Our History
Our Origin Story
2016 –
In preparation for the release of ISBE’s Preschool for All and Prevention Initiative grants, current PFA grant recipients come together with other School Districts, community-based early learning centers, and non-profit organizations to outline current services and future community collaborations in order to support additional children. A core group of leaders research and conduct site-visits over 12 months to area early learning community networks to explore their missions, structure, and operations. The findings fuel the vision to launch a new early childhood community collaboration in Niles Township.
2017 -
ISBE grants highlight the importance of cross-sector community collaboration, focusing on birth-to-third grade alignment. Members of the community attend the Birth-to-Third Grade (B-3) Continuity Project annual conference and webinars to learn how to strengthen education, supports, and services for children and families from early childhood programs into early elementary settings.
2018 -
Multiple community-based early education directors and family child care providers participate in a conversation to discuss aspirations for the early childhood community. Collaboration with public schools, professional development, and parent engagement are identified as priority areas.
The Skokie-Morton Grove area is selected as 1 of 5 research cities in Illinois to participate in Erikson Institute's Early Development Instrument (EDI) research project funded by the McCormick Foundation. Data derived from the EDI will show how programs, services, and systems can be better coordinated based on strengths and needs, as well as plan for future interventions.
The ECA is one of nine community collaborations selected as an inaugural cohort of the Partner Plan Act Collaboration Institute to receive yearlong, targeted consultation and individualized coaching to build a new local early childhood collaboration, beginning with formal governance structure.
2019 -
A Charter Workgroup Team is formed to draft the ECA charter, including the purpose, goals, roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes. Representatives of school districts, private childcares, libraries, and non profit early childhood programs work over 6 months to finalize the Charter.
The ECA workgroup hosts a kick-off meeting so community partners can learn about the ECA, endorse the newly written Charter, select the Steering Committee, and get involved in the “Lifting Up Early Childhood” initiative, a series of three community events co-hosted with the Evanston Early Childhood Council designed to highlight the importance of early childhood and encourage community support.
2020 -
Niles Township Local Area Network (LAN 41) is awarded funding to hire a part-time Early Childhood Resource Specialist who will carry out the shared early childhood intervention and support operations of LAN/ECA. With pooled funding from the Evanston Early Childhood Council, the ECA is able to hire its first employee, a part time Early Childhood Resource Coordinator. Niles Township District for Special Education serves as the fiscal sponsor for the ECA.
2021 –
Conducted provider and parent survey to understand the barriers and challenges families have when enrolling their children in programs. Held an ECA membership meeting to review the past year and get member input into the goals for four focus areas: professional development, collaborative screening and placement, child, family and community engagement, high-quality learning experiences.
2022 –
Held first annual ECA Fun Fair designed to provide the community with engaging and fun activities for young children while enabling local organizations to connect with families to provide resources. Hired first ECA Director, Tina Vanderwarker, to lead the ECA’s early childhood initiatives, seek additional funding, and strengthen collaboration with partner organizations. Won a Birth to Five Illinois grant to focus on connecting families and providing more information, outreach and engagement opportunities to the community with a primary focus on language access.
2023 –
Hired program staff including Director of Collective Impact, Astrid Suarez; Communications Manager, Camila Vick; and Family Liaisons to provide culturally relevant outreach, connection and language access in Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Urdu, Spanish, Arabic and Assyrian. Launched internal ECA programs including monthly Parent Support Group, mental & behavioral support pilot to area childcares, and childcare tours for legislators.
ECA Steering Committee voted to begin the process of becoming an independent 501(c)(3). Infant Welfare Society of Evanston takes over the fiscal agent role during the year the ECA is completing its non-profit status paperwork. ECA attains 501c3 status on October 10, 2023.
Secured Illinois Department of Human Services funding through Senator Ram Villivalam and Rep. Kevin Olickal’s offices to ensure access to early childhood programs and wraparound support to low- and moderate-income families.
2024 –
Hired Family Engagement Coordinator, Nancy Sierra, and Finance Manager to provide more support to the organization and families. ECA moved into its first physical location at 4504 Oakton St. in Skokie, IL prioritizing space for group meetings with parents, individualized family intake meetings, and a high quality early childhood classroom for young children.
ECA partnered with Evanston Early Childhood Council (EECC) to co-host an Early Childhood Symposium free for early childhood staff. The first Symposium “Reframing Best Practices in Early Childhood” is a 4 hour day hosted at Northwestern University and attended by 180 early childhood professionals with Gateways to Opportunity and CEU credits. Began a partnership with Bundled Blessings, enabling the ECA to provide diapers monthly to participating families.
2025 -
Piloted an English literacy class in partnership with Oakton College. Parents participated in a twice weekly, two hour class at the ECA while children enjoyed enriching activities in the early childhood classroom. A successful partnership with Lurie Children’s Hospital - Buckle Up Program, ensured that for a small fee families have access to a new car seat and the training (in four languages) to ensure their child is safe when in a motor vehicle.
Created and co-hosted a three month Bilingual Storytime series with the Skokie Public Library. Children and caregivers enjoyed songs, fingerplays, and stories in both English and another language (Dari, Arabic, & Urdu).
2026 -
Hosted an Inaugural Annual Fundraiser “Lighting the Way Forward”. On the most frigid January night, over 80 people gathered at Sketchbook Skokie and enjoyed delicious food, remarks from impassioned local leaders, great community conversations, and even some dancing!
Helped to launch the Dolly Parton Imagination Library - Niles Township with 4 Niles Township libraries, Niles Township Government, the Education Foundation, and the Skokie Community Foundation—residents with children under the age of 5 can register and look forward to a book arriving monthly in the mail.