Understanding Diverse Family and Community Needs: A Statewide Survey for the Illinois PDG B-5 Planning Grant

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Understanding Diverse Family and Community Needs: A Statewide Survey for the Illinois PDG B-5 Planning Grant
Language: English
Authors: Meg Bates, Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC)
Source: Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative, Discovery Partners Institute. 2024.
Availability: Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, State of Illinois for Discovery Partners Institute. 200 South Wacker Drive, 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60304. Tel: 217-766-6779; e-mail: IWERC@mx.uillinois.edu; Web site: https://dpi.uillinois.edu/applied-research/iwerc/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 41
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Preschool Education
Descriptors: Family Needs, Community Needs, Needs Assessment, State Surveys, Grants, Preschool Education, Early Childhood Education, Strategic Planning, Educational Planning, Educational Objectives, Access to Education, Parent Attitudes, Information Sources
Geographic Terms: Illinois
Abstract: In 2023, Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative developed and conducted a statewide survey from their position as evaluators of the Illinois Preschool Development Birth through Five Planning Grant (PDG B-5). The survey queried families (with small children) and community members (with and without small children) about three key areas: (1) use of the early childhood system, (2) goals for early childhood for their children and the state as a whole, and (3) access to the early childhood system. 995 responses were received, including healthy sample sizes for subgroups by geography (urban, suburban, town/rural), race/ethnicity (Black, Latino, White), and education level. The author examined overall responses, both quantitative and qualitative, by subgroup. They then examined convergence across subgroups to generate key findings for the state. How do families find childcare options? National research suggests that parents tend to rely upon word-of-mouth from family and friends, as well as internet searches, rather than formal child-care referral initiatives. This study explores the issue of how families find childcare, as well as their challenges, more deeply for Illinois.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED675324
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:In 2023, Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative developed and conducted a statewide survey from their position as evaluators of the Illinois Preschool Development Birth through Five Planning Grant (PDG B-5). The survey queried families (with small children) and community members (with and without small children) about three key areas: (1) use of the early childhood system, (2) goals for early childhood for their children and the state as a whole, and (3) access to the early childhood system. 995 responses were received, including healthy sample sizes for subgroups by geography (urban, suburban, town/rural), race/ethnicity (Black, Latino, White), and education level. The author examined overall responses, both quantitative and qualitative, by subgroup. They then examined convergence across subgroups to generate key findings for the state. How do families find childcare options? National research suggests that parents tend to rely upon word-of-mouth from family and friends, as well as internet searches, rather than formal child-care referral initiatives. This study explores the issue of how families find childcare, as well as their challenges, more deeply for Illinois.