News and Press
- Illinois Action for Children Awarded Federal Head Start Grant – Year-Round Early Childhood Programs Serving South Suburbs
- Congress Agrees on FY16 Spending Bill
- Call Your Senator to Support Child Nutrition Reauthorization!
- Child-care providers, parents continue to feel the pinch from state restrictions
- IAFC Statement on Governor Rauner’s State of the State Address
- Reactions to Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address
- Applications for Housing in Ford Heights Open
- Welcome to the New Website!
- Statement on Governor Rauner’s FY2017 Budget Proposal
- New Research on CCAP Work Schedules
- Mark Brown: No Increase in Sight to Fund Child Care, Early Education
- Fewer Children’s Products Recalled, But Too Many Still in Use
- Call to support Child Nutrition Reauthorization! Llame para apoyar la Reautorización de Nutrición Infantil!
- Crib Bumper Pad Exchange! Intercambio de protectores de cuna!
- Submit a Witness Slip in Opposition to SB 2321 SA #2 TODAY!
- Using ‘innovation’ to get more children into early learning programs
- Call Your Legislators to Support the Fair Tax Act!
- Mothers Rally For Child Care At The Capitol
- Tell Your Elected Officials to Support Human Services Funding!
- Policy Information Update
- End of Session & Budget Update
- State Budget Impasse Update
- Statement from Early Childhood Advocates On Continued State Budget Impasse
- New Policy Brief on Families With Nonstandard Work Schedules
- Take Action to #GetItDoneIL
- Join the #GetItDoneIL Vigil!
- Sylvia Cotton Policy Center for Innovation Panel Discussion
- Statement from Illinois Action for Children on Governor Rauner’s State of the State Address – 1.25.17
- Illinois Action for Children Statement on Governor Rauner’s State Budget Address
- Statement From Illinois Action for Children on the Continued State Budget Impasse
- Early Childhood Advocates Call on the Illinois House of Representatives to Override Governor’s Veto
- 2017 Report on Child Care in Cook County
- Child Advocates Call On Governor Rauner To Live Up To His Promise And Fully Restore Child Care Assistance
- Graham-Cassidy Amendment Fails in Senate September 27, 2017
- CCAP Income Eligibility Restored
- Join Us for a Regional Public Policy Caucus!
- Illinois Action for Children and The Ounce of Prevention Fund Respond to Gov. Rauner’s Proposed 2019 Budget
- Illinois Action for Children Early Head Start and Head Start Annual Report 2018
- CPR and First Aid Assistance Funds
- November 2018
- December 2018
- Creating Innovation to Address Chronic Absenteeism
- Using Data: Tools and Resources for Collaborations
- How Can We Get More Men Involved in Our Programs?
- Partner Plan Act Conference June 12, 2018 in Bloomington-Normal
- January 2019
- February 2019
- Letter to the Editor: Pritzker’s budget prioritizes early care and education – State Journal Register
- Gov. Pritzker’s Plan Would Spend More Money on Kids – Illinois Public Radio
- March 2019
- Weekly News: March 13 – ECE and more!
- Weekly News: March 20 – ECE and more!
- Weekly News: March 27 – ECE and more!
- Weekly News: April 3 – ECE and more!
- Illinois Action for Children: 50 Years of Impact
- April 2019
- The ABCs of Building Preschools
- Weekly News: April 10 – ECE and more!
- Weekly News: April 17 – ECE and more!
- Weekly News: April 24 – ECE and more!
- Back Payment Notification
- Weekly News: May 1 – ECE and more!
- May 2019
- IDHS Alert: April CCAP Certificates Delayed
- Weekly News: May 8 – ECE and more!
- Weekly News: May 15 – ECE and more!
- Weekly News: May 22 – ECE and more!
- Weekly News: May 29 – ECE and more!
- Illinois Legislative Session Recap: State Budget Passed, Fair Tax News, and more
- Weekly News: June 5 – ECE and more!
- June 2019
- IAFC Ford Heights Early Learning Earns National Accreditation
- Report on New Illinois Law Addressing Early Childhood Expulsions
- Weekly News: June 12 – ECE and more!
- “What About the Children?” Illinois Action for Children’s 50-year Anniversary of Transforming the Lives of Children and Families
- Weekly News: June 19 – ECE and More!
- More Needs to be Done to Get Illinois’ Kids Kindergarten-Ready: Report
- Weekly News: June 26 – ECE and More!
- Supreme Court Blocks Harmful Question from 2020 Census
- Corte Suprema Bloquea Pregunta Que Dañará Niños, Familias del Censo 2020
- Census Stirs Fears Regardless of Court Ruling: BGA/Crain’s Chicago Business
- Weekly News: July 3 – ECE and More!
- July 2019
- Weekly News: July 10 – ECE and More!
- Child Care Assistance Program Policy Updates – Good News!
- Weekly News: July 17 – ECE and More!
- Fair Workweek Ordinance Passed by Chicago City Council
- Weekly News: July 24 – ECE and More!
- Letter to the Editor: Child Care Workers Need Protections [Chicago Tribune]
- Weekly News: July 31 – ECE and More!
- Weekly News: August 7 – ECE and More!
- August 2019
- Weekly News: August 14 – ECE and more!
- IAFC Statement on Trump Administration’s Public Charge Rule
- Weekly News: August 21 – ECE and More!
- FREE EVENT
- September 2019
- Weekly News: September 18 – ECE and more!
- October 2019
- November
- December 2019
- January 2020
- February 2020
- Weekly News: March 11 – ECE and more!
- March 2020
- April 2020
- May 2020
- July
- June 2020
- Maria Whelan, Our Beloved President and CEO, Passed Away Suddenly on June 10
- Remembering the Life and Legacy of Maria Whelan, Illinois Action for Children’s Beloved Leader
- Lisa Bock
- Martha Figueroa
- Basirat Shokunbi
- Dennis Puhr
- John Bouman
- Sandy Resendiz
- Elliot Regenstein
- Latonya Peterson
- Shanta Brownfield
- Theresa Casillas
- Lucia
- Ximena Ayala
- Matilde
- María Lourdes Gutiérrez
- Rosita
- Kanella Maniatis
- Kathy Glazer
- July 2020
- July 2020
- Edward
- August 2020
- Advocates Support Governor Pritzker’s Enhanced COVID-19 Child Care Health and Safety Measures
- September 2020
- Weekly News: September 23, 2020 – ECE
- October 2020
- IAFC Statement on 2020 Election
- November 2020
- Community Parenting Saturation Project: Recipients Announced in Rockford, Aurora, and North Lawndale
- IAFC Statement on New COVID-19 Mitigations in Illinois
- Memo: Racial Equity in Child Care: Supporting Families Who Use Family, Friend and Neighbor Care
- All Children, All Families
- How COVID-19 is Forcing the U.S. to Face its Child Care Crisis (WBEZ Chicago Public Radio)
- December
- January
- Illinois Action for Children Names April Janney New President & CEO
- April Janney is the New President & CEO of Illinois Action for Children
- Addressing Child Care in Effingham County: Initiative takes aim at gap in availability
- Celebrating Black History Month: Pioneers in Early Childhood Education
- IAFC Statement on the Governor’s Proposed State Budget
- IAFC Statement on the Governor’s Proposed State Budget
- February 2021
- March 2021
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 3.10.21
- March Newsletter
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 3.17.21
- A Statement from April Janney, President & CEO of Illinois Action for Children, on the Recent Violence Against the Asian-American Community
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 3.24.21
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 3.31.21
- BREAKING: Early Childhood Coalition Reacts to Bipartisan Funding Commission Report
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 4.7.21
- Media Coverage of Community College ECE Baccalaureate (CCB) Bill Press Conference
- April 2021 Partner Plan Act eNewsletter
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 4.14.21
- A Statement from April Janney, President & CEO of Illinois Action for Children, on the Killing of Adam Toledo
- Gov. Pritzker Announces $1.6 Billion in Federal ECE Funding for Illinois, Creation of IDHS Division of Early Childhood, More
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 4.21.21
- IAFC in the News – Chicago Is Stepping up Its Preschool Advertising. Will Families Return?
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 4.28.21
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 5.5.21
- ECE Providers, Advocates, and Community College Allies Urge Action on Bill to Grant Racial Equity In Access to Baccalaureate Degrees
- May 2021
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 5.12.21
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 5.12.21
- From Birth to Career, Fund the Entire Education Continuum
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 5.19.21
- IAFC in the News: Child Care, Early Development Industries Hit by Pandemic (WTTW Chicago Tonight)
- Weekly News: May 19, 2021
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 5.26.21
- IAFC in the News:COVID-19’s Impact on Home-Based Child Care Providers
- April In Action Blog Series: Mental Health Month
- June 2021 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletters
- Early Care and Education in IL Facing Mix of State Cuts and Boosts with Federal Relief
- Early Care and Education in IL Facing Mix of State Cuts and Boosts with Federal Relief
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 6.2.21
- Advocates Celebrate Bill Expanding Access to Courses for Early Childhood Educators, Call for More to be Done
- Advocates Celebrate Bill Expanding Access to Courses for Early Childhood Educators, Call for More to be Done
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 6.9.21
- Announcing the Development of the Maria Whelan Leadership Institute As We Mark the 1-Year Anniversary of Maria’s Passing
- Announcing the Development of the Maria Whelan Leadership Institute As We Mark the 1-Year Anniversary of Maria’s Passing
- June Partner Plan Act E-Newsletters
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 6.16.21
- IAFC in the News – Can Illinois Rescue Its Early Childhood Workforce?
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 6.23.21
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 6.30.21
- IAFC in the News: CPS, Universal Pre-K, and Child Care
- IAFC in the News – Gov. Pritzker announces expansion of financial assistance for families seeking child care and providers
- Weekly News: July 7, 2021
- IAFC in the News – Pritzker Makes Pandemic Child Care Policy Permanent
- Weekly News: ECE and More – 7.14.21
- Weekly News: July 21, 2021
- Weekly News: July 28, 2021
- IAFC Applauds Signing of Bill Addressing ECE Workforce Needs
- NEW RESEARCH OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
- Weekly News: August 4, 2021
- Weekly News: August 11, 2021
- Weekly News: August 12, 2021
- August Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Weekly News: August 18, 2021
- Weekly News: August 25, 2021
- Weekly News: September 1, 2021
- Weekly News: September 1, 2021
- September Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Weekly News: September 8, 2021
- Weekly News: September 16, 2021
- Weekly News: September 22, 2021
- Weekly News: October 6, 2021
- October Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Weekly News: November 10, 2021
- November Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Weekly News: December 8, 2021
- December Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- January 2022 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Weekly News: January 5, 2022
- Weekly News: January 12, 2022
- Weekly News: January 19, 2022
- Weekly News: January 26, 2022
- Weekly News: February 2, 2022
- IAFC Statement on the Governor’s Proposed 2023 State Budget
- Weekly News: February 9, 2022
- February 2022 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Weekly News: February 16, 2022
- Celebrating Black History Month: Pioneers in Early Childhood Education
- Weekly News: February 23, 2022
- Weekly News: March 2, 2022
- March 2022 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Weekly News: March 9, 2022
- Weekly News: March 16, 2022
- Weekly News: March 23, 2022
- Weekly News: March 30, 2022
- Weekly News: April 6, 2022
- IAFC Responds to Illinois General Assembly FY23 Budget
- May 2022 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- May 2022 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- May 2022 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- June 2022 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- August Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- September Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- September Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- September 2022 Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- April Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- October Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- November Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- December Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- December Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- January Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Illinois Action for Children is Building Strong Families and Powerful Communities
- IAFC Responds to Gov. JB Pritzker’s 2023 Inauguration Remarks
- Governor Pritzker recommits to strengthening early child care programs across the State
- Governor Pritzker recommits to strengthening early child care programs across the State
- February Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- As Pritzker makes $250M pitch for child care investment, data show the obstacles to access across Illinois
- WBBM-FM Stations Air CCAP Interview with Chris Tokarski
- The State of Early Childhood Education in Illinois
- March Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- WLIT-FM iheart Radio on CCAP Services
- iheart Radio on CCAP Services
- Child Care Assistance Program
- Hidden Hazards: 2022 Children’s Products Calls
- Vice President of Family and Provider Resources, Chris Tokarski Interviews on WGN-TV
- Pritzker, Stratton join advocates for early childhood lobby day
- April Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Illinois’ government has spent billions in federal pandemic aid. What do some programs do when the money runs out?
- May Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- Illinois Cares for Kids: Child Care Assistance Program
- 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES SMART START ILLINOIS IN FY 2024 BUDGET
- June Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- August Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- September Partner Plan Act E-Newsletter
- WTTW Chicago Tonight: Black Voices featured our Senior Vice President of Programs
- Chalkbeat Chicago interviewed IAFC’s Assistant Director of Research
- “Take Another Look” featuring Illinois Action for Children’s Bryan Stokes speaking about our early learning programs
- CCAP on Chicago Connection
- Illinois Action for Children Names April Janney New President & CEO
- eAdvocate Newsletter March 2024
- Illinois Action for Children Responds to the Passage of SB1: Creation of the New Department of Early Childhood
- Scholarships For Early Childhood Educators Deserve More State Funding
- Illinois Action for Children Responds to Pritzker’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
- Chicago Sun-Times: Congress Must Vote to Protect Food Assistance Benefits for Women, Infants and Children
- Illinois Action for Children Responds to Fiscal Year 2025 State Budget and Legislative Recap
- Support for Building Positive Mental Health in Early Childhood
- Family-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth
- Governor JB Pritzker Signs SB1 (The Department of Early Childhood Act) Into Law
- eAdvocate Newsletter June 2024
- Announcing Our Featured Guests for A Time to Shine: Pulitzer-Prize-Winning Author Andrea Elliott and Dasani Coates
- Celebrities, Lawmakers, and Local Leaders Share Their Support at A Time to Shine
- Congratulate Our 2024 Recognition Recipients at A Time to Shine
- Voting Guide for Busy People
- A Time to Shine 2024 Featured Guest Conversation
- A Time to Shine 2024 Recognition Honorees
- Championing Children and Changing Lives, Now and Into the Future
- How One Provider Found Her Voice as an Early Childhood Advocate
- How IAFC Supports Families Through North Lawndale Community Connections
- Guide to Knowing Your Rights and Promoting Your Safety
- Celebrate Black History with 5 Trailblazers in Early Childhood Education
- Illinois Action for Children Responds To Pritzker’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
- Meet the Black Women Who Lead Illinois Action for Children: Arlene Mitchell-Pace
- Meet the Black Women Who Lead Illinois Action for Children: April Janney
- Meet the Black Women Who Lead Illinois Action for Children: Jackie Zanders
- ABC7 Chicago: New Chicago Program Seeks to Teach Parents How to Parent
- WGN: Parent University Chicago-West: Empowering North Lawndale Parents Through Education and Community Resources
- WTTW: Trump Says He Wants the Department of Education Closed ‘Immediately.’ What That Could Mean for Illinois
- Highlights of Early Childhood Advocacy Day 2025
- Citizen Newspaper: Parent University Chicago West Provides Workshops For Parents, With Free Childcare
- WCIA: IL Early Childhood Education Advocates Rally For More Funding
- Meet the Black Women Who Lead Illinois Action for Children: Carisa Hurley Davis
- Meet the Black Women Who Lead Illinois Action for Children: Sandy Matthews
- Illinois Action for Children’s Response to Recent Federal Actions and their Impact on Children and Families
- Illinois Action for Children Responds to Fiscal Year 2026 State Budget and Spring Legislative Recap
- Join Us in Lighting the Way Forward! Get Your Tickets Now for A Time to Shine Featuring Returning Emcee Tanja Babich, ABC 7 Chicago News
- Join Us September 20 for a Free Professional Development Event Especially for Child Care Providers
- Illinois Action for Children’s Statement on Immigration Enforcement Action at a Chicago Child Care Center
- IAFC’s Response to Recent Immigration Enforcement Actions and Status of the Government Shutdown
- Illinois Action for Children’s Joint Statement with Advocacy Partners on the Signing of HB1312
- IAFC Statement on the Federal Government’s Child Care Funding Freeze
