Shark Stories - Right to Care
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By Jane Doe

Our children may be returning back to school, but we're not going back to normal. This year in Illinois, families and educators are teaming up to collect our #RightToCare. We demand early childhood care families can afford, access and trust and fair pay to educators that dedicate their lives to our children. Our children may be returning back to school, but we're not going back to normal. This year in Illinois, families and educators are teaming up to collect our #RightToCare. We demand early childhood care families can afford, access and trust and fair pay to educators that dedicate their lives to our children. Our children may be returning back to school, but we're not going back to normal. This year in Illinois, families and educators are teaming up to collect our #RightToCare. We demand early childhood care families can afford, access and trust and fair pay to educators that dedicate their lives to our children. Our children may be returning back to school, but we're not going back to normal. This year in Illinois, families and educators are teaming up to collect our #RightToCare. We demand early childhood care families can afford, access and trust and fair pay.

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Families

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Take the plunge to fight for better care in IL!

DOO DOO DOO

We friendly sharks are diving into Illinois early advocacy. All families deserve access to the care of their choosing. That’s why Right to Care IL is fighting for adequate, equitable, and sustainable funding for child care. Sign up to support our effort and receive original stories, activism awareness, upcoming events, and more. Thank you for joining us in the fight!

Today, fill out our simple online form to receive a free Right To Care toy shark mailed to your home! When you request a shark, a letter will also be mailed to your Illinois General Assembly elected officials urging them to make a splash with a 10% increase in the state budget for all Early Childhood Education and Care programs. You can even include your own message, too!
Tell your Representatives that NOW is the time to invest in children!

Thank you for taking the plunge to make change!

Thank You

DOO DOO DOO

TEACHER SHARK
HAS HAD ENOUGH!

Meet the Sharks

Dive into the stories of our five shark friends to learn about their experience adapting to our current 
child care system!

Moms & The Pandemic

The pandemic turned mothers’ lives upside down. Moms were forced to leave the workforce because the high cost of child care meant they had to choose between their job and their kids, a choice no mother should ever have to make.

“Unaffordable child care is forcing me to choose between my kids and my career. What is a Mom supposed to do-do-do?”
- Mommy Shark

Mommy Shark

Daddy Shark

Grandma Shark

Finn - Home Childcare Shark

Gillian - Teacher Shark

EXPLORE MORE STORIES

Tell Your Story

Your story matters, tell us about the ups and downs you've experienced with early childhood care in Illinois. Share your own experience, the experience of a child you care for, or the experience of a young learner you know. Together, our collective voice can pressure legislatures to make positive changes, bring us closer together, and remind us why our work is so important for children.

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What do you need most from early education and care for your child(ren)?
What has been your greatest challenge in finding and getting care for your child(ren)?

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By selecting "I accept," I hereby give We, the Village and the affiliates in our community the right to use my information and media content (photo and video). I hereby give We, the Village permission to use the personal information and story I have submitted, the name and likeness of myself and family members, and other personal details, personal experiences, or identifying characteristics. I agree that We the Village (and its designees) may use this information (in whole or part) for educational, public relations, and other purposes, at any time and in any form of medium of communication now known or hereafter devised (including without limitation, print and digital media). If I later decide to limit use of any information or media content, I understand that I may send my request to (email address) and We, the Village will exercise reasonable efforts to limit prospective use of my information for marketing purposes. I also agree that I am at least twenty-one (21) years of age, and hereby represent and warrant that I have the right to grant all of the rights that I have given above. These stories will be used for social media to drive demand for an early child care and education system that better serves families, early educators and providers in IL. These stories also have the potential to be on a website such as the Right to Care campaign site. They can also be in the press as Op Eds, mentioned by speakers while they are doing interviews, wheatpasting, billboards and advertising campaigns.Your experiences and your stories matter and we want to assure you that our goal is to amplify and celebrate your voice.

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Take Action Now!

Please download and share the resources below and use our #RightToCareIL hashtag on social media. This is a grassroots campaign powered by parents, caregivers, early childhood educators, and providers all over the state. Your network is vital to ensuring every child in Illinois has the #RightToCareIL.

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