Birth to Five Illinois Awards Additional $3.1 Million in Grants (Bloomington, IL) — Birth to Five Illinois has awarded an additional $3.1 million in grant funding to support the work of Local Early Childhood Collaborations. These grants will allow recipients in 20 counties across the State to address the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) needs identified within their own communities, focusing on increasing enrollment into ECEC programs.

In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), Birth to Five Illinois is issuing $2,313,990 in Implementation Grants (two new grantees, 23 grant renewals) to existing Collaborations and $836,010 in Planning Grants (six new grantees, eight renewals) for the establishment of new Early Childhood Collaborations in areas of the State that do not currently have this type of ground-level coordination.

This funding follows the $3.2 million that Birth to Five Illinois issued in FY23, which supported 24 existing Collaborations and efforts to create nine new Collaborations. Among other things, grantees leverage these funds to hire dedicated staff, create ECEC workforce opportunities, enhance translation to engage more families, and develop engaging ways to increase families’ awareness of existing resources and supports.

“We have been working diligently to connect with communities and organizations across the State,” said Angela Hubbard, Grants and Relationship Manager for Birth to Five Illinois. “We are proud to expand our commitment to equity and access and broaden the impact of our ongoing investment in ECEC by awarding funds to eight new grantees.”

The grants are funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Early Childhood Governance and Finance Project. More information about Birth to Five Illinois Grants may be found at www.birthtofiveil.com/grants.

Bold below denotes an FY24 new grantee. All other grantees received renewal funding in Year Two.

Birth to Five Illinois FY24 Planning Grant Recipients

Arcola Community and Economic Development (ACED)* – $41,541
Carbondale Early Childhood Impact Table – $52,700
Clay and Effingham County Childcare Collaborative* – $84,150
Crawford County Kids Association* – $75,000
Greene County Health Department – $52,000
Menard County Family Collaborative – $62,000
Monroe Randolph Birth to Five Collaboration – $71,000
North Chicago Early Childhood Collaboration* – $75,000
Northwest Illinois Early Childhood Consortium* – $44,309
Regional Office of Education #13 Early Childhood Collaboration – $52,700
Regional Office of Education #26 IRIS Community Collaboration – $52,700
Regional Office of Education #35 Early Childhood Collaboration – $70,000
Southernmost Illinois Early Learning Special Education Collaborative – $50,210
Villa Park Area Early Childhood Collaborative – $52,700

* Asterisk indicates grants funded by the Early Childhood Governance and Finance Project.

Birth to Five Illinois FY24 Implementation Grant Recipients

Altgeld-Riverdale Early Learning Coalition: $47,141
Boone County Maternal and Child Health Advisory Council: $90,228
Champaign County Home Visiting Consortium (CCHVC): $108,758
Chicago Head Start Collaborative: $113,764
Collaboration for Early Childhood: $113,764
Connect Home Visiting Chicago: $113,764
DeKalb County Collaborative for Young Children (DCCYC): $87,797
Early Childhood Coalition of the Illinois Quad City Area: $94,478
Early Childhood Forum of Central Illinois: $99,493
Elgin Partnership for Early Learning: $113,764
Evanston Early Childhood Council: $90,228
Glenbard Early Childhood Collaborative: $113,764
Greater East St. Louis Early Learning Partnership: $90,228
Madison County Alliance for Children & Families: $90,653
Margaret F. Lee Violence Prevention/Intervention Collaboration: $54,910
Niles Township Early Childhood Alliance: $105,409
North Lawndale Early Learning Collaboration: $109,514
Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS): $78,000
Ready to Learn: $58,055
Sauk Valley STARS Early Childhood Education Coalition: $91,137
Southern Illinois Coalition for Children and Families: $94,478
SPARK Early Childhood Collaboration: $59,900
Success By 6 – Kankakee & Iroquois Counties (with the Kankakee Area YMCA): $114,307
The Village Early Childhood Collaboration: $90,228
Willowbrook Early Childhood Coalition: $90,228

Birth to Five Illinois Awards Additional $3.1 Million in Grants

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