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Illinois Early Childhood Advocacy Week 2021
Advocates Come Together to Send Amplified Message: Early Education is Essential Illinois Early Childhood Advocacy Week (April 12-16) marked approximately one year into a pandemic that has deeply affected children, families and early care and learning providers. Throughout the week, Start Early, Illinois Action for Children and the Latino Policy Forum provided opportunities for providers, parents and caregivers to share with their legislators that early education is essential—more now than ever as we rebuild and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.


Advocates also used the week to thank the early childhood field’s front line workers – child care providers, home visitors, doulas and others – who have continued to support and provide for our youngest learners. Thanks to your participation throughout the week, we were able to amplify our Early Childhood Advocacy Week message to reach over 30,000 potential advocates through letters, social media and discussion.


Unable to join us last week? It’s never too late to easily
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write your legislators to share how essential early learning and care is.

Thank you again for joining us for a week of virtual advocacy and also for everything you do throughout the year for children and families!





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Did You Know?
ICYMI: Learn More From the Start Early Illinois Policy TeamThroughout this year’s Advocacy Week, Start Early policy experts shared blog posts providing a deep-dive into critical components of the state’s early childhood programs and workforce. The blog series also aimed to empower advocates with key facts and messaging that are foundational to advocating for early learning and care. We encourage you to check out these posts!
- Investing in the Early Years is Essential- Jonathan Doster, director of Illinois legislative affairs, outlines why the state legislature must invest in the health and sustainability of our early care and education system, now more than ever before.
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Read more.
- Innovative Approaches to Coordinated Intake Work - Bryce Marable, family recruitment specialist, highlights innovative approaches to coordinated intake work.
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Read more.
- Early Care and Learning Professionals are Essential - Carie Bires, Illinois Policy Team director, reflects on the contributions of early childhood professionals during the pandemic and the critical need to improve compensation for these essential workers.
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Read more.
- Tackling the Maternal Health Crisis through Expansion of Perinatal Supports - Kyrsten Emanual, Illinois policy manager, and Kirbi Range, maternal and child health manager at EverThrive Illinois, share current, ongoing advocacy efforts to address the maternal health crisis and advance health equity in the state.
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- Economic Security is Essential- Asia Canady, policy specialist, and Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons, outline actions advocates can urge policymakers to take to address the needs of young children and families.
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Read more.





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Join Us! Start Early Annual LuncheonHear from Clinton Boyd Jr. on Systematic Change That Supports Fathers In Dr. Clinton Boyd Jr.’s work, and as a father himself, he continues to see that African American fathers have a unique opportunity to influence the trajectory of early childhood development in their communities. Yet, he also sees that all too often, policies and programs overlook the unique needs of young parents in the Black community. Hear how Clinton believes we can make systematic change that supports fathers and promotes positive parenting practices during
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Start Early’s virtual Annual Luncheon.

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Start Early and the Early Learning Lab Announce Merger

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We’re excited to announce the merger of Start Early and the Early Learning Lab (ELL), a nonprofit with expertise in human-centered design, systems thinking and technology solutions. By integrating the ELL’s human-centered design capacities with Start Early’s deep expertise across program, policy and research, we can drive stronger, more equitable solutions, programs and policies that are better informed by parent and community voices to improve early childhood systems across the country.
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Learn more.



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Start Early advances quality early learning for families with children, before birth through their earliest years, to close the opportunity gap.

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33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60603 - 312.922.3863


(c)2021 Start Early


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