BUDGET & TAX POLICY
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
EDUCATION REFORM
FOSTER CARE
HEALTH & DEVELOPMENT
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
WORKING FAMILIES
Learning for young children is a developmental process that begins in the home and continues in early care/community settings and preschool programs, then transitions to elementary and out-of-school programs. Research suggests that a broader concept of early education – one that encompasses children’s health, educational opportunities and family economic security in the first eight years – increases future success in school and beyond.
What Voices for Illinois Children is Doing
Voices for Illinois Children has been committed to building better lives for families and children from birth to age 5 for more than 20 years. To deepen our work in these early years, Voices has launched a new initiative called “Great at Eight” that broadens our policy, advocacy and community engagement efforts to encompass children from birth to age 8 and their families.
“Great at Eight” focuses on an approach that advocates supports for the “whole child” by addressing their physical, cognitive and social-emotional development. The initiative will strengthen and broaden our partnerships with stakeholders to build and promote the birth to 8 agenda. “Great at Eight” will identify and develop a policy agenda and raise awareness of young children’s critical needs, their early development and the high quality learning opportunities that promote reading to learn by age 8 and lay the foundation for academic and life success.
Learn More
Contact
- Project Director Madelyn James at 312-516-5573 or Community Engagement Associate Jessica Roberts at 312-516-5563
