strengthen and empower communities to better support children and families
Coalition Goal: increase community leaders knowledge and understanding of the importance of early childhood education and care, leading to a culture shift that prioritizes children and families in a systemicway empowering them to better support children and families
In the first five years of your child’s life, their brain grows fast than at any other time. More than one million neural connections per second will be made in a child’s brain up to the age of six, creating the foundation for all future behavior, health, and learning.
Ongoing research continues to highlight the importance of early childhood and the fact that the first five years of a child's life will have the biggest impact on their overall development and future success. It’s a time when they are open to learning about themselves and others, and are keen to explore and understand the world.
In the past, these first five years were viewed as a parent's responsibility. Many mother's stayed home to take care of their young children and prepare them for school while fathers went off to work. The world has changed and this is no longer the case. Unfortunately, as a society, attitudes and funding has been slow to keep up with the change. As a result, the needs of young children and their families are often a low priority when it comes to policymaking and community planning.
Coalition members want to change that, one community at a time and by implementing a variety of strategies .
These include:
For more information about the Coalition's work to strengthen and empower communities email us at southernillinoiscoaliton@gmail.com.
Despite the overwhelming research and evidence regarding the importance of the earliest years in a child's life, community
Ongoing research continues to highlight the importance of early childhood and the fact that the first five years of a child's life will have the biggest impact on their overall development and future success. It’s a time when they are open to learning about themselves and others, and are keen to explore and understand the world.
In the past, these first five years were viewed as a parent's responsibility. Many mother's stayed home to take care of their young children and prepare them for school while fathers went off to work. The world has changed and this is no longer the case. Unfortunately, as a society, attitudes and funding has been slow to keep up with the change. As a result, the needs of young children and their families are often a low priority when it comes to policymaking and community planning.
Coalition members want to change that, one community at a time and by implementing a variety of strategies .
These include:
- assisting communities in addressing specific issues
- providing consultation services and supports to communities interested in initiating system strategies that support children and families such as Children's Cabinest
- facilitating the sharing of information, funding opportunities, and other information that could be used y community leaders to strengthen their efforts in supporting children and families
- connecting stakeholders in communities to identify common goals and work together to meet those goals
- building the region's capacity for advocacy so that adequate resources aree available to address children's and familes; needs in their communities.
For more information about the Coalition's work to strengthen and empower communities email us at southernillinoiscoaliton@gmail.com.
Despite the overwhelming research and evidence regarding the importance of the earliest years in a child's life, community