Success By 6 is an early childhood community collaborative dedicated to supporting our community through family and parent engagement, early behavioral and mental health services and greater awareness of resources for parents, caregivers, and early childhood providers.
We believe in the transformative power of investments within early childhood.
Jointly funded by United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties and Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, Success By 6 is comprised of early childhood professionals, passionate grandparents and guardians, school administrators, nonprofit leaders, healthcare providers, police chiefs, entrepreneurs and other community members who believe in the transformative power of investments within high-quality programs for young children and their families.
Our Mission: To impact the success of children birth to age six through policy formation, environmental changes and direct services.
Our Vision: Success By 6 envisions a community where all children and families are happy, healthy and well-adjusted.
History of Success By 6
United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties and the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley created Success By 6 in 2008 to ensure all Kankakee County children ages 0-6 have the necessary enriching experiences and positive parent-child relationships necessary to begin school ready to succeed. Since 2008, Success By 6 has led multiple initiatives focused on parent support and school readiness such as early learning calendars, preschool fairs, parent cafes, Text4Baby, Kindergarten Bootcamps and caregiver trainings.
In 2016, Success By 6 partnered with the Erikson Institute of Chicago to implement the Early Development Instrument (EDI) in Kankakee County. The EDI is a community measure that provides information about children's health, development, and school readiness that can serve as a guide for our community as we seek to improve services and community conditions to better prepare children for success in school and in life.
Local Initiatives
Success by 6 Early Childhood Fair
Saturday, June 10th - 8 AM-Noon | Kankakee County Farmer's Market
Join us for Early Childhood Day at the Kankakee County Farmers Market! This is a free event featuring activities and resources from local organizations. Special thanks to our event sponsors: Ascension Saint Mary and Riverside Healthcare!
- Free car seat checks from the Kankakee County Health Department
- Health & Wellness Services
- Activities at each booth
- Free Developmental Screenings
In the case of inclement weather, the Fair will be held indoors at the Kankakee Public Library - 4th Floor Auditorium from 9 AM - 12 PM.
The Wellness Index Dashboard
The Wellness Index Dashboard is an attempt to quantify our collective efforts to improve the lives of the people in our area. It also serves to build awareness of the programs and services that are available in the two county area.
Steering Committee
Amanda Chorak | Olivet Nazarene University
Carolyn Short | Iroquois County Community Unit School District
David Andriano | CUSD 9
James Duggan | Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53
Mia Hansen | Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley
Rhonda Pence | Iroquois Federal
Kerstin Rust | Resident & Parent
Sarah Schoon | Central Citizens' Library & CUSD 4
Sarah C Winkel | Project SUN
Tyler Reynolds | Easterseals Jumpstart Home Visiting Program
SUCCESS BY 6 IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY:
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ALSO PROVIDED BY:
