Illinois Department of Early Childhood Listening Session

Members of the transition team for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood will hold regional listening sessions at Heartland Community College locations this September. 

The Department of Early Childhood was created to focus exclusively on early childhood programs and services for young children, improving equity and accessibility for families and caregivers. The new department will consolidate programs for young children currently housed across the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). 

Representatives from the department’s Transition Advisory Committee are holding listening sessions to seek input on shaping the future of early childhood services in Illinois. 

“The purpose of these listening sessions is to not only seek input from families, providers, business members, and local leadership, but also to share information about next steps in the transition process” said Dr. Johnna Darragh-Ernst, Distinguished Professor of Early Childhood Education at Heartland Community College. 

Area residents Dr. Darragh-Ernst and Lakeesha Smith-James were appointed by Governor JB Pritzker as two of eighteen members of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood Transition Advisory Committee. 

The Regional Listening Sessions will be held as follows: 

• Wednesday, September 4 at 4:30 PM-5:30 PM
  Heartland Community College Main Campus, Room 1406/1407 Community Commons Building
• Thursday, September 5 at 4:30 PM-5:30 PM
  Heartland Community College Lincoln Center, Room 209
• Wednesday, September 18 at 4:30 PM-5:30 PM
  Heartland Community College Pontiac Center, Room 220 

Admission to the listening sessions is free and open to the public.