IDEC Listening Session Discussion Notes 9/25 by

provider

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:22:56 UTC

to serve all children need to be able to serve all families-need providers with greater language diversity. equity needs to come in the form of better infrastructure to serve families who do not speak english

parent, organizer

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:23:33 UTC

need more EI funding-child did not get services legally entitled to

free full day slots for 3 and 4 yo especially for children with disabilities

monthly or quarterly community forums with updates on the new department once it's up and running

very pleased with CPS evaluation program

parent

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:24:34 UTC

Many new immigrants coming to Illinois need to be served, especially different Spanish dialects and diversity in one language. Ex. difficult for Venezuelan immigrants to communicate with people who speak Spanish from Mexican or Puerto Rican dialect

2024-09-25 23:25:53 UTC

Access to Early Intervention Services

parent

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:26:38 UTC

transportation needs for 3/4/5yos who receive special education services from CPS, have heard similar sentiments in mom groups and from other families who receive special education services

Guidelines/Tip Sheets on how to navigate the new agency

2024-09-25 23:27:37 UTC

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:28:26 UTC

more funding for providers-need more providers to stop breaks or delays in services

parent

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:29:57 UTC

family support and resource specialists removed from E/HS home visiting programs before vs. after the pandemic

staff retention due to wages, affects the quality of services rendered, has caused parents to not seek services

Adequate and appropriate transportation services for our youngest learners

parent

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:32:13 UTC

struggle to keep slots full and keep children enrolled, especially because of enrolling newly arrived children difficult to keep retention numbers and affects PIR data (due to being moved to different shelters or receiving work permits)

without family resource specialists difficult to support newly arrived families (paperwork, city key, dental/vision/hearing, medical home-head start standards)

provider

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:34:50 UTC

Chicago is so much more diverse than the rest of the state

education, language, SES

cannot go completely digital ad need human interface because that is not accessible to everyone, some residents cannot read or do not have access to wifi, printers, webpages in their language

2024-09-25 23:35:30 UTC

Fund programs by enrollment and not by attendance. This proved to be a challenge for providers that enrolled new arrivals and they did not attend or stay in the program because they were moved from shelter to shelter.

parent

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:37:30 UTC

lots of intergenerational and family care, many young adults leave children with parents and do not know about child care services or other support services

have noticed grandparents are points of contact and older people may not be as tech savvy, as aware of services for new parents or existing social support services

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:38:13 UTC

when families move they/existing providers may not know what is available in other parts of the city or what communities exist

2024-09-25 23:39:28 UTC

Special education services should be provided in their home school of enrollment instead of dual enrollment. This provides disruption to the child's care and continuity and most parents do not feel comfortable for their child being transitioned to another location for services.

parent

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:41:35 UTC

mental health and emotional/behavioral support for parents of young children. pandemic created a lot of stress

different program options for families that include parents in the curriculum

families need support navigating different experiences that come with parenthood

mommy care oasis life coach

parent

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:42:35 UTC

anecdotal stories of relatives taking care of young children handing custody to the state due to mental health issues

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:44:01 UTC

want to see advocacy and training for orgs that touch families in different ways

medical care, housing authority

find a way to tap into those agencies and ensure early childhood is part of their purview and people that work with families and develop strategy have an understanding of what is available at the state level

nontraditional family partners

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:44:11 UTC

statewide ECE/child care hotline

former HV

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:46:46 UTC

more support to home based child care and family/neighbor care

primary form of care in Chinatown community/immigrant communities

difficult to send children to center based care because it is not culturally responsive

need non-traditional hours and extended care options

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:48:12 UTC

alignment of background checks for staff in different settings

impacts people that cannot enter the workforce due to minor infractions

impacts transportation/bus driver workforce

impacts well staffed programs and consistency of care

delays in starting new staff

mezell4 — 2024-09-25 23:55:39 UTC

incentives for parents to participate in ECE programs ie. if you show up more than 3 times you get a prize or a giftcard

would be helpful for rules around incentives to change ex. SGA

financial or gift for children

able to provide basic needs to families

families have to choose where do they spend their time-accessing basic needs and supports or ECE programs

Former HV

2024-09-26 00:00:53 UTC

More collaborations with/ funding towards community-based organizations that provide comprehensive social services to families as they are the closest to families. I have worked with many immigrant mothers who could take advantage of scholarships/ paraprofessional training for a pathway to ECE careers, this would also bring in individuals who are culturally and linguistically competent.