Episode Details

Families across Knox, Henderson, Mercer, and Warren counties now have a free, one-stop place to find early childhood resources. Jim Walters, Regional Council Manager, and Alli Chasteen, Family and Community Engagement Specialist, both with Birth to Five Illinois: Region 33, joined Galesburg's Morning News to talk about a new online resource called Before K — and one surprising need they discovered along the way: some kids were showing up to school without clean clothes, because their families had nowhere to do laundry. They talked about: What Birth to Five Illinois does across its 39 regions statewide, and how Region 33 covers Knox, Henderson, Mercer, and Warren counties How a 2021 regional needs assessment led directly to this year's launch of Before K What's actually inside the Before K resource guide, from prenatal support to kindergarten readiness The new "Changes in Early Childhood" report and what's shifted locally since 2021 — including a rise in home-based childcare providers An unexpected need uncovered through community conversations: laundry access for families How to get involved, from the group's Facebook page to its "road show" presentations for local clubs and churches   🎧 Subscribe to Galesburg's Morning News: Apple Podcasts | Spotify