The Collaboration for
Early Childhood Care and Education
History
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 Beginnings:
In the spring of 2001 a number of professionals and other concerned community members began a dialogue about the status of early childhood care and education in Oak Park. Participants in the local dialogue believed that a substantial and perhaps growing number of families with infants and young children were unable to access and/or afford high quality early childhood services and resources in our community. The group shared a deep concern regarding the long-term, adverse consequences for children whose families are unable to access high-quality programs, or are unaware of their importance.
On February 1, 2002 the Collaboration held a significant organizational meeting facilitated by the Illinois Facilities Fund. At that meeting, the group agreed to focus the following priority areas: increasing the accessibility and affordability of care and education services; addressing the issues surrounding quality; articulating children's developmental needs and appropriate practice; involving and supporting parents.
During the balance of its inaugural year the Collaboration worked to establish itself organizationally. It:
1.Adopted a Vision Statement;2.Adopted a Goal Statement; 3.Secured funding and formal participation from Oak Park jurisdictions;4.Initiated the process of seeking the formal membership of participating not-for-profit agencies;5.Conducted a survey of families’ early childhood care and education experiences;6.Obtained an analysis of child care supply and demand in our community from the Illinois Facilities Fund;7.Initiated an education campaign to inform parents and the broader community of importance of high quality care and education in the lives of young children.Our Participants:
The Collaboration currently has over 40 participants, representing 6 governing bodies, 3 institutions of higher learning, 13 early childhood service providers, 4 early childhood policy experts, and 7 community advocates. Groups represented include the following:
Village of Oak ParkOak Park TownshipOak Park School District 97Oak Park River Forest High SchoolOak Park Public LibraryPark District of Oak ParkConcordia CollegeTriton CollegeCEDA Head Start of Oak ParkOak Park and River Forest Day NurseryOak Park YMCAParenthesis Parent Child CenterInfant Welfare ClinicHephzibah Children's AssociationLeague of Women VotersFirst United Church Nursery SchoolPilgrim Community Nursery SchoolWest Suburban Home Day Care AssociationFirst Baptist Child Development CenterWonderWorks MuseumCommunity Care OptionsNational Center on Poverty LawChicago/Metro AEYCFillmore CenterThe organization secured 501(c)3 status in 2002. During its work over the past three years, representatives of these organizations have worked through issues of turf, organizational culture, philosophic differences and individual agendas to build a common vision and mission for early childhood services in Oak Park.
The Collaboration’s board is integrally involved in the work and structure of the organization. The Collaboration follows a unique and successful consensus model of decision making, allowing all members to participate equally in the decisions of the organization. The full Collaboration obtains guidance and coordination from lead decision-makers involved in a Task Group, which includes all board members and assures efficiency and productivity. The Collaboration Convenor is a board member who facilitates meetings and signs documentation on behalf of the organization.
Our Reputation:
Because of its innovative model and success in leveraging resources, the Collaboration became the model for the statewide Early Learning Council, established as the result of legislation signed by Governor Blagojevich.
Through grants and public funding and support, the Collaboration has been able to bring together early childhood care providers, kindergarten teachers, and parents from throughout the community to participate in programs, dialogues, professional training, and research initiatives. All these projects and programs share the end goal of providing all with knowledge of the best practices for enabling young children to learn and to aid in creating better learning environments for young children.
In 2007 the Collaboration was awarded the first ever Community Impact Award by the United Way of Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park.
In 2008 it received the Staszak Award from the Oak Park Education Foundation for its contribution to the well-being of children in Oak Park, the first time the award has gone to an organization, not an individual.
