The Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development was established to facilitate cross agency collaboartion in an effort to advance a cohesive approach to early care and education. This vision for a more unified early childhood system extends to the local level as well, making community partnerships a key priority.
Community Systems Development Initiatives
AOK Networks is a collaborative effort between the IL Dept. of Human Services, the IL State Board of Education, local health departments, family members, and other local agencies to support the development of a high-quality, well-coordinated, easily-accessible system of care that promotes the positive development of children 0-5 and their families.
The Neighborhood Recovery Initiative encourage partnerships between public and private stakeholders at both the state and local level to work together to promote protective factors which reduce community violence through educational, employment, and support service opportunities for underserved communities.
Project Launch is an early childhood wellness initiative focused on improving coordination and delivery of services to families with young children on Chicago's West Side.
Through a collaborative network of local providers, MIECHVP offers coordinated support services for families with young children to improve health, developmental, and educational outcomes as well as family resilency in high need communities.
Research and Resources
Collective Impact - Kania and Kramer, Stanford Social Innovations Review, Winter 2011
Community Systems Development Resource Toolkit - May 2010
Putting It Together: Financing Comprehensive Services in Child Care & Early Education - CLASP, 2012