All parents and families can benefit from extra support and resources when welcoming a baby home, regardless of their income or where they live. For years, Start Early has championed scaling Universal Newborn Support Systems (UNSS) to meet that need, providing free, voluntary short-term home visits and referral services to every family after the birth of a new baby.
Learn more about what UNSS programs do here.
Currently in Illinois, there are a few individual cities and regions offering UNSS services to new parents and babies. However, many more communities would like to launch similar programs but do not know where to begin. Through the generous support of a private funder, Start Early has recently completed a review process and awarded five communities with short-term grants to fund readiness and feasibility assessments. These grants will run from May through December of 2026.
Start Early is excited to announce the awardees:
- Regional Office of Education 47, serving Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties
- Adams County Health Department, serving Adams County
- Brightpoint, serving St. Clair County
- Gifts From Liam & Leading Edge Group for Adults, Children, & Youth (L.E.G.A.C.Y.), serving south suburban Cook County
- Southern Seven Health Department, serving Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, and Union counties
