PAASSS Receives Birth to Five Illinois Funding to Strengthen Family Partnerships and Early Childhood Collaboration in Region 24
The Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS) has been awarded $66,000 in new funding from Birth to Five Illinois to expand family engagement, strengthen community partnerships, and enhance coordinated early childhood systems across Grundy and Kendall Counties (Region 24).
This investment supports a series of collaborative initiatives that build on the recent launch of the Grundy-Kendall IRIS Network and the ongoing work of the PAASSS Family Council. With the new funds, PAASSS will:
- Sustain and enhance the IRIS Network through a contract with the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research (KU-CPPR) for ongoing system maintenance.
- Engage in advanced technical assistance from KU-CPPR to strengthen data storytelling and network data conversations.
- Collaborate with the Family Council and web designer to develop a new “Families with Vision” section on the PAASSS website.
- Produce and distribute the 2026 bilingual family activity calendar to families across Region 24.
- Partner with local organizations to gather, assemble, and distribute Welcome Baby Kits for new families in the region.
- Support family leadership development by sending one Family Council member to the COFI Train-the-Trainer series and hosting COFI Phase I training for families in Grundy County.
- Host community screenings of No Small Matter** in both Grundy and Kendall Counties, with follow-up discussions and calls to action.
- Facilitate regional strategic planning sessions focused on actionable strategies to strengthen early care and education systems across Region 24.
“Birth to Five Illinois continues to be an invaluable partner in advancing equity and connection for families,” said a PAASSS spokesperson. “This funding allows our volunteer-led collaboration to deepen our impact and ensure that every family in Grundy and Kendall Counties is supported from the very beginning.”
For more information about PAASSS and ongoing regional initiatives, visit www.paasss.org or follow PAASSS on Facebook and Instagram.