SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) — Birth to Five Illinois is continuing its investment in early childhood education by awarding an additional $2.5 million in funding for fiscal year 2026. This brings the total funding directed toward local Early Childhood Collaborations to $11.87 million since FY2023. The organization, funded by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), has now supported 35 of the state’s 39 regions, furthering its goal to improve early childhood systems and better serve young children and their families.
These funds will assist local collaborations, like iGrow of Vermilion County, in improving access to services, increasing developmental screenings, and strengthening community outreach.
“I am honored to announce our fourth year of directing funding to Early Childhood Collaborations across the State,” said Angela Hubbard-Fragozo, Grants and Relationship Manager for Birth to Five Illinois. “These funds support critical relationship-building efforts, updates to resource banks, outreach to families, and so much more. Birth to Five Illinois is proud to be part of a state that values and invests in efforts that center the experiences of families and communities.”
The following regional organizations will benefit from the FY2026 funding:
- Addison Partners for Play, Learning, and Education (APPLE): $48,000
- Altgeld-Riverdale Early Learning Initiative (ARELI): $40,000
- Boone County Maternal Child Health Advisory Council (MCH): $75,000
- Carbondale Early Childhood Impact Table: $45,000
- Champaign County Home Visiting Consortium: $72,000
- Clay County 0-5 Advisory Board: $36,000
- Collaboration for Early Childhood: $75,000
- Connect Home Visiting Chicago: $75,000
- Crawford County Kids Association: $64,000
- DeKalb County Collaborative for Young Children (DCCYC): $75,000
- Early Childhood Alliance of Niles Township: $75,000
- Early Childhood Coalition of the Illinois Quad City Area: $60,000
- Early Childhood Forum of Central Illinois: $75,000
- Effingham County Early Childhood Coalition: $36,000
- Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning (EPEL): $75,000
- Evanston Early Childhood Council: $72,000
- Glenbard Early Childhood Collaboration: $75,000
- Greater East St. Louis Early Learning Partnership: $75,000
- Greene County Collaboration: $30,000
- iGrow of Vermilion County: $50,000
- Little Village Education Collaborative (LVEC): $60,000
- Madison County Alliance of Children & Families: $60,000
- Margaret F. Lee Violence Prevention & Intervention: $30,000
- Menard County Family Collaborative: $53,000
- Monroe Randolph Partnership for Children and Families: $55,000
- North Chicago Early Childhood Collaboration: $51,000
- North Lawndale Early Learning Collaboration: $75,000
- Northwest Illinois Early Childhood Consortium: $38,000
- Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS): $66,000
- Ready to Learn: $49,000
- Ready. Set. Grow: $75,000
- Regional Office of Education #13 Early Childhood Education: $45,000
- ROE26 IRIS Community Collaboration: $45,000
- Sauk Valley STARS: $75,000
- Southern Illinois Coalition for Children and Families: $75,000
- Southernmost Illinois Early Learning Special Education Collaborative: $43,000
- SPARK (Strong, Prepared and Ready for Kindergarten) Early Childhood Collaboration: $51,000
- Success By 6: $38,000
- The Village Early Childhood Collaboration: $75,000
- Villa Park Area Early Childhood Collaborative: $44,000
- WeGo Together for Kids: $63,000
- Wheaton Warrenville Early Learning Collaborative: $32,000
- Willowbrook Community Early Childhood Collaborative (WCECC): $74,000
To learn more about these initiatives or to access further resources, visit www.birthtofiveil.com/funding.
