YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
A strong beginning. More possibilities ahead.
Your donations help create youth opportunity in Northwest Illinois. Together, we can connect children with books, early learning and people who encourage them to grow.
A new book to open. A place to learn through play. Someone who helps a young person discover their strengths. United Way of Northwest Illinois brings local partners together to support children and families across Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll counties.
Help children get ready to learn.
Children need opportunities to explore, ask questions and build relationships from an early age. Families also need access to child care that supports their children while they work and manage daily responsibilities.
UWNI’s 2024–2025 Impact Report describes collaboration with the Early Childhood Consortium and support for child care spaces for families with low incomes. These partnerships connect early learning with the practical needs of local families.
Because of donations from people like you, UWNI can support this work with local organizations and help create more opportunities for children to build a strong foundation.
Make reading part of growing up.
A book arriving in the mail can become something a child looks forward to—and another reason for a family to sit down and read together.
Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, enrolled children receive a free, age-appropriate book each month from birth until their fifth birthday. Local donors and community partners help make the program possible.
In UWNI’s 2024–2025 Impact Report, 90% of responding families reported spending more time reading with their child. That feedback shows what access to books can mean in everyday family life.
Create places to explore and opportunities to lead.
Turn an outdoor visit into a learning adventure.
UWNI’s Born Learning Trail in Shannon gives adults and children activities to enjoy together. Described in its 2024–2025 report as UWNI’s third installation, the trail includes interactive signs that encourage learning through play.
Put community care into action.
Past Day of Action projects include installing a Born Learning Trail at King Community Campus, improving the campus playground and sorting books for Little Free Libraries. Volunteers help strengthen the spaces and resources children use to learn.
Encourage young people to recognize their strengths.
Girls Who Rock Pearls at Freeport Middle School brought together UWNI, Freeport School District 145 and VOICES around positive development and leadership. The partnership creates another local connection supporting young people as they grow.
Your support joins the time, knowledge and commitment of people throughout our community. Together, we can help children find opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
Find a starting point for your family.
Looking for child care, early learning or family support? Start with your county or explore the regional resources.
Connect with local early childhood organizations.
UWNI’s early childhood resource network includes the organizations below. Visit their websites for program details, eligibility and availability.
Help the next chapter begin.
When you donate, volunteer or connect a family with resources, you become part of a community working to help children thrive.
Early childhood education and care have been identified as priority areas for our local collaboration.
This is why United Way partners with many different agencies and organizations to work towards preparing
children for kindergarten, reading at grade level, graduating high school, and pursuing their
educational and vocational goals. United Way's model focuses on supportive communities,
effective schools, and strong families, strategies and approaches rooted in research.
Tackling the education challenge requires reframing education and care starting at birth.
High-quality early childhood education and care lay the foundations for later success in terms of
education, well-being, employability, and social integration.
This care includes daycares, as well as private and public preschool and pre-primary schools.
Ensuring the provision of high-quality early childhood education and care is an efficient and
effective investment in education and training.
It is especially important for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We believe every child has the right to affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care.
Educational attainment should be decoupled from social, economic and cultural status.
The United Way has identified several key components for an effective system:
- access to early childhood education and care
- training and needs of staff in charge of early childhood education and care
- definition of appropriate curriculum
- governance and funding
- monitoring and evaluation of systems
Search for Regional Early Childhood Resources by organization, area, age and more here:
We are so fortunate to have a wonderful network of local early childhood education and care partners:
Resources by County
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Family Services
Childcare Assistance
Provider Services
Community Services
