaders
Introducing: 2022 Family Leaders Welcome to our 12 Family Leaders! We are thrilled and grateful to have you on board. In order for Raising Illinois to lead a movement that will fundamentally improve the lives of…
Our Fiscal Year 2021 Accomplishments
Our Fiscal Year 2021 Accomplishments Raising Illinois members have a lot to be proud of as we look back at last fiscal year. From historic investments and implementations to noteworthy legislation and system improvements, Raising Illinois’…
Family Leader Program, 2021 Application
Join Us! Raising Illinois’ Family Leader Program Applications for our 2021 Family Leader Program are available, due November 3 At the core of our work, we recognize the critical importance of incorporating family voices, particularly…