EARLY LEARNING AD CAMPAIGN

View Voices' public service announcement "Knowing is Everything," winner of the 2010 Telly Award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programming. Working with Les Papas of Better World Advertising, we developed a message that helps parents understand the vital need for quality early learning programs from ages birth to five. Thanks to strong support from the McCormick Foundation, the commercial aired over 220 times across the Chicagoland area on CBS last summer.

Look for quality early care and education options for your child by visiting the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies.

During May of 2009, Voices is running four different
print ads in more than 30 newspapers throughout
the state and using billboards in select
communities to highlight the significance of
strengthening Illinois' important "investment
portfolio" of early childhood programs—especially
in these toughest of times.

The ads feature children from preschool
programs in East St. Louis, Springfield,
Willowbrook (DuPage County) and Chicago. To view all four ads, please click on the image at the right.

These voluntary early learning programs range from prekindergarten, child care and Head Start for 3- to 5-year-old children to "parent-coaching" and developmental services for at-risk infants and
toddlers. All help ensure that our youngest
learners get the best possible start in learning and
life, and reflect years of research demonstrating that high-quality early learning opportunities provide the biggest bang for the buck—commanding a return of up to $7 for every $1 invested.

Yet these vital services are under threat from our poor national economy and state budget pressures. Many face budget cuts that would strip services from some children in need—and stall progress toward extending help to other families.

Please use these materials to talk with friends, neighbors and legislators about the importance early learning programs and to advocate for protecting and advancing young children's learning.

Learn More, Take Action

• Early learning talking points (PDF file 48 Kb) 
• E-mail your state legislators, urging them to protect Illinois' youngest learners
• Find out how early childhood programs fare in Governor Quinn's FY 2010 budget proposal (PDF file 27 Kb)
• Share a story about how early learning programs help your community (PDF file 49 Kb)
• Learn more about early childhood education

Thanks to the McCormick Foundation for generous support of the early learning ad campaign.