Advocacy & Policy

Building strong families and powerful communities in Illinois.

 

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Overview

Advocating for Children and Families in Illinois

Illinois Action for Children (IAFC) is committed to ensuring every child in Illinois receives quality early care and education. That’s why we created a strong coalition of parents, early childhood professionals, advocates, and community leaders to create meaningful change in Illinois’ early childhood system.

Our coalition prioritizes community involvement, policy expertise, independent research, and strategic partnerships to drive effective advocacy. Through grassroots organizing, events, and research initiatives, we empower individuals and communities to shape the systems that impact them.

All Children, All Families

For the next 10 years, we will work to enact changes to advance the following priorities:

  • Expand family access and choice
  • Strengthen governance and funding to make care and early education equitable for all
  • Structure the system to support early childhood teachers
  • Create a better system of support for achieving program excellence across all provider types

Explore our policy guide to learn about our policy agenda for child care and early education in Illinois.

Explore The All Children, All Families Policy Guide

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2024 Legislative Agenda

A comprehensive roadmap detailing our key issues and priorities for the year ahead.

We’re committed to making a difference, and this agenda serves as the cornerstone of our advocacy and public policy efforts. Explore our agenda to learn more about the crucial legislation we’re championing to drive positive change in our community and beyond.

View The Spring 2024 Legislative Agenda

 

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Get Involved to Transform the Lives of Children in Illinois

We elevate the voices and experiences of parents/guardians and providers.

To create an equitable and just child care and early education system, it’s critical for parent and provider voices and experiences to be heard and understood. That’s why we prioritize grassroots engagement along with policy expertise, independent research, and strategic partnerships in our advocacy. Through grassroots organizing, calls to action, events, research, and public testimony, together we shape the systems that impact them.

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Join The Movement

Discover how you can get involved in advocacy and policy efforts. Explore our work in advocacy and policy and learn how you can contribute to creating a brighter future for all children in Illinois.
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Explore Advocacy Resources

Explore information, support, and resources to help you advocate for Illinois’ children and families.
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Sign Up For Newsletters

Don’t miss opportunities to learn about the actions you can take to improve child care and early learning opportunities for all children and all families.
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Discover Events & Webinars

Our advocacy events and webinars are designed to inform, inspire, and mobilize individuals passionate about early childhood education and development. Join us to learn, collaborate, and take action.

The Maria Whelan Leadership Institute (MWLI)

Empowering Early Childhood Professionals to Ascend to New Heights 

Illinois Action for Children created the Maria Whelan Leadership Institute to honor the life and legacy of its long-time leader, Maria Whelan. The MWLI offers a nine-month fellowship program offering comprehensive professional development, leadership and advocacy training, networking opportunities, mentorship, and more to early childhood providers.

Learn More About The Maria Whelan Leadership Institute

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Join the Right to Care Campaign

The Right To Care campaign is powered by We, the Village, a coalition of parents/guardians, educators, caregivers, providers, advocates, and others who have come together to ensure that all families can access the quality early education and care of their choosing.

Learn More About The Right To Care Campaign

 

Contact Us!

Connect with our Public Policy and Advocacy Team.

For more information and questions, please contact:

advocacy@actforchildren.org
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Make Change for Illinois’ Children and Families

Take action with us to build strong families and powerful communities by transforming child care and early learning in Illinois, so all our young children can fulfill their life’s potential.

Donate Today

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