The Collaboration for
Early Childhood Care and Education
Goals
nurture the natural ability of all children in order that they be in the best possible position to achieve success in school,
develop and increase a community-wide understanding and commitment to parents’ and early childhood care and education’s critical role in the healthy development of young children,
develop and implement strategies to increase quality, voluntary early care and educational opportunities for all Oak Park and River Forest children regardless of race, income, special need or family work status,
develop the capacity to impact early childhood care and education policies at local state and federal levels,
secure funding to support the goals and objectives of the Collaboration.
The Collaboration for Early Childhood Care and Education will initiate, foster and coordinate community dialogue, networking, cooperation, advocacy and collaboration amongst early childhood education stakeholders to:
The Collaboration for Early Childhood Care and Education
320 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60302
Phone: 708-613-6122 Fax: 708-434-1259 info@collab4kids.org
Our Projects and Programs
Working with its network of community volunteers and by partnering with other organizations, the Collaboration is currently facilitating eight successful initiatives designed to meet its mission and goals. These are:
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The Dialogues Project, designed to create a forum and consensus on best practices to best prepare young learners for success in kindergarten. The first phase of the Dialogues has been quite successful, exceeding projections for participation and producing Teach Learn Create (TLC), a compilation of attributes of a successful learner, the best practices to engender these attributes and supporting activities.
The Dialogues Project, designed to create a forum and consensus on best practices to best prepare young learners for success in kindergarten. The first phase of the Dialogues has been quite successful, exceeding projections for participation and producing Teach Learn Create (TLC), a compilation of attributes of a successful learner, the best practices to engender these attributes and supporting activities. •The Director’s Roundtable, a partnership between Triton College’s Early Childhood Program and the Collaboration, In partnership with Triton College’s Early Childhood Program has convened a Director’s Roundtable composed of directors from nine early childhood for-profit and not-for-profit centers in the community. The directors met on a quarterly basis to discuss critical issues of mutual interest and collectively problem solve when appropriate.
The Director’s Roundtable, a partnership between Triton College’s Early Childhood Program and the Collaboration, In partnership with Triton College’s Early Childhood Program has convened a Director’s Roundtable composed of directors from nine early childhood for-profit and not-for-profit centers in the community. The directors met on a quarterly basis to discuss critical issues of mutual interest and collectively problem solve when appropriate.•The Professional Development Program, in partnership with Triton College, designed to improve the skills and knowledge base of early childhood providers through on-site, college credit training courses.
The Professional Development Program, in partnership with Triton College, designed to improve the skills and knowledge base of early childhood providers through on-site, college credit training courses.•Research and annual surveys with parents of kindergartners, designed to support service and project development.
Research and annual surveys with parents of kindergartners, designed to support service and project development.•The Family Resource Center, an effort to bring a multi-purpose, mixed funding early childhood center to the Oak Park community.
The Family Resource Center, an effort to bring a multi-purpose, mixed funding early childhood center to the Oak Park community.•Start Early: Learning Begins at Birth, designed to educate parents on the importance of early childhood development and quality care.
Start Early: Learning Begins at Birth, designed to educate parents on the importance of early childhood development and quality care.•The Early Childhood Resources Directory, published in partnership with the League of Women Voters, designed to provide parents and the community with information on early childhood resources and services.
The Early Childhood Resources Directory, published in partnership with the League of Women Voters, designed to provide parents and the community with information on early childhood resources and services.•Start Early: Literacy Begins at Birth, designed to educate providers and parents on how to encourage early literacy skills in young children.
Start Early: Literacy Begins at Birth, designed to educate providers and parents on how to encourage early literacy skills in young children.•Advocacy and policy, designed to support policy positions on early childhood issues at the regional, state and national levels.
Advocacy and policy, designed to support policy positions on early childhood issues at the regional, state and national levels.The Society also partners with other community organizations dedicated to caring for our children.
