Welcome to The Collective Library
A curated collection of the books, organizations, research, tools, and ideas that continue to shape our thinking, strengthen our practice, and inspire our work. Whether you're just beginning your learning journey or looking to deepen your expertise, we hope these resources support your own.
Start Here
If you're new to community systems development, collaborative leadership, or early childhood systems work, these are a few of the resources we most often recommend.
● Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)
● Center on the Developing Child- Harvard University: What surrounds us shapes us
ILLINOIS EARLY CHILDHOOD
Explore the organizations, initiatives, and state agencies shaping Illinois' early childhood system, policy, and collaborative infrastructure.
● Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)
● Illinois Action for Children
● Partner Plan Act website (through Illinois Action for Children)
● Early Learning Council (under IDEC)
● Every Child Ready Chicago (ECRC)
● Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE)
● Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM)
● Chicago Early Childhood Integrated Data Systems (CECIDS)
● COFI (Community Organizing and Family Issues)
● Division of Specialized Care for Children
● Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (Advocacy Organizations)
EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH, DATA, & POLICY
Foundational research, data, policy resources, and thought leadership that inform evidence-based practice and strengthen early childhood systems.
● Start Early
● Center on the Developing Child- Harvard University: What surrounds us shapes us
● UNICEF Convention on the Rights of the Child
● National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
● National Head Start Association
● Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
● Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
● The American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children
● Learn the Signs, Act Early CDC Milestones
● NORC at the University of Chicago
● National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
● The Annie E Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center
● Child Trends
● Chapin Hall
● National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)
● Robert Wood Johnson Foundation LibraryCollection of Research, Data & Evidence | RWJF
& Our Advocacy & Policy Library | RWJF
● Center for Economic and Policy Research: The State of Child Care and Early Education in the US
● Early Education Collaborative: Report_50 State Early Educaton Policy
● Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
● Human Capital Research Collaborative
● The Offord Center- Equity from the Start- Early Development Instrument
● Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP): The EDI and MDI Datasets
● UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities: Early Development Instrument
● Alliance for Early Success: 50-State Early Childhood Policy Progress and Landscape Report -
● The Center for Law and Social Policy
● Center for the Study of Social Policy
● First Five Years Fund: Facts Sheets
● Office of Early Childhood Development: Birth to Five Watch Me Thrive
● National Resource Center for Health and Safety for Child Care and Early Education
● The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
● CDC on ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey)
● SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
COMMUNITY SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
Resources that have shaped our thinking about systems change, collaborative leadership, facilitation, and community transformation.
● Right to Care | Treating Healthcare Seriously
ANTI-RACIST TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Resources that support reflection, dialogue, and action toward building more equitable systems, advancing racial justice, and creating communities where everyone belongs.
● Collective Impact Race Equity toolkit (P.S. Checkout the Appendices)
● Racial Equity Alliance Toolkit
● Black Lives Matter Instructional Library
● Critical Mixed Race Studies
● Shriver Center on Poverty law, Anti-Racism Resources
● Illinois Early Childhood Racial Equity Efforts & Resources
● Center for Civic Reflections
● Race Forward
Continue Growing the Collective Library
Learning is never complete. As our work evolves, so does this collection. We hope these resources spark new ideas, deepen your practice, and strengthen the communities you serve.
Because the strongest learning happens in community, we welcome recommendations for books, articles, organizations, podcasts, videos, and tools that have shaped your work. Together, we can continue growing this collective resource for everyone.