Co-sponsored with our regional organizing partners:

SPARK Collaboration (Naperville Caucus) and INCCRRA (Bloomington Caucus).

Regional Public Policy Caucus January 22, 2015 – Naperville, Illinois

January 29, 2015 – Bloomington, Illinois

10:00 Welcome

10:15 State of the State

11:00 Small Group Discussions

11:30 Illinois Vision for Early Care and Education (Theresa Hawley,

Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Early Childhood

Development)

12:30 Lunch

1:30 Advocacy Toolkits and Resources

2:15 Wrap Up & Next Steps

Legislative Update

Illinois Action for Children January 15, 2015

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Federal Update

• Midterm Elections – U.S. House of Representatives

• 435 Representatives • Determined by population; each state is different • Currently controlled by Republicans 246-186 and 3 vacancies • 18 from Illinois - 10 Dems and 8 GOP after election

– U.S. Senate • Each State has 2 Senators • Illinois’ Senators are Sen. Durbin and Sen. Kirk

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Federal Update

• Election Results – Illinois has 2 new Republican Representatives

• Congressman Dold (10th District) – North Shore • Congressman Bost (12th District) - Murphysboro

– No Change for Illinois’ U.S. Senators • Senator Durbin won re-election • Senator Kirk will face election in 2016

– U.S. Senate now controlled by Republicans • First time since 2006 • Republicans now control both chambers of Congress

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

State of the Union

• $3,000/child credit to help pay for child care • Increase the minimum wage • Equal Pay for Women • Paid Sick Leave and Overtime • Continue Investments is Pre-k Expansion and

Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships • Expand EITC

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

On The Horizon

• Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Guidance Memos

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act • Child Nutrition Act • Home Visiting • Department of Homeland Security Budget

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Next Steps

• Meet Your Federal Legislators • Have them visit your program • Teach them about the importance of child care

and early childhood education • Learn about their committee assignments • Illinois Action for Children is here to help!

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

State Update: Midterm Elections • New Governor

• New Agency Staff

• House and Senate

• Ballot Questions

• Veto Session

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

State Budget & Revenue

• The state income tax rate went from 5% to 3.75% on January 1, 2015

• Impact on the current year’s budget – The FY15 budget is about $2B lower than what’s

needed to maintain the current level of programs – In addition, there continues to be a historical

backlog of unpaid bills – Lawmakers took no budget or revenue action – Unclear on how the new Governor will proceed

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

State Budget & Revenue

• Impact on Child Care – Child Care began the fiscal year with a $190 million

deficit • $84 million reduced appropriation • Increased caseload • Consistent movement of families to more expensive care • Rate increases and copayment reduction

– CCMS Issues forced automatic redeterminations – Child Care needs a $300 million supplemental in the

current fiscal year

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

New Federal Grants

• Prek Expansion Grants – $20 million/year for 4 years – Full day preschool for 4 year olds

• Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships – $18 million to four regions – Improve the quality of child care for infants and

toddlers

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

State Policy Priorities

• Child Care Budget • Early Childhood Education • Improving Child Safety • HEAL Act • Fair and Adequate Revenue

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Next Steps

Meet Your Legislators • 2 new Senators; 17 new Representatives • Have them visit your program • Teach them about the importance of child care and

early childhood education • Illinois Action for Children is here to help!

Call to Action • FY15 and FY16 Budget Advocacy • State needs new revenue

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Next Steps

• Send us your stories! – We are looking for stories about the importance

of child care to families and the devastating effect to your community if their child care is lost.

– Please email your stories to advocacy@actforchildren.org

– We will be working with you to place these stories in local and statewide media.

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Save the Date

• Legislative Call-In Day – February 4th • Valentine’s Day Action • Child Care Rally Days

Thursday February 19th Wednesday March 11th

• Spring into Action Conference and Rally Day April 21-22 – Springfield, IL

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Update on Illinois Action for Children

• CCMS

• Energy Efficiency

• Oral Health

• Expansion of Innovation Zones and CCSD

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Questions?

Early Childhood Update Theresa Hawley, PhD

IAFC Policy Caucus January 22/29, 2015

Child Care Development Block Grant

• Reauthorized in November 2014 – First time in 18 years

• Changes in requirements for: – Health & safety

• Annual inspections

– Quality Improvement – Family-friendly policies

• Changes in eligibility

• Significant cost implications

Early Head Start/Child Care Partnerships

• $18 million per year in Federal funding • Partners Early Head Start programs with Child

Care Providers • Five year grants • Illinois was successful

in receiving more than its original allocation!

EHS/CC Partnership grants

• City of Chicago $14.9 million • Kankakee (Joliet CCR&R) $1.4 million • City of Rockford $600,000 • Maywood (PLCCA) $1.2 million

KIDS Update

• Kindergarten Individual Development Survey – Comprehensive assessment

• Statewide implementation planned for 2016 • Advisory Committee

– Survey & Recommendations

Preschool Expansion Grant

• The Facts – $20 million/year for four years – 95% of funds to subgrantees – 18 subgrantees – High-quality, full-day slots for at-risk 4 year olds

• Licensed teachers – Within a birth-3rd grade continuum

Illinois’ Early Learning Priorities Economic support

for families

Early intervention & special ed

Mental health

services

Child welfare

Basic community

services

Of children with high needs, by 2016:

• 65% have at least 1 yr high quality* early learning services • 40% have at least 2 yrs • 10% have 5 full years

*Gold Circle in ExceleRate Illinois

AND • 50% of all licensed child care

centers achieve above Licensed Circle in QRIS

• 25% achieve Gold Circle

By 2021, 80% of all children will be fully ready for kindergarten

Health Care

Illinois’ Vision for the Grant

• Ensure continuity & intensity of services by building a birth-3rd grade pipeline for at-risk children

Criteria for High-Quality Programs

• Mostly mirror our Preschool for All requirements • Not Covered by PFA:

– Full-day program – Instructional staff salaries comparable to salaries of local K-12

instructional staff – On-site or accessible comprehensive services

• We added: – Instructional coordinator at ratio of at least 1 per 10 classrooms to

focus on professional development – Mental health consultation

Comprehensive Services

• Screenings for hearing, vision, dental, health, and development • Culturally and linguistically responsive family engagement

opportunities • Nutrition services • Services coordinated with LEAs/early intervention service

providers • Physical activity services • Community services to enhance family wellbeing • On-site coordination of services

Communities Participating

• Addison • Aurora • Bolingbrook • Carpentersville • Chicago • Cicero • Decatur • Elgin • Jefferson County

• Joliet • Monroe & St. Clair Counties • Normal • North Chicago • Rock Island • Rockford • South Suburbs of Chicago • West Chicago • Wheaton/Warrenville

Requirements for Participating Programs

• Must have full-day Kindergarten • Must work collaboratively with CBOs to ensure

a smooth transition from Pre-K to K • Must use the KIDS assessment

Expansion Plan

2015 2016 2017 2018

Entirely new slots 1,740 3,380 6,120 8,000

New slots combined with Head Start 500 860 1,300 1,700

New slots combined with CCAP 360 440 800 1,060

Enhanced/Extended PFA slots 680 1,420 2,200 3,000

Total slots 3,280 6,100 10,420 13,760

Thank you!

• Questions/comments

Toolkits & Resources for Advocates

Naperville Regional Caucus -January 22, 2015 Bloomington Regional Caucus – January 29, 2015

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Existing Resources

• Advocacy Toolkit • Community Profiles • Child Care Works

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Advocacy Tools

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Advocacy Toolkit

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Child Care Works

• A tool that gives providers a clear way

to convey how child care helps the local economy.

• Specific to your program – Enrollment Record (number of children, families, types of parents) – Employment Records (number of staff employed) – Income Tax Forms and Accounting Records

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Child Care Works

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Community Profiles • Important demographic and program

information (population, number of children, families on child care, child care funding)

• Already created by legislative district; State House, State Senate and US House

• Available on our website – we’re updating the design

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Community Profiles

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

New Resources • Program Inventory • Budget Primer

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Program Inventory

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Program Inventory

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Budget Primer • Meant to help introduce advocates to

the state and federal budgetary process

• Explains the budgetary process from the perspective of programs – which program is funded by what funding stream?

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Budget Primer

Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and Powerful communities where children matter most.

Upcoming Events • Regional Policy Caucus - Bloomington Thurs., January 29, 2015 • Legislative Call-in Day Wed., February 4, 2015 • Valentine’s Day Week of Action Monday, February 9th to Friday, February 13th

• Rally/Lobby Days for Child Care Funding Thurs., February 19th & Wed., March 11th

• Spring Into Action – Early bird registration now open! Illinois Action for Children’s Annual Conference Tues. April 21st & Weds. April 22nd