This document discusses the collaboration between Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) and Strengthening Families Illinois (SFI) at the state and local levels in Illinois. ECCS is housed within the Illinois Department of Human Services and coordinates various state-level collaboratives and initiatives focused on early childhood. SFI, within the Department of Children and Family Services, aims to embed protective factors into early childhood settings to strengthen families and prevent child abuse. At the local level, SFI Learning Networks and All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks collaborate through referrals and shared training opportunities focused on protective factors.

1. ECCS andECCS and
Strengthening FamiliesStrengthening Families
IllinoisIllinois
Joanne KellyJoanne Kelly
Early Childhood CoordinatorEarly Childhood Coordinator
Illinois Department of Human ServicesIllinois Department of Human Services
312-793-5246312-793-5246
Kathy Goetz WolfKathy Goetz Wolf
Strengthening Families Program DirectorStrengthening Families Program Director
Illinois Department of Children and Family ServicesIllinois Department of Children and Family Services
312-402-0961312-402-0961

2. ECCS in IllinoisECCS in Illinois
 Housed in the Illinois Department of HumanHoused in the Illinois Department of Human
Services: Division of Community Health andServices: Division of Community Health and
PreventionPrevention
 ECCS prioritiesECCS priorities
 Coordinating the Illinois state level collaborativesCoordinating the Illinois state level collaboratives
 Increasing early childhood system commitment toIncreasing early childhood system commitment to
parent leadership, strengthening families, andparent leadership, strengthening families, and
local collaborativeslocal collaboratives

3. ECCS and SFI:ECCS and SFI:
State Level and Local CollaborationState Level and Local Collaboration
Birth to Five ProjectBirth to Five Project
(Government Interagency Team)(Government Interagency Team)
Early Learning CouncilEarly Learning Council
Children’s Mental Health PartnershipChildren’s Mental Health Partnership
Strengthening Families IllinoisStrengthening Families Illinois
All Our Kids Early Childhood NetworksAll Our Kids Early Childhood Networks

4. Strengthening Families IllinoisStrengthening Families Illinois
Department of Children and Family ServicesDepartment of Children and Family Services
 Initial goal: embed the Protective Factors intoInitial goal: embed the Protective Factors into
early care and education settings as a way toearly care and education settings as a way to
strengthen families and prevent child abuse andstrengthen families and prevent child abuse and
neglectneglect
 SFI Learning Networks in 6 communitiesSFI Learning Networks in 6 communities
 Connection between AOK Networks and SFIConnection between AOK Networks and SFI
Learning Networks on local level throughLearning Networks on local level through
referrals and trainingreferrals and training

5. SFI and AOK NetworksSFI and AOK Networks
 Training on Protective Factors in AOK sitesTraining on Protective Factors in AOK sites
 Love is Not Enough Parent CafesLove is Not Enough Parent Cafes
 Café Facilitator InstitutesCafé Facilitator Institutes
 AOK Network systems goalsAOK Network systems goals

6. AOK System GoalsAOK System Goals
•Babies are born
healthy
•Children maintain physical
and emotional health
•Children enter school
ready to learn
•Families are connected
to services they need
•Parents are community
leaders
Goal 3:
The Early Childhood
System is comprised
of a skilled, competent
workforce
Goal 5:
Parents/caregivers
are leaders in their
families, the Early
childhood System
and their
communities
Goal 1:
Families have access
to needed and appropriate
Early Childhood Services that
are responsive to community
needs.
Goal 4:
Early Childhood Services
are family-focused,
culturally competent,
and strength-based
Goal 2:
The community has a
coordinated and
collaborative system
of Early Childhood
Services

7. SFI and Embedding StrategySFI and Embedding Strategy
IDHS:IDHS:
 Protective Factors training to all AOK partnerProtective Factors training to all AOK partner
agenciesagencies
 Child Care Nurse consultants trained on theChild Care Nurse consultants trained on the
Protective FactorsProtective Factors
 Satellite video trainings statewideSatellite video trainings statewide