Early Childhood Care & Education is a priority issue for the Community Foundation of Grundy County as part of our Communityworks partnership with the Grand Victoria Foundation.

The largest project to come out of this initative is the Grundy Partnership for Children (GPC), which is a networking group for the professionals who serve families with young children.  Key attendees include Child Care Resource & Referral, Jump Start, Easter Seals, Child & Family Connections, Morris Hospital Pediatrics, YMCA, United Way of Grundy County, We Care, Grundy County Health Department, Catholic Charities, and Step by Step Child Care Center.  Sherey Zerbian of CFGC staffs the network.

The Grundy Partnership for Children has four main focus areas:
1. developmental screenings for young children ages birth to five;
2. social/emotional health of all children;
3. the quality and quantity of the child care workforce;
4. broad outreach, education, and awareness for parents and all caregivers of young children.

The Grundy Partnership for Children meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am in the conference room of the Grundy County Housing Authority, 1802 N. Division, Door #9.  Please call Sherey at 815-941-0852 or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Two other Early Childhood Care & Education initiatives are 1) a grant to Jump Start to expand into Grundy County and 2) one-on-one visits with professionals who cannot attend the monthly GPC meetings.

Please check our website often for GPC meeting notes and project updates!