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Regional early childhood group asks county board for partnership on mental-health and referral network
Summary
Versafy Illinois representatives requested county partnership to support a regional early childhood referral network and mental/behavioral wellness programs for children and the workforce in Iroquois and Kankakee counties.
Representatives of Versafy Illinois — a regional early childhood infrastructure group — asked the county board to partner on a centralized local network for early childhood information, referrals and resources and to support mental and behavioral wellness programs for children and the early childhood workforce.
Liz Gibson, regional council manager for Versafy Illinois, said the group has worked in the region for three years and focuses on amplifying family and community voice in early-childhood planning. Gibson said the group’s current priorities include (1) expanding a centralized community network of early-childhood information and referrals, (2) providing mental-health supports and training for children and the early-childhood workforce, and (3) outreach to parents of children ages 8 and younger.
Gibson said the local office (one of 39 across the state) was recently tasked with an additional recommendation focused on mental and behavioral health awareness and that Versafy needs county help to identify available local services and distribute information to families and the workforce. She invited board members to visit the Bradley office, meet with staff, or schedule a Zoom briefing and left contact information and printed materials for the board.
The group emphasized that early-childhood workforce members themselves need supports and training and that families’ access to local referrals and resources would be improved by a centralized local network. No formal commitment or county action was taken at the meeting; Versafy staff requested follow-up engagement.
