1/2: #Childcare insufficiencies erode our workforce, ReadyNation member Mike Murphy told an IL House committee last week. Murphy heads The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce & spoke in favor of HR137, which centers on meeting #earlychildhood facilities needs. #twill

Costs greatly outpace available resources in #EarlyIntervention services for young children w/developmental disabilities. Our law-enforcement leader network backs an EI increase of $60M in the FY26 IL budget to better-stabilize the program's workforce. tinyurl.com/2kdbr3zr

#Childcare & early learning are "essential components" of public-safety efforts, Metropolis Police Chief Masse related in a virtual mtg w/Rep. Mike Bost. They discussed the far-reaching significance of protecting the #HeadStart program from erosion. We thank both for this exchange!

The IL House has passed a bipartisan measure urging the state to expand measurement of #earlychildhood construction & renovation concerns & take further steps to meet those growing needs. Our group of law-enforcment leaders thanks RepJoyceMason for her leadership on this! #twill

Grateful to join the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Assn to discuss the public-safety value of wise investments in kids' development — a chance to catch-up w/Fight Crime members such as Chiefs Buckley (Riverside), Gross (Forest Park) & Greenwood (River Forest). Thanks to all!

We are here at the NSA Annual Conference! Stop by booth 529 to say hi, hear what we’re up to, and get a free member gift! #sheriffs2025

IL Smart Start Workforce Grants boost the compensation of #childcare teachers, notes a Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center report. Our IL law-enforcement leader group supports this & other efforts to strengthen this workforce segment helping kids off to the best start in life. tinyurl.com/5a2772ss

TBT, to the ILACP conference in April. ILACP President Kenny Winslow & Leland Grove Chief Dan Ryan have been Fight Crime members for a combined 17 yrs — valued partners in our efforts to put children on a path toward life success & away from trouble! #twill

Our IL law enforcement leaders agree: #afterschool programs such as 21st Century Community Learning Centers are vital to the youth they serve & to public safety. We join IL ACT Now Coalition & Afterschool Alliance in calling for preservation of these federally supported services. #twill

#Afterschool programs provide youth w/safe, productive alternatives to the risks of the streets. Our IL law enforcement leaders agree w/this MI prosecutor & ask Congress to protect 21st Century Community Learning Centers in the federal FY26 budget. #twill tinyurl.com/38k2vnx3

McDonough County Sheriff Petitgout visited our booth at the conference of the Illinois Sheriffs Association Assn, w/whom we've partnered for over two-dozen years to bolster kids' well-being. ISA President Petitgout is a 7-year member of our law-enforcement leaders organization. #twill

#TBT: Three of our members from Western IL visited our booth at the recent Illinois Sheriffs Association conference: Sheriffs Edwards (Warren County), Duffy (Hancock) & Link (Henderson). We're grateful for their support in efforts to put more children on the path toward life success! #twill

We enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation w/IL Sen. Balkema about the ways #earlychildhood & #afterschool investments boost public safety. Also participating: Sheriffs Bohm (Livingston County) & Johnson (Ford), Pontiac Police Chief Davis & Asst Chief Baird. Thanks to all! #twill

We enjoyed discussing the connections between public safety & kids' well-being w/the Central IL Assn of Law Enforcement Execs, including chiefs from Quincy, Chatham, Divernon, Jerome, & Spfld Park District Police. And grateful to welcome several new members to our network! #twill