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Priority Population Needs

The COVID-19 public health emergency has had a significant impact on every corner of Illinois, creating serious challenges for families, businesses, schools, early childhood programs, and other social service providers. Children and families identified as priorty populations, as recognized the Illinois Early Learning Council, will likely face the greatest challenges and barriers. Now, more than ever, state and community leaders must act quickly and intentionally to ensure families can meet their basic needs, connect to social and mental health support, and support their children’s health and development.

Early childhood providers, McKinney-Vento liaisons, and other social service providers are well positioned to inform systems leaders and advocates about the most urgent needs of families from priority populations and elevate creative solutions being developed in communities. The purpose of this survey is to identify challenges and promising practices related to supporting young children and their families from priority populations. The survey is being conducted by the Early Learning Council’s All Families Served Subcommittee. The responses collected will be reviewed by the subcommittee and will inform its work to support priority populations.