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Dear Supporter,


The Illinois General Assembly is back in session today for the first time in two months, and important Fiscal Year 2021 budget developments have already started to unfold. Now more than ever, we must remind lawmakers why early childhood funding must be one of the state’s top priorities.


The Department of Human Services houses several early care and education programs – Early Intervention, evidence-based home visiting and child care. Over the coming weeks and months, we will see early childhood programs continue to evolve, in ways both big and small, to best adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. A key to the system’s success is stable and adequate funding. Please urge the Illinois legislature to prioritize these critical services in the FY 2021 budget to ensure the health and sustainability of the early childhood system.

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Contact your lawmaker now


- Early Intervention, a program that provides therapies and supports for infants and toddlers with or at-risk for developmental delays, is critical to the health and well-being of young children, and families are entitled to receive services under federal and state law. The program continues to improve while serving more and more families every year. Funding for these services is vital, now more than ever, particularly with the recent expansion of teletherapy during the pandemic.
- Evidenced-based home visiting programs offer parenting supports and access to resources to optimize their child’s development. Home visiting programs have also been shown to reduce child abuse and neglect, which can increase during times of crisis. This system is also now offering virtual visits, allowing many home visitors to maintain regular communication with families. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has highlighted the value of home visiting programs with his plan to expand access to evidence-based home visiting slots by 12,500 over the next five years.
- The Child Care Assistance Program provides a safe place for children to grown and learn while their families work or go to school. Child care has rapidly changed during this health crisis, with the temporary shutdown of the traditional child care system and the creation of the state’s emergency child care program for children of essential workers. As families and communities experience growing economic uncertainty in the face of the ongoing public health crisis, we know support for the Child Care Assistance Program is necessary.

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Send a letter to Illinois lawmakers

As the Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield to develop and pass a FY 2021 budget, early childhood funding must be one of the state’s top priorities.
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