Birth to 5 Illinois Region 35 unveils QR-linked resource guide and seeks family and action council members

Becky Eager, regional council manager for Birth to 5 Illinois Region 35, briefed the LaSalle County Board on July 10 about local early-childhood initiatives, a new resource guide accessible by QR code, and volunteer opportunities on local family and action councils. Eager said the Region 35 office — housed near the University of Illinois Extension office — has produced a downloadable resource booklet listing early-childhood education and care providers, mental and behavioral health supports, and early-intervention and recreation options across LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam counties. "We created a document, using resources that are local and combine them all into one booklet," Eager said. She added the booklet is available in paper but is primarily distributed via a refrigerator magnet with a QR code so the list can be updated centrally. Why it matters: Eager said local families reported difficulty finding current resources online and that static printed guides become out of date quickly. The QR-driven approach allows the council to update contact numbers and capacity in real time, she said. Council roles and recruitment Charlotte McWade, family and community engagement specialist, explained the Family Council requires only that members be parents, grandparents or primary caregivers of children birth to age 8; the Action Council works on broader local solutions including workforce and economic development. Eager said Birth to 5 Illinois Region 35 is actively recruiting for both councils from May 5 to Sept. 5 (recruitment period noted in materials provided to the board). Funding and organization Eager told the board the regional office is funded through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and is housed under the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral (INCCRRA) as a satellite office; staff split time between working remotely and in the Ottawa office. The presenters said the regional office has received a grant from Birth to 5 Illinois to support local activities but did not state a grant amount at the meeting. Board reaction Board members thanked the presenters; one member called child care “critical infrastructure” and supported the agency’s work. Contact and newsletter sign-up information was included in the packet the presenters left with board members. Ending Eager said the program coordinates with neighboring regions when families need services outside the county and that the resource guide is intended to expand to include additional topics over time.