The Collaboration’s Annual Symposium has been a signature event for the past 14 years. Organized by a volunteer team of top-notch early childhood education professionals, this gathering has grown to well over 300 attendees. The Symposium workshops a...

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A Letter from Dr. Rebecca Barbato: I will never forget my first experience with a transgender patient. I was a few years into my practice and my 5-year-old patient’s mom shared with me her concern about his interest in “girls’ things” and pink thi...

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Join the Collaboration for Early Childhood and National Louis University to earn a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Practice! Interested? Attend an informational session with National Louis University on Thursday, September 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Oak Park B...

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Everyone agrees: young children deserve high-quality care and education. Just as elementary and high school teachers have professional qualifications to educate our children, it is important that those who spend time with the very young are well-trained a...

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A “developmental screening” is a brief check that provides a snapshot of a child’s communication, motor, cognitive, self-help and social-emotional skills. A developmental screening can be completed by a doctor, a child care provider or other trained...

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Congratulations to Kizzie Harris! She is the first family child care provider in Oak Park to receive a Bronze Level rating from the ExceleRate Illinois Quality Rating System. ExceleRate provides guidelines and standards for early childhood professionals...

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Congratulations to Ms. Jeanette Streeter, licensed family child care provider at the Early Learning Center in Oak Park, for receiving a Gateways Family Child Care Provider (FCCP) Credential Level 2! Jeanette has been a family child care provider for 19 ye...

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Congratulations to Ms. Alma Martinez, licensed home child care provider of Quetzali Child Care, for receiving a Level 2 Gateways Early Childhood Credential! Alma is also working toward her Level 2 Gateways Family Child Care Credential, which she looks for...

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The Collaboration’s Early Childhood Resource Directory is a printed and online guide to finding information on quality child care, activities, services, child development, health & safety issues and much, much more. It’s the only listing of al...

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Register online to select your favorite workshop choices! With the theme “Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: Navigating the Tough Stuff,” our annual Symposium includes workshops on having difficult conversations, using children’s book...

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