Carie Bires, M.S.W., serves as Director, Illinois Policy at Start Early in Chicago where she works to improve access to and the quality of early learning programs and services, with a focus on children and families with complex needs.

Prior to her work at Start Early, Carie held the position of Systems Integration Manager at Heartland Alliance, where she advocated on behalf of children and families experiencing homelessness, and also previously managed a program for children at a long-term transitional housing program.

Carie holds a B.A. in music therapy from Western Illinois University and earned her graduate degree in social work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Carie sits on the Board of Directors of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth and is a member of the Illinois Early Learning Council.