THE FOLLOWING IS A BIRTH TO FIVE ILLINOIS RELEASE
Funding to Support Early Childhood Collaborations Across the State
Birth to Five Illinois is excited to announce a $600,000 funding opportunity to support existing Local Early Childhood Collaborations and for the establishment of new Early Childhood Collaborations. Through these grants, Birth to Five Illinois hopes to encourage a systems-level approach to improving Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and increasing enrollment in ECEC programs and services, especially in areas of the State where a Collaboration is not currently available.The anticipated grant amounts of $50,000 to $80,000 will allow recipients to focus on the needs identified at the local level within their own communities. Grantees must use these funds toward strategies to increase enrollment, one of the top needs identified throughout the State in the recently published Birth to Five Illinois Early Childhood Regional Needs Assessments.“We recognize that the success of Early Childhood programs and services looks different in every community,” said Angela Hubbard, Grants and Relationship Manager for Birth to Five Illinois. “It is important to expand funding access to providers, to support them in delivering equitable, quality access to local families.”Grant applications must be submitted by October 27, 2023. The grant cycle is November 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. For information regarding eligibility, requirements, allowable expenses, and a link to the application, visit: www.birthtofiveil.com/grant-recipients.“Birth to Five Illinois strives to support the community in their efforts to expand and develop high-quality early learning experiences; we are encouraged to see under-resourced areas receive much-needed funding to reduce and eliminate access gaps,” said Cicely Fleming, Director for Birth to Five Illinois.For proposal ideas, applicants can find further information regarding the ECEC needs and community-developed recommendations in their Region at: www.birthtofiveil.com/reports.
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About Birth to Five IllinoisBirth to Five Illinois’ mission is to create a statewide regional infrastructure that will amplify input from communities in the development of policies and funding priorities. We support the mobilization of communities to build and sustain equitable access to inclusive, high-quality early childhood services for all children and families in the state of Illinois.
