Raising Our Voices: We Need Early Intervention
Join us for a virtual fall event on October 16, 2024 from 12-1 CT!
This October, Raising Illinois & Start Early are launching a year-long Early Intervention (EI) campaign, Babies Can’t Wait: We Need Early Intervention, focused on helping the public and policymakers understand the severity of the current crisis in EI and the urgent need for action by the governor and General Assembly to increase EI funding in the Illinois FY26 state budget.
The campaign will kick-off with our fall coalition-wide event, Raising Our Voices: We Need Early Intervention.
During this event you will:
- Hear from policy experts, providers and families to get a holistic sense of what a successful EI system looks like, and how a more equitable and adequately funded EI system would impact our state.
- Preview the first stage of the campaign, in which local rallies will be taking place all across Illinois the week of October 28.
- Learn what you can do to advocate for increased EI funding in the state's FY26 budget.
Community Conversation Toolkit
Resources created for your community to come together and discuss solutions to challenges families with infants and toddlers are facing today.
Raising Illinois invites you to bring together diverse individuals within your community and discuss the needs of infants, toddlers and expecting families in your area as well as steps that can and should be taken to strengthen your community's early childhood system.
Community Conversations can take many shapes and forms depending on who you invite and the size of your community. It is the conversation that is critical – not the format, size or location. To help get your planning started, Raising Illinois has created a handful of helpful resources.