The Illinois Policy Team at Start Early is pleased to release our annual Illinois Legislative Agenda, a snapshot of the budget requests and legislative priorities for which Start Early will be advocating during the Spring 2021 legislative session in the state.
With the new legislative session underway, our team is focused on moving forward funding requests and legislation that will support families and providers across Illinois as they begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our early childhood system.
Our goals for the year include:
- Secure additional state funding to protect and strengthen the state’s early childhood system, with a specific focus on investments in the state’s early care and education workforce
- Expand the state’s Medicaid program to cover doula and evidence-based home visiting services
- Maintain telehealth as an allowable service delivery model in the Early Intervention program beyond the current public health crisis
- Pass legislation to create a statewide paid family and medical leave program
