Building Early Connections
Roughly one third of young children living in Chicago’s West Side communities show signs of early social, emotional, behavioral and/or developmental concerns.
Building Early Connections (BEC) seeks to directly address these needs by developing integrated systems of care and expanding behavioral interventions for the most common early childhood concerns, including anxiety, trauma/coping, challenging behavior and developmental concerns.
Young Child Wellness Council
The Young Child Wellness Council (YCWC) brings together child and family organizations to develop a shared vision and strategic plan for promoting the healthy development and wellness of young children in our community. These organizations include:
Advocate Children’s Hospital - Pediatric Developmental Center
(773) 296-7340
Advocate Children’s Hospital is one of the largest network providers of pediatric services in Illinois. A major referral center for infants and children, their two main campuses in Oak Lawn and Park Ridge combine some of the country’s most respected medical talent with exceptional and compassionate care.
New Moms
(773) 252-3253
At New Moms, young moms, 24 and under, take powerful first steps toward economic mobility and family well-being. New Moms partners with families to construct the foundation of well-being by strengthening core life skills, incorporating early childhood development supports, building pathways to and preparation for education and employment, and expanding positive social networks and access to community resources.
Children's Home and Aid
(312) 424-0200
Children’s Home & Aid is a leading child and family service agency in Illinois. They provide foster care services, counseling and treatment services, parenting programs and childcare resources.
Lurie Children's Hospital
(800) 543-7362
Lurie Children’s is one of the top children’s hospitals in the nation, providing superior pediatric care, cutting-edge treatments and advanced research.
Austin Childcare Providers’ Network
(773) 379-7627
The Austin Childcare Providers Network (ACPN) is a not-for-profit organization with an active membership of 46 family childcare providers and 7 center-based daycare center facilities. ACPN childcare provider facilities are in Austin, Maywood, Bellwood, Lawndale, Humboldt Park, Elmwood Park and Round Lake. One of their goals is to engage providers from their network and the immediate community in advocacy and educational work.
Collaboration for Early Childhood
(708) 613-6122
The Collaboration for Early Childhood is a nonprofit organization located in Oak Park, Illinois. As a collective impact model agency, the Collaboration for Early Childhood seeks to examine local systems and create ways to impact local capacity to provide resources, information and support for families and providers of children under five years of age.
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center
(312) 492-3700
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center and our partners are the front-line responders in Chicago to reports of child sexual abuse. Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center also respond to physical abuse, witness to violence and other cases of serious maltreatment. Since opening our doors in 2001, we have served more than 45,000 children.
IL LEND
(312) 996-8905
The IL LEND program prepares graduate students, professionals, self-advocates and family members to address the needs of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. We are the first and only LEND program in Illinois and part of a national network of 52 LEND programs. Our trainees come from all over the state, and even participate virtually.
Illinois Early Intervention
(800) 843-6154
The Illinois Early Intervention (EI) Program provides a variety of services for families of an infant or toddler with a disability or a developmental delay. There are 25 agencies statewide to provide intake, determine eligibility and connect children to Service Providers. These providers include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists and many other professionals to help the meet the individual needs of each child.