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Sylvia Cotton Center for Research & Policy Innovation
Founded in 2015 by Illinois Action for Children (IAFC), the Sylvia Cotton Center for Research & Policy Innovation leads the way in developing groundbreaking research on the most pressing issues facing families and the early childhood field.
Built on Advocacy
The Center serves as our in-house research, policy, and innovation hub, established in honor of IAFC’s trailblazing founder, civil rights advocate Sylvia Cotton, through the generosity of her sons, Steve and Rick Cotton.
With rigorous data collection, policy analysis, and strategic insights, the Sylvia Cotton Center drives systemic change by informing our advocacy work and helping to advance policies that are responsive, sustainable, and just.
“With a combination of moral outrage and hard work, Sylvia was able to create systems to support children and working families in Illinois. Her legacy reminds us of the challenges that lie ahead as we fight to give every child a strong start in life.”
—Maria Whelan, former President of Illinois Action for Children
Shaping Policy Change
At the heart of the Sylvia Cotton Center’s work is a commitment to turning insight into action—grounding advocacy in evidence, lived experience, and forward‑thinking solutions.
The Center’s approach brings together research, policy analysis, and innovation to better understand the child care and early learning landscape and to identify opportunities for meaningful systems change.
A Lasting Legacy
A heartfelt thank you to the Cotton family and to all of our partners, whose support enables us to champion children and confront critical challenges facing the early childhood field.
Together, we’re raising and amplifying community and parent voices, highlighting program and system gaps, and introducing new solutions to strengthen the sector—uplifting children and all who care for them.
