Illinois receives $3.7 million early childhood grant

The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development in Springfield has received a $3.7 million Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five, PDG B-5, Initial Grant Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

The grant is one of 45 distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Care.

The purpose of the grant is to enhance early childhood programming, which includes Head Start and Early Head Start, state prekindergarten programs, child care and home visiting services. 

The Illinois Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development will serve as the lead agency for the grant.

The lead agency role will allow the office to develop a needs assessment and strategic plan and to strengthen the State’s system of early childhood programs.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to work across Illinois’ early care and education systems to unify our planning and address barriers to access and quality, as we continue to meet the needs of our youngest children and their families,” said Cynthia Tate, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development.

The PDG B-5 grant will run through Dec. 31. The office will  have the opportunity to apply for renewal grants before the end of the year.