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Chicago’s Early Learning Collaboration
At Illinois Action for Children, we’re dedicated to bridging the gap between families and local early education programs through strategic community collaborations. We understand that reaching the children and families who stand to benefit most from our programs can be challenging, which is why we’re committed to working closely with community partners across Chicago.
Our Approach
Through partnerships with community collaborations in the city, we link families to Chicago Early Learning – a pioneering initiative led by the Mayor’s Office, the Chicago Department of Family Support Services (DFSS), and Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Together, we ensure that families have access to a diverse range of early childhood education options, both through CPS and community-based programs.
Community Collaborations to Address Early Childhood Issues
Illinois Action for Children spearheads a competitive process open to community collaborations in Chicago seeking to bolster their capacity in addressing early childhood issues within their neighborhoods. With funding from the Mayor’s Office and DFSS, we award implementation grants to selected collaborations, providing essential training, technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, and data exchange. Our goal is to amplify public awareness of the value of early learning, while empowering families to enroll their children in high-quality programs through Chicago Early Learning.