Starting July 1, 2026, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood will officially become the lead agency for Child Care Licensing, Head Start, Home Visiting, Early Intervention and the Child Care Assistance Program, Early Childhood Block Grant, and a range of other early childhood support to families, providers, and educators. Should you have any questions related to this transition please reference the IDEC Transition FAQ’s (PDF). Should you need further support visit the IDEC Contact page where you can submit your questions.

PROMOTES HEALTHY

We support pregnant people and parents with young children ages birth to 5 who live in communities that face greater risks and barriers to achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes.

CHILDREN FAMILIES

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Addressing family needs

Families choose to participate in home visiting programs, and partner with health, social service, and child development professionals to set and achieve goals that improve their health and well-being.
About Us

HOME VISITING

Home visiting provides family support and coaching through planned, regular visits with a trained professional based on a family’s needs and schedules.
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WHAT WE’RE DOING

Coordinated Intake (CI) is a collaborative process that provides families with a single point of entry for home visiting programs within a community.
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RESOURCES & REPORTING

Illinois Department of Human Services, Department of Early Childhood, Home Visiting programs collect data on federal benchmarks in six disctinct areas.
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The foundation for future success

Home visiting is a voluntary program, and home visitors work with parents on practical parenting skills as well as family bonding before birth and as children grow up.

Support Families

The Illinois Department of Human Services-Division of Early Childhood Home Visiting supports pregnant people and parents who live in communities that face greater risks and barriers to achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes.

Develop Skills

Home visiting is a voluntary program, and home visitors work with parents on practical parenting skills as well as family bonding before birth and as children grow up.

Improve Health

Through partnering with the home visitors, families learn how to improve their family’s health and provide better opportunities for their children.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Grant Number X1050299 and Grant Number X1053621 in the total award amounts of $11,901,581 and $11,942,558, respectively, for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, and 0% financed with nongovernmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the United States Government.
Illinois Department of Early Childhood
313 South 6th St., 3rd Floor
Springfield IL 62701

Email: Questions.IDEC@illinois.gov

 

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