reproductions supplied by edrs are the best that …similarly, the infant mortality rate for...
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Baker, Brenda; Familia, Yahaira; Gifford, Amy; Knowlton,Gretchen; Matakis, Brian; Olson, Melissa; Owens, Tracy;Zasadny, JulieIllinois Kids Count 2001: Envisioning the Future.Voices for Illinois Children, Chicago.Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD.2000-00-00265p.; For 1999-2000 report, see ED 437 204.Voices for Illinois Children, 208 South LaSalle Street,Suite 1490, Chicago, IL 60604-1103. Tel: 312-456-0600; Fax:312-456-0088; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site:http://www.voices4kids.org ($15, $12 for "Voices" members).Numerical/Quantitative Data (110) Reports - Descriptive(141)
MF01/PC11 Plus Postage.At Risk Persons; Births to Single Women; Child Abuse; ChildHealth; Child Neglect; Child Support; Child Welfare;*Children; *Counties; Dropouts; Early Parenthood; FosterCare; Health Insurance; Incidence; Infant Mortality;Mortality Rate; *Poverty; Preschool Education; *SocialIndicators; State Surveys; Statistical Surveys; Tables(Data); Trend Analysis; Welfare Recipients; *Well Being;Youth Problems*Illinois; Illinois (Chicago); *Indicators
This Kids Count report examines statewide trends in thewell-being of Illinois' children. The statistical portrait is based onindicators in the areas of family, education and child care, arts andrecreation, safety, health, and economic security. The indicators are: (1)percent of children living in poverty; (2) number of children enrolled instate/federal health insurance programs; (3) number of students inarts/recreation programs; (4) teen births; (5) number of children in fostercare; (6) Head Start enrollment; (7) high school dropout rate (8) licensedchild care; (9) child abuse and neglect; (10) child death rate; (11) lowbirth weight; (12) infant mortality; (13) children receiving free and reducedlunches; (14) child support compliance; (15) families receiving TANF; and(16) affordable housing. The first part of the report explores Voices forIllinois Children's "Charter for Illinois Children," highlighting relevantprograms in the areas of family, education, arts and recreation, safety,health, and economic security. The bulk of the document presents data tablesfor each of the indicators for the state, each county, and the city ofChicago. The findings indicate some improvement, showing decreases in thenumber of births to teens, the number of children in foster care, high schooldropout rates, rate of child abuse and neglect, and the number of familiesand children receiving welfare. However, the report cites areas still in needof improvement, including the number of children still uninsured, the lack ofaffordable housing, and racial disparities in the areas of births to teensand infant mortality rates. The report concludes with endnotes, definitions,and data sources. (HTH)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document.
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U.S
. DE
PA
RT
ME
NT
OF
ED
UC
AT
ION
Offi
ce o
f Edu
catio
nal R
esea
rch
and
Impr
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ED
UC
AT
ION
AL
RE
SO
UR
CE
S IN
FO
RM
AT
ION
CE
NT
ER
(E
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repr
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Voi
ces
for
Illin
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Chi
ldre
n ch
ampi
ons
the
full
deve
lopm
ent o
f ev
ery
child
in I
llino
is to
assu
re th
e fu
ture
wel
l-be
ing
of th
e pe
ople
of
the
stat
e. W
e w
ork
with
fam
ilies
, com
mun
ities
and
polic
y m
aker
s to
ens
ure
that
all
child
ren
grow
up
heal
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nur
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d, s
afe
and
wel
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educ
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Voi
ces
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non-
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prob
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Illi
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fam
ilies
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ough
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edu
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Voi
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m c
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s an
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lead
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for
cost
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to im
prov
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e liv
es o
f Il
linoi
s ch
ildre
n. J
erom
e St
erm
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the
Pres
iden
t of
Voi
ces
for
Illin
ois
Chi
ldre
n, a
nd L
orra
ine
Bar
ba is
the
Cha
ir o
f th
e bo
ard.
Voi
ces
for
Illin
ois
Chi
ldre
n de
dica
tes
this
rep
ort t
o al
l the
indi
vidu
als
who
mak
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impa
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on th
e liv
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f ch
ildre
n, in
clud
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pare
nts,
teac
hers
, fam
ily m
embe
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olun
teer
s, a
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ates
and
all w
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elp
child
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cros
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e br
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to a
dulth
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thro
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exam
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of
cari
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atie
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hum
or.
Cop
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ht ©
200
0
Illin
ois
Kid
s C
ount
200
1: E
nvis
ioni
ng th
e Fu
ture
was
fun
ded
by th
e A
nnie
E. C
asey
Fou
ndat
ion.
The
dat
a w
as c
ompi
led
byV
oice
s fo
r Il
linoi
s C
hild
ren.
For
addi
tiona
l cop
ies,
ple
ase
send
a c
heck
for
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($1
2 fo
r V
oice
s m
embe
rs)
to:
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ces
for
Illin
ois
Chi
ldre
n20
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uth
LaS
alle
Str
eet,
Suite
149
0C
hica
go, I
llino
is 6
0604
-110
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Plea
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to c
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all o
r po
rtio
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f th
is r
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t. W
e w
elco
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its f
urth
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isse
min
atio
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e ac
know
ledg
eV
oice
s fo
r Il
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s C
hild
ren
in a
ny r
epro
duct
ions
, quo
tatio
n or
use
.
-
Con
tent
sE
nvis
ioni
ng th
e F
utur
e: In
trod
uctio
n2
The
Cha
rter
for
Illin
ois
Chi
ldre
n3
Fam
ily5
Ful
fillin
g th
e C
hart
er. S
outh
ern
Reg
ion
Par
ent R
esou
rce
Cen
ter
6
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catio
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Ful
fillin
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e C
hart
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ledg
e fo
r Li
fe P
artn
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ip8
Art
s, R
ecre
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n an
d C
ultu
re9
Ful
fillin
g th
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hart
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love
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ety Ful
fillin
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e C
hart
er. Y
outh
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bass
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outh
Pea
ce®
12
Hea
lth Ful
fillin
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e C
hart
er. C
entr
al Il
linoi
s
Eco
nom
ic S
ecur
ityF
ulfil
ling
the
Cha
rter
. Cen
ter
for
Law
Sta
te, C
ount
y an
d C
hica
go D
ata
Pag
es
End
note
s, D
efin
ition
s an
d S
ourc
es
rim
kids
coun
t
13F
ood
Ban
k an
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inoi
s H
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vice
s18 19 125
Illin
ois
Kid
s C
ount
200
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.voi
ces4
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-
Env
isio
ning
the
Fut
ure
4.qb
he q
ualit
y of
life
for
chi
ldre
n in
Illi
nois
has
see
n re
al p
rogr
ess
the
past
few
yea
rs.
Few
er te
ens
are
havi
ng b
abie
s an
d m
ore
are
grad
uatin
g fr
om h
igh
scho
ol. M
ore
child
ren
are
cove
red
by K
id C
are
and
Med
icai
d an
d fe
wer
are
bei
ng a
buse
d or
negl
ecte
d. W
elfa
re d
epen
denc
y an
d ch
ild p
over
ty r
ates
are
dow
n dr
amat
ical
ly, a
nd m
ore
babi
es a
re li
ving
pas
t the
ir f
irst
bir
thda
y.T
hese
are
acc
ompl
ishm
ents
wor
th c
eleb
ratin
g. Y
et w
e m
ust r
ecog
nize
our
wor
k to
im-
prov
e th
e w
ell b
eing
of
all c
hild
ren
in o
ur s
tate
is c
erta
inly
not
don
e.T
o th
at e
nd, h
undr
eds
of p
eopl
e an
d or
gani
zatio
ns f
rom
aro
und
the
stat
e ga
ther
ed a
ta
Febr
uary
199
9 co
nfer
ence
to p
onde
r th
e fu
ture
for
Illi
nois
chi
ldre
n. P
aren
ts, c
omm
u-ni
ty le
ader
s, p
olic
y m
aker
s, th
e le
ader
s of
fai
th-b
ased
org
aniz
atio
ns a
nd o
ther
s ex
amin
edth
e ne
eds,
tale
nts
and
expe
ctat
ions
of
child
ren.
The
ir th
ough
ts w
ere
cons
olid
ated
into
ado
cum
ent t
hat h
as b
ecom
e T
he C
hart
er f
or I
llino
is C
hild
ren,
whi
ch w
as la
unch
ed in
com
-m
uniti
es a
cros
s Il
linoi
s in
Mar
ch 2
000.
The
Cha
rter
is a
cle
ar a
nd c
ompr
ehen
sive
sta
tem
ent o
f a
visi
on f
or th
e ch
ildre
n of
our
stat
e an
d of
the
resp
onsi
bilit
ies
we
all s
hare
in h
elpi
ng th
em th
rive
and
suc
ceed
. The
Cha
rter
exp
ress
es a
vis
ion
and
seri
es o
f go
als
for
child
ren
in s
ix k
ey a
reas
: fam
ily, e
duca
-tio
n, a
rts,
rec
reat
ion
and
cultu
re, s
afet
y, h
ealth
and
eco
nom
ic s
ecur
ity. T
he C
hart
er b
egin
son
pag
e 3.
Mor
e th
an 6
00 p
eopl
e an
d or
gani
zatio
ns th
roug
hout
Illi
nois
hav
e en
dors
edth
e C
hart
er, a
nd m
any
are
wor
king
to m
ake
its g
oals
a r
ealit
y in
thei
r co
mm
uniti
es.
The
200
1 Il
linoi
s K
ids
Cou
nt u
ses
the
Cha
rter
as
a fr
amew
ork
to e
xplo
re th
e qu
ality
of
life
for
child
ren
in I
llino
is. T
he s
tatis
tics
on th
e st
ate,
cou
nty
and
City
of
Chi
cago
dat
apa
ges
are
cate
gori
zed
into
the
six
them
es o
f th
e C
hart
er. T
he in
trod
uctio
n al
so f
ollo
ws
the
Cha
rter
them
e, d
emon
stra
ting
how
sta
tistic
s an
d po
licy
wor
k ar
e st
rivi
ng to
impr
ove
life
for
child
ren
and
high
light
ing
orga
niza
tions
acr
oss
the
stat
e th
at a
re w
orki
ng to
ful
fill
the
Cha
rter
.
As
this
yea
r's I
llino
is K
ids
Cou
nt il
lust
rate
s, w
e ar
e m
akin
g pr
ogre
ss:
Bir
ths
to I
llino
is te
ens
drop
ped
2.3
perc
ent f
rom
the
year
s 19
89-9
3 to
199
4-98
.T
he r
ate
of c
hild
ren
in f
oste
r ca
re s
tate
wid
e fe
ll 30
.4 p
erce
nt f
rom
199
8 to
200
0.T
he h
igh
scho
ol d
ropo
ut r
ate
has
falle
n 11
per
cent
fro
m 1
993
to 1
999.
The
rat
e of
chi
ld a
buse
and
neg
lect
in I
llino
is d
ropp
ed 6
.1 p
erce
nt f
rom
199
8 to
199
9.T
he n
umbe
r of
fam
ilies
and
chi
ldre
n on
wel
fare
dec
reas
ed 5
5.9
perc
ent f
rom
199
7 to
2000
.St
ill, t
here
is m
uch
room
for
impr
ovem
ent.
Whi
le th
e nu
mbe
r of
chi
ldre
n en
rolle
d in
Kid
Car
e m
ore
than
trip
led
from
199
8 to
200
0, a
n es
timat
ed 1
2.2
perc
ent o
f ch
ildre
n ar
est
ill w
ithou
t hea
lth in
sura
nce,
and
man
y of
thei
r pa
rent
sesp
ecia
lly th
ose
who
wor
k at
low
-pay
ing
jobs
with
lim
ited
or n
o be
nefi
tsar
e un
insu
red
as w
ell.
The
dec
reas
e in
the
perc
enta
geof
Illi
nois
chi
ldre
n liv
ing
in p
over
-ty
is u
ndou
bted
ly g
ood
new
s,fa
lling
fro
m 2
0 pe
rcen
t in
1988
-89
to 1
4.4
perc
ent i
n 19
98-9
9. Y
et a
new
sta
tistic
in th
is y
ear's
boo
k il-
lust
rate
s th
e di
ffic
ultie
s fa
mili
esfa
ce in
fin
ding
aff
orda
ble
hous
ing.
An
estim
ated
39
perc
ent o
f re
nter
sst
atew
ide
cann
ot a
ffor
d th
e fa
irm
arke
t ren
t for
a tw
o-be
droo
mun
it. The
teen
bir
th a
nd in
fant
mor
-ta
lity
rate
s co
ntin
ue to
fal
l in
Illi-
nois
, but
the
raci
al d
ispa
ritie
s ar
eob
viou
s. W
hile
9.7
per
cent
of
birt
hs to
whi
te m
othe
rs in
199
4-98
wer
e to
teen
s, 2
5.9
perc
ent o
fbi
rths
to A
fric
an-A
mer
ican
mot
h-er
s an
d 16
.4 p
erce
nt o
f bi
rths
toH
ispa
nic
mot
hers
in th
ose
year
s w
ere
to te
enag
ers.
Sim
ilarl
y, th
e in
fant
mor
talit
y ra
te f
or A
fric
an-A
mer
ican
bab
ies-
17.4
dea
ths
per
1,00
0bi
rths
in 1
994-
98fa
r ex
ceed
s th
e ra
te f
or a
ny o
ther
rac
e an
d th
e st
atew
ide
rate
of
8.6
deat
hs p
er 1
,000
bir
ths.
Thi
s ye
ar's
Illi
nois
Kid
s C
ount
for
the
firs
t tim
e pr
ovid
es r
acia
lbr
eakd
owns
of
seve
ral o
ther
sta
tistic
s on
a s
tate
wid
e le
vel t
o pr
ovid
e a
mor
e co
mpl
ete
pic-
ture
of
cond
ition
s fa
cing
chi
ldre
n.Il
linoi
s' n
atio
nal p
ositi
on is
impr
ovin
g, h
owev
er. E
ach
year
the
Ann
ie E
. Cas
ey F
oun-
datio
n re
leas
es th
e na
tiona
l Kid
s C
ount
Dat
a B
ook,
pro
filin
g co
nditi
ons
for
child
ren
inea
ch s
tate
. The
200
0 na
tiona
l Kid
s C
ount
ran
ks I
llino
is 3
0th
amon
g th
e 50
sta
tes
and
Dis
-tr
ict o
f C
olum
bia,
the
high
est r
anki
ng f
or I
llino
is in
the
hist
ory
of th
e re
port
. Illi
nois
rank
ed a
bove
the
natio
nal a
vera
ge in
the
child
dea
th r
ate,
hig
h sc
hool
dro
pout
rat
e an
dpe
rcen
tage
of
child
ren
in p
over
ty.
The
Cha
rter
for
Illi
nois
Chi
ldre
n is
a b
anne
r th
at is
ral
lyin
g ou
r ef
fort
s to
impr
ove
cond
i-tio
ns f
or th
e ch
ildre
n of
our
sta
te. A
ll of
usf
amili
es, c
omm
uniti
es, b
usin
esse
s an
d go
v-er
nmen
tmus
t pla
y an
act
ive
role
. Onl
y by
wor
king
toge
ther
can
we
prov
ide
enri
chin
gop
port
uniti
es th
at w
ill h
elp
child
rena
nd, i
n tu
rn, o
ur s
tate
thri
ve.
Illin
ois
Kid
s C
ount
200
12
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oice
s4ki
ds.o
rg9
VO
ICFS
FO
R I
LL
UC
ES
CH
ILD
RE
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-
The
Cha
rter
for
Illin
ois
Chi
ldre
nT
HE
CH
AR
IER
FO
R
ILL
INO
IS C
HIL
DR
EN
e ar
e co
mm
itted
to th
e w
ell b
eing
of
ever
y ch
ild. A
ll ch
ildre
n, r
egar
dles
s of
cir
-cu
mst
ance
s, a
re v
ital t
o th
e pr
eser
vatio
n of
a v
igor
ous
dem
ocra
cy. F
or c
hild
ren
to p
rosp
er, w
e m
ust m
eet a
ll th
eir
basi
c ne
eds.
We
mus
t nur
ture
eac
h ch
ildth
roug
h th
e fu
ll an
d ac
tive
part
icip
atio
n of
fam
ilies
and
the
broa
der
com
mun
ity, i
nclu
d-in
g ne
ighb
orho
ods,
sch
ools
, bus
ines
s, f
aith
com
mun
ities
and
gov
ernm
ent.
Whe
n ch
ildre
nre
aliz
e th
eir
pote
ntia
l and
ful
fill
thei
r dr
eam
s, o
ur c
omm
uniti
es f
lour
ish
and
we
are
en-
rich
ed b
eyon
d m
easu
re.
We
belie
ve in
thes
e va
lues
and
pri
ncip
les
and
com
mit
to w
ork
toge
ther
to s
ecur
e th
ego
als
of th
is c
hart
er f
or a
ll th
e ch
ildre
n of
Illi
nois
:C
hild
hood
is a
sac
red
time
that
sho
uld
be n
urtu
red,
cel
ebra
ted
and
pres
erve
d.C
hild
ren'
s ba
sic
need
s ar
e fa
mily
, saf
ety,
hea
lth, e
duca
tion,
eco
nom
ic s
ecur
ity a
nd a
rts,
recr
eatio
n an
d cu
lture
.A
ll ch
ildre
n ne
ed to
kno
w th
ey b
elon
g to
lovi
ng f
amili
es a
nd c
arin
g co
mm
uniti
es.
Just
as
fam
ilies
mus
t sup
port
chi
ldre
n, c
omm
uniti
es m
ust s
uppo
rt f
amili
es, a
nd g
over
n-m
ent a
nd b
usin
ess
mus
t sup
port
bot
h.A
ll ch
ildre
n de
serv
e sa
fe h
omes
, saf
e sc
hool
s an
d sa
fe c
omm
uniti
es.
Our
chi
ldre
n's
sens
e of
hop
e an
d po
ssib
ility
req
uire
s eq
ual a
cces
s to
app
ropr
iate
re-
sour
ces.
Chi
ldre
n ar
e pr
epar
ed f
or th
e fu
ture
whe
n w
e te
ach
them
and
they
lear
n to
hon
or a
ndre
spec
t div
ersi
ty.
As
child
ren
mat
ure,
we
mus
t see
k th
eir
voic
es, e
ngag
e th
em, a
nd r
ecog
nize
the
free
-do
m th
ey n
eed
to s
hape
thei
r de
stin
ies.
Chi
ldre
n ca
n le
arn
from
thei
r m
ista
kes.
The
y de
serv
e sy
stem
s th
at g
ive
them
that
op-
port
unity
.E
ach
child
is u
niqu
e.E
very
chi
ld is
ent
itled
to r
espe
ct.
We
mus
t nev
er g
ive
up o
n an
y ch
ild.
Whe
n ch
ildre
n re
aliz
e th
eir
pote
ntia
l and
ful
fill
thei
rdr
eam
s, o
ur c
omm
uniti
es f
lour
ish
and
we
are
enri
ched
beyo
nd m
easu
re.
rm kids
coun
t10
Ola
v 17
5srx
txri
t:
All
child
ren
are
part
of
lovi
ng a
nd s
afe
fam
ilies
. All
segm
ents
of
soci
ety
shar
e re
spon
si-
bilit
y fo
r su
ppor
ting
fam
ilies
in r
aisi
ng th
eir
child
ren
and
futu
re g
ener
atio
ns.
©cr
ags:
Prot
ect t
he d
igni
ty a
nd v
alue
the
dive
rsity
of
ever
y fa
mily
Res
pect
and
pre
serv
e th
e ch
ild's
bon
d w
ith p
aren
ts, f
amily
and
com
mun
itySu
ppor
t chi
ldre
n's
mor
al, s
piri
tual
and
eth
ical
dev
elop
men
tPr
ovid
e fa
mili
es w
ith th
e sk
ills,
kno
wle
dge
and
reso
urce
s to
dev
elop
, sup
port
and
sus
-ta
in lo
ving
hom
esE
mpo
wer
fam
ilies
to b
alan
ce th
e de
man
ds o
f pa
rent
ing,
wor
k an
d ed
ucat
ion
Enc
oura
ge p
aren
ts to
be
activ
e in
the
dem
ocra
tic p
roce
ss a
nd p
rom
ote
the
inte
rest
s of
child
ren
and
fam
ilies
D (
LP
C&
TIO
KI
elav A
ll ch
ildre
n re
ceiv
e, a
s a
righ
t, fr
ee q
ualit
y ed
ucat
ion
that
fos
ters
thei
r in
telle
ctua
l, so
-ci
al, e
mot
iona
l, ph
ysic
al, s
piri
tual
, cul
tura
l and
cre
ativ
e de
velo
pmen
t.
Goa
Dsg
Fost
er le
arni
ng b
egin
ning
at b
irth
Res
pect
and
sup
port
fam
ily a
s th
e ch
ild's
fir
st te
ache
rV
alue
and
inve
st in
teac
hers
as
a ke
y co
mpo
nent
of
ever
y ch
ild's
dev
elop
men
tI=
1 C
reat
e an
edu
catio
nal s
yste
m th
at is
a p
artn
ersh
ip o
f fa
mily
, com
mun
ity, a
nd s
choo
lR
espe
ct a
nd p
rovi
de f
or e
ach
child
's d
iffe
renc
es a
nd c
apac
ities
to le
arn
Supp
ort a
n eq
uita
ble,
ful
ly-f
unde
d sy
stem
that
pre
pare
s ev
ery
child
for
life
long
lear
n-in
gPr
ovid
e sa
fe, e
xcel
lent
, wel
l-fu
nded
sch
ools
in e
very
com
mun
ityD
evel
op th
e us
e of
sch
ools
as
com
mun
ity r
esou
rces
dur
ing
and
beyo
nd s
choo
l hou
rsT
each
chi
ldre
n to
und
erst
and
and
resp
ect d
iver
sity
, mul
tiple
cul
ture
s an
d la
ngua
ges,
and
a gl
obal
per
spec
tive
Illin
ois
Kid
s C
ount
200
1w
ww
.voi
ces4
kids
.org
3
11
-
n,G
;340
, RE
CR
IELM
OR
7 Lu
luC
ULT
ME
Oan
v All
child
ren
can
expr
ess
and
cele
brat
e th
eir
soul
s an
d sp
irits
thro
ugh
arts
, cul
ture
and
recr
eatio
n. C
hild
ren
have
ope
n tim
e to
dre
am, p
lay
and
crea
te.
Goa
Os:
Inte
grat
e ar
ts, c
ultu
re a
nd r
ecre
atio
n in
to th
e co
re c
urri
culu
m o
f ed
ucat
ion
Prov
ide
acce
ss to
a w
ide
vari
ety
of a
ffor
dabl
e, q
ualit
y ar
ts, c
ultu
re a
nd r
ecre
atio
nal p
ro-
gram
s fo
r ch
ildre
n of
all
ages
Cre
ate
ongo
ing
oppo
rtun
ities
to d
isco
ver,
rec
over
, pre
serv
e an
d ce
lebr
ate
trad
ition
sac
ross
cul
ture
sE
nsur
e th
at m
useu
ms,
libr
arie
s, p
arks
and
div
erse
cul
tura
l res
ourc
es a
re a
cces
sibl
e to
all c
hild
ren
m U
'Esn
om:
Eve
ry c
hild
live
s in
a p
hysi
cally
and
em
otio
nally
saf
e en
viro
nmen
t tha
t cul
tivat
es a
ccep
t-an
ce a
nd p
eace
.
Prom
ote
and
ensu
re s
afe,
non
-vio
lent
fam
ily a
nd c
omm
unity
env
iron
men
tsPr
otec
t chi
ldre
n fr
om th
e da
nger
s co
nfro
ntin
g th
emE
limin
ate
child
ren'
s ac
cess
to h
andg
uns
Tea
ch a
nd p
ract
ice
conf
lict r
esol
utio
n in
all
segm
ents
of
soci
ety
Prom
ote
soci
al ju
stic
e th
roug
h th
e el
imin
atio
n of
pre
judi
ce a
nd d
iscr
imin
atio
nIn
vest
in p
reve
ntio
n an
d in
terv
entio
n pr
ogra
ms
thro
ugh
legi
slat
ion,
fun
ding
, eva
lua-
tion
and
rese
arch
Incr
ease
saf
e in
door
and
out
door
nei
ghbo
rhoo
d re
crea
tiona
l act
iviti
esPr
omot
e no
n-vi
olen
t, po
sitiv
e im
ages
that
ref
lect
div
ersi
tyE
nsur
e eq
ual p
rote
ctio
n an
d du
e pr
oces
s of
law
for
all
child
ren
and
yout
h in
a s
yste
mw
hich
rec
ogni
zes
thei
r di
ffer
ing
capa
citie
s an
d pr
omot
es r
ehab
ilita
tion
and
lear
ning
12
111E
11.
4G;]
Ola
v Eve
ry c
hild
and
fam
ily is
gua
rant
eed
qual
ity, c
ompr
ehen
sive
hea
lth c
are.
All
child
ren
live
in a
hea
lthy
envi
ronm
ent t
hat a
llow
s th
em to
thri
ve.
Ocr
poO
s:
Ens
ure
that
no
child
ren
go h
ungr
yE
nsur
e qu
ality
pre
nata
l car
e is
ava
ilabl
e fo
r al
lIm
plem
ent a
n ef
fect
ive
heal
th a
nd n
utri
tion
educ
atio
n cu
rric
ulum
Prov
ide
inte
grat
ed, a
cces
sibl
e an
d hi
gh q
ualit
y m
enta
l hea
lth c
are
Focu
s on
pre
vent
ion
as a
key
to p
rese
rvin
g th
e he
alth
and
wel
l-be
ing
of c
hild
ren
Dev
elop
par
tner
ship
s fo
r cl
ean
air,
wat
er, l
and
and
a he
alth
y ec
osys
tem
EIC
OM
ON
O©
SE
CU
DO
UT
Caw
Vie
nA
ll ch
ildre
n ha
ve e
cono
mic
sec
urity
and
eco
nom
ic ju
stic
e: M
eani
ng a
cces
s to
foo
d,cl
othi
ng, t
rans
port
atio
n an
d sa
fe, a
ffor
dabl
e ho
usin
g, a
nd th
at a
ll fa
mili
es h
ave
equa
l op-
port
uniti
es to
pro
vide
thes
e ba
sic
econ
omic
nee
ds.
noel
s:Pr
ovid
e fa
mily
-fri
endl
y po
licie
s in
the
wor
kpla
ceD
evel
op a
fai
r ta
x po
licy
Cul
tivat
e m
arke
tabl
e jo
b sk
ills
thro
ugh
trai
ning
and
edu
catio
nPr
ovid
e ac
cess
ible
, aff
orda
ble,
hig
h-qu
ality
chi
ld c
are
Prom
ote
corp
orat
e pa
rtne
rshi
ps th
at s
tren
gthe
n co
mm
uniti
esPr
ovid
e ec
onom
ic s
ecur
ity th
roug
h go
vern
men
t ini
tiativ
es f
or th
e ch
ildre
n w
hose
par
-en
ts c
anno
t sup
port
them
Enh
ance
acc
ess
to jo
bs th
roug
h so
und
polic
ies
for
hous
ing
and
tran
spor
tatio
n
aditt
ettA
lIll
inoi
s K
ids
Cou
nt 2
001
4w
ww
.voi
ces4
kids
.org
13V
OIC
ES
FOR
poo
ls C
HIL
DR
EN
-
Fam
ilyge
t
Cha
rter
vis
ion:
All
child
ren
are
part
of l
ovin
g an
d sa
fe fa
mili
es.
All
segm
ents
of
soci
ety
shar
e re
spon
sibi
lity
for
supp
ortin
g fa
mi-
lies
in r
aisi
ng th
eir
child
ren
and
futu
re g
ener
atio
ns.
The
Cha
rter
for
Illi
nois
Chi
ldre
n en
visi
ons
a w
orld
whe
re c
hild
ren
are
nurt
ured
thro
ugh
the
full
and
activ
e pa
rtic
ipat
ion
of f
amili
esan
d th
e br
oade
r co
mm
unity
, inc
ludi
ng n
eigh
borh
oods
, sch
ools
,bu
sine
ss, f
aith
org
aniz
atio
ns a
nd g
over
nmen
t.Pa
rent
s an
d fa
mili
es a
re a
chi
ld's
fir
st te
ache
r, r
ole
mod
el a
ndpr
otec
tor.
The
y pr
ovid
e fo
r a
child
's b
asic
nee
ds a
nd c
reat
e a
heal
thy
and
safe
env
iron
men
t. Y
et ju
st a
s fa
mili
es m
ust s
uppo
rtch
ildre
n, c
omm
uniti
es m
ust s
uppo
rt f
amili
es, a
nd b
usin
ess
and
gove
rnm
ent m
ust s
uppo
rt b
oth.
DIM
UM
SV
IEE
IMA
IE N
O7T
hIlE
MS
Cha
rter
goa
l: E
mpo
wer
fam
ilies
to b
alan
ce th
e de
man
ds o
f pa
r-en
ting,
wor
k an
d ed
ucat
ion.
Am
eric
an te
enag
ers
are
havi
ng b
abie
s at
the
low
est r
ate
in a
tle
ast 6
0 ye
ars.
For
eve
ry 1
,000
gir
ls a
ges
15 to
19,
ther
e w
ere
49.6
birt
hs la
st y
ear,
acc
ordi
ng to
the
Cen
ters
for
Dis
ease
Con
trol
and
Pre
vent
ion.
A d
ecre
ase
isoc
curr
ing
in I
llino
is a
s w
ellb
irth
s to
gir
ls u
nder
age
20
fell
2.3
perc
ent f
rom
the
peri
od
Birt
hs to
Tee
n M
othe
rs, 1
994-
98
All
Rac
es
EiB
irths
to te
ens
His
pani
c m
ay b
e of
any
rac
e.
Sou
rce:
Illin
ois
Dep
artm
ent o
f Pub
lic H
ealth
Whi
teB
lack
Asi
an-
Pac
ific
Isla
nder
His
pani
c
rim
kids
coun
t1I1
1989
-93
to 1
994-
98.
The
dro
p ha
s be
en a
ttrib
uted
tofe
wer
teen
s ha
ving
sex
and
in-
crea
sed
use
of b
irth
con
trol
am
ong
thos
e w
ho d
o. T
he Y
outh
Ris
k B
e-ha
vior
Sur
veill
ance
Sys
tem
, a s
tudy
cond
ucte
d fo
r th
e C
DC
, fou
nd 4
8pe
rcen
t of
high
sch
ool s
tude
nts
na-
tionw
ide
repo
rted
hav
ing
sex
in19
97, d
own
from
54
perc
ent i
n19
90. A
nd 5
7 pe
rcen
t rep
orte
dus
ing
cond
oms
in 1
997,
up
from
45
perc
ent i
n 19
90.
Tee
n bi
rths
rep
rese
nted
12.
7pe
rcen
t of
all b
irth
s in
Illi
nois
bet
wee
nye
ars: 25
.9 p
erce
nt o
f bi
rths
to A
fric
an-A
mer
ican
mot
hers
wer
e to
teen
s.16
.4 p
erce
nt o
f bi
rths
to H
ispa
nic
mot
hers
wer
e to
teen
s.9.
7 pe
rcen
t of
birt
hs to
whi
te m
othe
rs w
ere
to te
ens.
Preg
nant
and
par
entin
g te
ens
face
add
ition
al o
bsta
cles
for
Tee
n B
irths
by A
ge, 1
998
Und
er 1
52.
0%
Sou
rce:
Illin
ois
Dep
artm
ent o
f Pub
lic H
ealth
1994
and
199
8. I
n th
ose
them
selv
es a
s w
ell a
s fo
r th
eir
baby
. You
ng m
othe
rs n
eed
supp
ort i
n co
mpl
etin
g th
eir
edu-
catio
n, e
arni
ng a
livi
ng w
age
and
achi
evin
g ne
cess
ary
soci
al, e
mot
iona
l and
par
entin
gsk
ills
to e
nsur
e th
e he
alth
and
wel
l bei
ng o
f th
eir
babi
es.
Whi
le m
any
prog
ram
sinc
ludi
ng V
oice
s fo
r Il
linoi
s C
hild
ren'
s St
art E
arly
: Lea
rnin
g B
e-gi
ns a
t Bir
thw
ork
with
you
ng m
othe
rs, t
he O
ak P
ark
Hea
lth D
epar
tmen
t tar
gets
a g
ener
-al
ly o
verl
ooke
d po
pula
tion.
Its
Fat
herh
ood
Prog
ram
edu
cate
s yo
ung
men
abo
ut p
reve
nt-
ing
unw
ante
d pr
egna
ncie
s an
d al
so w
orks
with
unm
arri
ed a
nd m
arri
ed y
oung
men
to p
re-
pare
them
for
thei
r ne
w r
ole
as f
athe
rs.
CM
ILD
RIE
NI R
OR
G:7
0 uW
[BO
O S
VIE
R Q
5:90
ZU
DS
UB
TO
VE
c&
RE
Cha
rter
goa
l: Pr
ovid
e fa
mili
es w
ith th
e sk
ills,
kno
wle
dge
and
reso
urce
s to
dev
elop
, sup
port
and
sust
ain
lovi
ng h
omes
.
The
num
ber
of c
hild
ren
rem
oved
fro
m th
eir
hom
es b
ecau
se o
f ab
use
or n
egle
ct a
nd
Illin
ois
Kid
s C
ount
200
1w
ww
.voi
ces4
kids
.org
15
-
Chi
ldre
n in
Fos
ter
and
Sub
stitu
te C
are
II C
hild
ren
in fo
ster
car
e °
Chi
ldre
n m
oved
to p
erm
anen
t hom
es*
60,0
00
50,0
00
40,0
00
30,0
00
20,0
00
10,0
00 019
89 1
990
1991
199
2 19
93 1
994
1995
199
6 19
97 1
998
1999
Ado
ptio
ns o
r gu
ardi
ansh
ips
Sou
rce:
Illin
ois
Dep
artm
ent o
f Chi
ldre
n an
d F
amily
Ser
vice
s
plac
ed in
sub
stitu
te c
are
(whi
ch in
clud
es f
oste
r ca
re, i
nstit
utio
ns a
nd g
roup
hom
es)
reac
hed
its p
eak
of 5
1,59
9 ch
ildre
n in
Mar
ch 1
997.
But
the
num
bers
are
cha
ngin
g:T
here
wer
e 33
,664
chi
ldre
n in
sub
stitu
te c
are
in 2
000,
a r
ate
of 1
2.8
per
1,00
0 ch
ildre
n.T
hat's
a d
eclin
e fr
om 1
998,
whe
n 48
,468
chi
ldre
nor
16.4
per
1,0
00w
ere
in s
ubst
i-tu
te c
are.
The
Illi
nois
Dep
artm
ent o
f C
hild
ren
and
Fam
ily S
ervi
ces
attr
ibut
es th
e tu
rnar
ound
tore
new
ed e
mph
asis
on
mov
ing
child
ren
out o
f th
e fo
ster
sys
tem
and
into
per
man
ent
hom
es. M
ore
child
ren
wer
e m
oved
into
per
man
ent h
omes
in f
isca
l yea
r 19
99 th
an in
the
prev
ious
10
year
s co
mbi
ned.
DC
FS a
rran
ged
for
the
adop
tion
of 7
,040
chi
ldre
nin
200
0, a
n 83
per
cent
incr
ease
sin
ce 1
998,
mak
ing
Illin
ois
the
natio
n's
lead
er in
ado
ptio
ns o
f ch
ildre
nin
fos
ter
care
.1=
1 A
n ad
ditio
nal 1
,500
fos
ter
child
ren
wer
e pl
aced
with
lega
l gua
rdia
ns in
200
0, a
who
ppin
g 80
0 pe
r-ce
nt in
crea
se s
ince
199
7. G
uard
ians
rec
eive
a s
tate
subs
idy
for
taki
ng in
a f
oste
r ch
ild.
DC
FS r
ecei
ved
accr
edita
tion
in J
une
2000
fro
m th
ena
tiona
l Cou
ncil
on A
ccre
dita
tion
for
Chi
ldre
n an
dFa
mily
Ser
vice
s af
ter
achi
evin
g a
seri
es o
f sy
stem
re-
form
s an
d qu
ality
impr
ovem
ents
. DC
FS is
the
seco
nd
Just
as
fam
ilies
mus
tsu
ppor
t chi
ldre
n,co
mm
uniti
es m
ust
supp
ort f
amili
es,
and
busi
ness
and
gove
rnm
ent m
ust
supp
ort b
oth.
16
6
Ful
fillin
g th
e C
hart
er: S
outh
ern
Reg
ion
Par
ent R
esou
rce
Cen
ter
The
Sou
ther
n R
egio
n Pa
rent
Res
ourc
e C
ente
r in
Mou
nt V
erno
n, w
hich
ope
ned
inA
ugus
t 200
0, is
an
exam
ple
of a
com
mun
ity jo
inin
g fo
rces
to s
uppo
rt a
nd e
mpo
wer
fam
ilies
. The
vis
ion
for
a re
sour
ce f
acili
ty e
mer
ged
whe
n a
grou
p of
con
cern
ed p
ar-
ents
fro
m s
outh
ern
Illin
ois
cam
e to
geth
er a
roun
d th
e co
mm
on f
rust
ratio
n of
fin
ding
reso
urce
s an
d su
ppor
t in
thei
r co
mm
uniti
es.
"The
sou
ther
n re
gion
is u
niqu
e be
caus
e re
sour
ces
aren
't co
ncen
trat
ed in
a c
entr
allo
catio
n an
d pa
rent
s liv
e in
suc
h ru
ral a
reas
that
they
are
oft
en is
olat
ed a
nd d
on't
know
whe
re to
turn
for
hel
p,"
co-f
ound
er D
ian
Led
bette
r ex
plai
ned.
The
cen
ter
links
fam
ilies
to r
esou
rces
, tra
ins
pare
nts
to a
dvoc
ate
for
thei
r ch
ildre
nan
d em
pow
ers
them
to s
peak
up
for
bette
r sc
hool
s an
d co
mm
uniti
es. "
We
wan
t to
give
par
ents
a p
lace
to le
arn
to b
e le
ader
s an
d to
talk
to o
ther
lead
ers,
" co
-fou
nder
Dar
line
John
son
said
.O
ne o
f th
e un
ique
qua
litie
s of
the
cent
er is
that
it is
ope
rate
d fo
r an
d by
par
ents
.O
ne a
ctiv
e pa
rent
sai
d th
e gr
eate
st b
enef
it is
fee
ling
conn
ecte
d to
oth
er p
aren
ts. "
You
feel
you
're o
ut th
ere
all a
lone
whe
n yo
u ha
ve a
pro
blem
with
you
r ch
ild o
r yo
urch
ild's
sch
ool,
but j
ust g
ettin
g in
touc
h w
ith o
ther
par
ents
mak
es a
ll th
e di
ffer
ence
inth
e w
orld
," th
e pa
rent
sai
d.T
he c
ente
r en
dors
ed T
he C
hart
er f
or I
llino
is C
hild
ren
beca
use,
acc
ordi
ng to
Led
bet-
ter,
"w
e ag
ree
with
the
Cha
rter
that
com
mun
ities
are
res
pons
ible
for
sup
port
ing
fam
i-lie
s. W
e ar
e al
l abo
ut e
mpo
wer
ing
and
enco
urag
ing
pare
nts
and
we
know
that
the
way
to a
chie
ve th
is is
to w
ork
toge
ther
."T
he c
ente
r its
elf
is th
e re
sult
of th
e co
llabo
rativ
e ef
fort
s of
man
y di
vers
e gr
oups
from
sch
ools
and
soc
ial s
ervi
ce a
genc
ies
to b
usin
esse
s an
d vo
lunt
eer
orga
niza
tions
.Fo
r m
ore
info
rmat
ion,
cal
l Dar
line
John
son
or D
ian
Led
bette
r at
(61
8) 2
44 6
952
or 1
-800
-205
-823
2.
child
-wel
fare
age
ncy
in th
e co
untr
y to
rec
eive
acc
redi
tatio
n by
adh
erin
g to
hig
h na
tiona
lst
anda
rds.
Cri
tics
of D
CFS
' tur
naro
und
are
conc
erne
d th
at r
epor
ts o
f ch
ild a
buse
will
be
deem
edun
subs
tant
ial a
nd n
ot n
eedi
ng in
terv
entio
n, r
esul
ting
in a
buse
d or
neg
lect
ed c
hild
ren
not
bein
g ta
ken
into
pro
tect
ive
cust
ody.
DC
FS D
irec
tor
Jess
McD
onal
d cr
edits
"fr
ont-
end"
ser
vice
s fo
r fa
mili
es, s
uch
as c
ouns
el-
ing
and
cris
is in
terv
entio
n, w
ith h
elpi
ng to
dec
reas
e th
e nu
mbe
r of
chi
ldre
n in
sub
stitu
teca
re. T
he d
epar
tmen
t als
o de
crea
sed
the
case
load
per
wor
ker.
Illin
ois
Kid
s C
ount
200
1w
ww
.voi
ces4
kids
.org
17V
OIC
ES
FOR
ILL
INIX
S C
I II
IDR
EN
-
Edu
catio
n"f
t)P
N
Cha
rter
vis
ion:
All
child
ren
rece
ive,
as
a ri
ght,
free
qua
lity
educ
atio
n th
at f
oste
rs th
eir
inte
l-le
ctua
l, so
cial
, em
otio
nal,
phys
ical
, spi
ritu
al, c
ultu
ral a
nd c
reat
ive
deve
lopm
ent.
A p
aren
t's c
ontin
ual i
nvol
vem
ent i
n th
eir
child
's le
arni
ng p
roce
ssal
ong
with
qua
lity
educ
atio
nal e
xper
ienc
es f
rom
bir
th th
roug
h hi
gh s
choo
lis p
art o
f th
e fo
unda
tion
that
help
s ch
ildre
n th
rive
. Qua
lifie
d an
d ca
ring
teac
hers
, a b
alan
ced
and
enga
ging
cur
ricu
lum
,te
chno
logy
that
pre
pare
s ch
ildre
n fo
r th
e fu
ture
and
ade
quat
e re
sour
ces
to m
ake
such
ne-
cess
ities
a r
ealit
y at
eac
h gr
ade
leve
l are
key
ingr
edie
nts
for
succ
ess
in s
choo
l and
bey
ond.
The
sta
te's
ear
ly in
terv
entio
n sy
stem
pla
ys a
cri
tical
rol
e in
pre
pari
ng c
hild
ren
with
de-
velo
pmen
tal d
isab
ilitie
s fo
r lif
elon
g le
arni
ng. E
arly
inte
rven
tion
serv
ices
mus
t be
avai
labl
efo
r al
l chi
ldre
n w
ho n
eed
them
.
EM
ILV
cza
nE &
MD
EID
UO
MO
M
Cha
rter
goa
l: V
alue
and
inve
st in
teac
hers
as
a ke
y co
mpo
nent
of
ever
y ch
ild's
dev
elop
-m
ent. As
brea
kthr
ough
s in
bra
in r
esea
rch
dem
onst
rate
that
mos
t dev
elop
men
t occ
urs
in th
efi
rst y
ears
of
life,
edu
catio
n ta
kes
on a
mor
e m
eani
ngfu
l rol
e pr
ior
to k
inde
rgar
ten.
Wha
tch
ildre
n le
arn
in th
ese
earl
y ye
ars
affe
cts
thei
r ab
ility
to u
nder
stan
d la
ngua
ge, s
olve
pro
blem
s an
d ge
tal
ong
wel
l with
oth
ers,
am
ong
othe
r fa
ctor
s.W
elfa
re r
efor
m a
nd th
e st
rong
eco
nom
y ha
ve in
-cr
ease
d th
e nu
mbe
r of
par
ents
in th
e w
orkf
orce
, ac-
cent
uatin
g th
e im
port
ance
of
child
car
e. C
urre
ntly
,ab
out h
alf
of th
e na
tion'
s pr
esch
oole
rs h
ave
mot
h-er
s w
ho a
re w
orki
ng.'
Of
thos
e, 7
7 pe
rcen
t rec
eive
som
e fo
rm o
f ch
ild c
are.
' With
so
man
y ch
ildre
n re
-qu
irin
g ch
ild c
are,
the
qual
ity o
f th
e ca
re b
ecom
esin
crea
sing
ly im
port
ant.
The
impa
ct o
f qu
ality
car
e is
par
ticul
arly
impo
r-ta
nt f
or lo
w-i
ncom
e ch
ildre
n. A
199
9 st
udy
foun
d lo
w-i
ncom
e ch
ildre
n w
ho r
ecei
ved
high
-qu
ality
chi
ld c
are
from
infa
ncy
to k
inde
rgar
ten
wer
e m
ore
likel
y to
hav
e hi
gher
IQ
lan-
guag
e, r
eadi
ng a
nd m
ath
scor
es; b
e in
sch
ool a
t age
21;
atte
nd o
r gr
adua
te f
rom
a f
our-
year
col
lege
; del
ay p
regn
ancy
; and
be
empl
oyed
.'A
ppro
xim
atel
y 60
per
cent
of
youn
g ch
ildre
n w
ith e
mpl
oyed
par
ents
who
par
ticip
ate
in
Wha
t chi
ldre
n le
arn
inth
eir
earl
y ye
ars
affe
cts
thei
r ab
ility
toun
ders
tand
lang
uage
,so
lve
prob
lem
s an
d ge
tal
ong
wel
l with
oth
ers.
kids
coun
t18
the
Illin
ois
Dep
artm
ent o
fH
uman
Ser
vice
s' s
ubsi
dize
dch
ild c
are
prog
ram
are
car
edfo
r in
lice
nse-
exem
pt s
ettin
gs.
In o
rder
to e
nsur
e qu
ality
care
, man
y po
licy
mak
ers
and
advo
cate
s en
cour
age
licen
se-
exem
pt p
rovi
ders
to b
ecom
elic
ense
d an
d pa
rtic
ipat
e in
trai
ning
.C
hild
car
e ce
nter
s in
Illi
-no
is a
re s
trug
glin
g to
fin
d an
dre
tain
qua
lifie
d te
achi
ng s
taff
.A
typi
cal c
ente
r m
ust r
epla
cene
arly
hal
f its
sta
ff e
very
two
year
s be
caus
e lo
w w
ages
anav
erag
e of
$7.
40 p
er h
our
and
lack
of
bene
fits
cau
sem
any
child
car
e te
ache
rs to
leav
e th
eir
jobs
.In
spr
ing
2000
, the
Illi
nois
Leg
isla
ture
and
Gov
. Geo
rge
Rya
n to
ok a
fir
st s
tep
tow
ard
addr
essi
ng th
is p
robl
em b
y ap
-pr
ovin
g G
reat
ST
AR
T. G
reat
STA
RT
will
off
er b
onus
es to
child
car
e te
ache
rs w
ho r
e-m
ain
wor
king
at o
ne c
ente
r or
hom
e an
d at
tain
hig
her
leve
ls o
f ed
ucat
ion.
Ano
ther
str
ateg
y to
impr
ove
the
qual
ity o
f ch
ild c
are
is th
roug
h vo
lunt
ary
accr
edita
tion
by in
depe
nden
t org
aniz
atio
ns s
uch
as th
e N
atio
nal A
ssoc
iatio
n fo
r th
e E
duca
tion
ofY
oung
Chi
ldre
n. A
ccre
dite
d ce
nter
s an
d ho
mes
mus
t mee
t nat
iona
l sta
ndar
ds o
f qu
ality
.So
me
stat
es o
ffer
hig
her
reim
burs
emen
t rat
es f
or s
ubsi
dize
d ca
re a
t acc
redi
ted
cent
ers
and
hom
es.
In I
llino
is, t
here
wer
e 30
3 ac
cred
ited
child
car
e ce
nter
s an
d 12
5 ac
cred
ited
child
car
eho
mes
in 2
000o
nly
3.4
perc
ent o
f al
l lic
ense
d ce
nter
s an
d ho
mes
.
C.
Illin
ois
Kid
s C
ount
200
1w
ww
.voi
ces4
kids
.org
107
-
ME
M S
VA
DU
&K
ID P
IAE
-GU
MID
EU
MIG
NE
R9
Cha
rter
goa
l: C
reat
e an
edu
catio
nal s
yste
m th
at is
a p
artn
ersh
ip o
f fa
mily
, com
mun
ity a
ndsc
hool
.
The
fed
eral
Hea
d St
art a
nd s
tate
pre
-kin
derg
arte
n pr
ogra
ms
prov
ide
cruc
ial e
duca
tion-
al r
esou
rces
for
pre
scho
ol-a
ge c
hild
ren
from
low
-inc
ome
fam
ilies
who
are
at g
reat
er r
isk
ofsc
hool
fai
lure
.In
Illi
nois
, 15.
3 pe
rcen
t of
3- to
5-y
ear-
old
child
ren
wer
e en
rolle
d in
Hea
d St
art o
r pr
e-ki
nder
gart
en d
urin
g th
e 19
99-2
000
scho
ol y
ear.
But
7,0
00 e
ligib
le c
hild
ren
are
on w
aitin
glis
ts f
or p
re-k
inde
rgar
ten,
acc
ordi
ng to
the
Illin
ois
Stat
e B
oard
of
Edu
catio
n.W
hile
thes
e pr
ogra
ms
prov
ide
a m
uch-
need
ed r
esou
rce
for
child
ren
and
fam
ilies
, few
offe
r fu
ll-da
y, y
ear-
roun
d ca
re. N
atio
nally
, onl
y ab
out h
alf
of a
ll H
ead
Star
t pro
gram
s pr
o-vi
de f
ull-
day
prog
ram
s' M
ore
than
a q
uart
er o
f th
e ch
ildre
n se
rved
by
Hea
d St
art r
equi
resu
pple
men
tal c
hild
car
e. T
hese
chi
ldre
n sp
end,
on
aver
age,
an
addi
tiona
l 19
hour
s a
wee
kin
chi
ld c
are.
'T
here
is a
nee
d to
ass
ist H
ead
Star
t and
pre
-kin
derg
arte
n pr
ogra
ms,
chi
ld c
are
prov
ider
s an
d nu
rser
y sc
hool
s in
for
min
g pa
rtne
rshi
ps th
at le
ad to
pro
vidi
ng f
ull-
day,
qua
l-ity
car
e fo
r w
orki
ng p
aren
ts.
Hig
h S
choo
lD
ropo
ut R
ates
1998
-99
Hig
her
than
the
stat
e
aver
age
(6.5
3%)
Sou
rce:
Illin
ois
Sta
leB
oard
of E
duca
tion
208
mum
SM
OC
ILD
D D
OL
DO
UV
O
Cha
rter
goa
l: R
espe
ct a
nd p
rovi
de f
or e
ach
child
's d
iffe
renc
es a
nd c
apac
ities
to le
arn.
Gra
duat
ing
from
hig
h sc
hool
is a
min
imum
requ
irem
ent t
o co
mpe
te e
ffec
tivel
y in
toda
y's
labo
r m
arke
t. B
ut th
e co
nseq
uenc
es o
f dr
op-
ping
out
are
not
sol
ely
econ
omic
. Dro
pout
s ar
e3%
tim
es m
ore
likel
y th
an h
igh
scho
ol g
radu
ates
to b
e ar
rest
ed a
nd s
ix ti
mes
as
likel
y to
bec
ome
unm
arri
ed p
aren
ts.'
The
nat
iona
l hig
h sc
hool
dro
pout
rat
e fo
rst
uden
ts a
ged
16 to
19-
10 p
erce
ntha
s no
tch
ange
d si
gnif
ican
tly d
urin
g th
e la
st 1
0 ye
ars.
Illin
ois,
how
ever
, has
see
n so
me
impr
ovem
ent.
In th
e 19
98-9
9 sc
hool
yea
r, 6
.5 p
erce
nt o
f al
l Illi
-no
is h
igh
scho
ol s
tude
nts
drop
ped
out,
a de
-cr
ease
fro
m th
e 7.
3 pe
rcen
t who
dro
pped
out
in th
e 19
93-9
4 sc
hool
yea
r.R
acia
l dis
pari
ties
exis
t am
ong
stud
ents
who
drop
out
. In
1998
-99,
13.
3 pe
rcen
t of
Afr
ican
-
Ful
fillin
g th
e C
hart
er.
Ple
dge
for
Life
Par
tner
ship
Chi
ldre
n in
Iro
quoi
s an
d K
anka
kee
coun
ties
are
lear
ning
abo
ut h
ealth
y lif
esty
less
uch
as th
eim
port
ance
of
choo
sing
the
righ
t fri
ends
and
the
bene
fits
of
a ba
lanc
ed d
ietf
rom
the
Pled
ge f
orL
ife
Part
ners
hip.
The
par
tner
ship
, whi
ch c
eleb
rate
d its
10t
h an
-ni
vers
ary
as a
col
labo
rativ
e pr
ogra
m in
199
9,fo
rmed
in r
eact
ion
to d
estr
uctiv
e be
havi
ors
insc
hool
-age
you
th. T
he p
artn
ersh
ip s
tart
ed w
ithth
e Ju
nior
Lea
gue
of K
anka
kee
Cou
nty
and
the
Iroq
uois
-Kan
kake
e R
egio
nal O
ffic
e of
Edu
catio
nan
d ha
s gr
own
to in
clud
e m
yria
d ot
her
orga
niza
-tio
ns a
nd in
divi
dual
s.T
he p
artn
ersh
ip's
fla
gshi
p pr
ogra
m is
the
Lif
eE
duca
tion
Cen
ter,
a m
obile
cla
ssro
om th
at v
isits
Har
old
the
Gir
affe
mee
ts w
ith s
tu-
scho
ols
annu
ally
to e
duca
te s
tude
nts
on a
var
iety
dent
s.
of h
uman
dev
elop
men
t top
ics.
The
Lif
e E
duca
tion
Cen
ter
prog
ram
s w
ere
laun
ched
in 1
990
to c
ount
er te
en p
regn
ancy
, ille
gal d
rug
use
amon
g yo
uth
and
othe
r de
stru
c-tiv
e be
havi
ors,
par
tner
ship
Dir
ecto
r D
ebra
Bar
on e
xpla
ined
.T
he m
obile
cla
ssro
om o
ffer
s le
sson
s on
topi
cs f
rom
the
bene
fits
of
exer
cise
to s
ub-
stan
ce a
buse
and
vio
lenc
e pr
even
tion.
The
se c
lass
room
ses
sion
s "a
re n
ot a
sca
re ta
c-tic
," B
aron
sai
d, b
ut r
athe
r an
atte
mpt
to e
duca
te c
hild
ren
abou
t hea
lthy
lifes
tyle
choi
ces.
Mas
cot H
arol
d th
e G
iraf
fe b
oth
ente
rtai
ns c
hild
ren
and
leav
es a
n im
pres
sion
on th
em a
fter
the
less
ons
are
over
.T
he L
ife
Edu
catio
n C
ente
r vi
sits
14,
500
stud
ents
in k
inde
rgar
ten
thro
ugh
seve
nth
grad
e in
55
publ
ic a
nd p
riva
te s
choo
ls e
ach
year
. The
pro
gram
will
exp
and
to in
clud
eei
ghth
gra
ders
dur
ing
the
next
two
year
s.Fo
r m
ore
info
rmat
ion,
cal
l Deb
ra B
aron
at (
815)
936
-460
6.
f
,r)
C2
0 .4
Am
eric
an s
tude
nts
in I
llino
is d
ropp
ed o
ut, c
ompa
red
with
11.
4 pe
rcen
t of
His
pani
c st
u-de
nts
and
4 pe
rcen
t of
whi
te s
tude
nts.
Thi
rtee
n of
102
cou
ntie
s in
Illi
nois
had
dro
pout
rat
es h
ighe
r th
an th
e st
ate
aver
age
in19
98-9
9. F
our
of th
ose
coun
tiesC
ook,
Mac
on, M
ario
n an
d Pe
oria
saw
an
impr
ovem
ent
in th
eir
drop
out r
ate.
The
oth
ersC
oles
, Har
din,
Hen
ders
on, K
nox,
Law
renc
e, P
ulas
ki,
Salin
e, V
erm
ilion
and
Win
neba
go c
ount
iess
aw in
crea
ses.
Add
ress
ing
diff
eren
ces
in in
divi
dual
stu
dent
s' le
arni
ng a
bilit
iesa
s w
ell a
s th
e ra
cial
disp
ariti
es in
dro
pout
rat
esca
n he
lp te
ens
stay
in s
choo
l.
Illin
ois
Kid
s C
ount
200
1w
ww
.voi
ces4
kids
.org
21iti
etat
JA,
VO
ICE
S F
OR
ILLI
MIS
CH
ILD
RE
N
-
Art
s, r
ecre
atio
n an
d cu
lture
)PN
Cha
rter
vis
ion:
All
child
ren
can
expr
ess
and
cele
brat
e th
eir
soul
s an
d sp
irits
thro
ugh
arts
, cul
ture
and
rec
reat
ion.
Chi
l-dr
en h
ave
open
tim
e to
dre
am, p
lay
and
crea
te.
Chi
ldre
n ex
peri
ence
the
arts
, rec
reat
ion
and
cultu
re in
man
y w
ays
and
in m
any
setti
ngs.
Sch
ools
are
just
one
pla
cew
here
chi
ldre
n le
arn
abou
t the
art
s. N
inet
y-se
ven
perc
ent
of p
ublic
ele
men
tary
sch
ools
off
er m
usic
and
85
perc
ent
offe
r vi
sual
art
s pr
ogra
ms,
whi
le a
maj
ority
of
high
sch
ools
offe
r se
para
te in
stru
ctio
n in
mus
ic (
94 p
erce
nt)
and
visu
alar
ts (
89 p
erce
nt).
'Pr
ovid
ing
expe
rien
ces
inar
ts, r
ecre
atio
n an
d cu
lture
is n
ot th
e so
le r
espo
nsib
ility
of s
choo
l dis
tric
ts. P
ark
dis-
tric
ts a
nd n
on-p
rofi
t org
ani-
zatio
ns a
cros
s th
e st
ate
are
am
ajor
sou
rce
of th
ese
activ
i-tie
s. A
stu
dy b
y th
e C
hapi
nH
all C
ente
r fo
r C
hild
ren
atth
e U
nive
rsity
of
Chi
cago
foun
d th
at in
Chi
cago
alo
ne20
8 pu
blic
par
ks, 7
9 pu
blic
libra
ries
and
211
pri
vate
,no
n-pr
ofit
orga
niza
tions
offe
r ar
ts p
rogr
ams
for
child
ren.
'T
here
is n
o ce
ntra
lized
met
hod
of c
olle
ctin
g da
ta o
nch
ildre
n's
acce
ss a
nd e
xpos
ure
to a
rt, r
ecre
atio
n an
d cu
lture
in I
lli-
nois
. Des
igni
ng a
sys
tem
atic
col
lect
ion
of d
ata
wou
ld h
elp
fam
ilies
bette
r un
ders
tand
the
fabr
ic o
f op
port
uniti
es a
nd e
nabl
e pu
blic
agen
cies
and
non
-pro
fit o
rgan
izat
ions
to f
orge
new
col
labo
ratio
ns.
Bet
ter
data
wou
ld a
lso
info
rm th
e de
sign
of
stra
tegi
es to
enh
ance
the
role
of
arts
and
rec
reat
ion
in a
ll ch
ildre
n's
lives
.T
his
year
's I
llino
is K
ids
Cou
nt e
xam
ines
one
lim
ited
mea
sure
of
child
ren'
s ex
posu
re to
art
s an
d re
crea
tion:
the
num
ber
of a
rts
and
recr
eatio
n te
ache
rs in
pub
lic s
choo
ls.
In C
hica
go a
lone
,20
8 pu
blic
par
ks,
79 p
ublic
libr
arie
san
d 21
1 pr
ivat
e,no
n-pr
ofit
orga
niza
tions
off
erar
ts p
rogr
ams
for
child
ren.
rim
kids
coun
t
Kid
s C
ount
Fac
t:T
here
are
3.1
8m
illio
n ch
ildre
nin
Illin
ois
Dur
ing
the
1998
-99
scho
ol y
ear,
ther
e w
ere
12,8
84 a
rts
and
recr
e-at
ion
teac
hers
in I
llino
is, o
r on
e te
ache
r fo
r ev
ery
153
stud
ents
.C
hica
go h
ad o
ne te
ache
r fo
r ev
ery
236
stud
ents
, the
hig
hest
rat
ioin
the
stat
e.T
he lo
wes
t tea
cher
-to-
stud
ent r
atio
s w
ere
in P
ope
(one
teac
her
for
ever
y 80
stu
dent
s), H
ende
rson
(83
), M
cDon
ough
(85
), B
row
n(8
9) a
nd H
anco
ck (
89)
coun
ties.
The
Mar
win
Fou
ndat
ion
in C
hica
go is
one
org
aniz
atio
n th
at p
ro-
vide
s ex
posu
re to
the
arts
out
side
the
clas
sroo
m. T
he f
ound
atio
n of
-
22Il
linoi
s K
ids
Cou
nt 2
001
2 3
ww
w.v
oice
s4ki
ds.o
rg9
-
fers
aft
er-s
choo
l, w
eeke
nd a
nd s
umm
er f
ine
arts
pro
gram
sas
wel
l as
acce
ss to
stu
dios
galle
ries
and
libr
arie
sto
unde
rser
ved
child
ren
ages
6 to
12.
The
mem
bers
of
the
Illin
ois
Ass
ocia
tion
Cre
ate
ongo
ing
oppo
rtun
ities
to d
isco
ver,
reco
ver,
pre
serv
e an
dce
lebr
ate
trad
ition
s ac
ross
cultu
res.
The
Cha
rter
for
Illin
ois
Chi
ldre
n
24
10
of P
ark
Dis
tric
ts p
rovi
de a
ran
ge o
f ac
tiviti
es,
incl
udin
g us
e of
com
pute
rs f
or c
hild
ren
who
may
not
hav
e th
e te
chno
logy
at h
ome.
The
Oak
Bro
ok P
ark
Dis
tric
t's a
fter
-sch
ool p
ro-
gram
pro
vide
s ac
cess
to c
ompu
ters
as
wel
l as
arts
and
cra
fts
activ
ities
and