All Our Kids (AOK) - Early Childhood Network-Cicero

Established in 2000, AOK Cicero is a community-based collaborative of over 60 agencies committed to developing a high-quality, well-coordinated, easily accessible system of care promoting positive growth and development for children under the age of five, as well as for their families. The purpose of AOK Cicero is to ensure that:

  • Babies are born healthy
  • Children maintain physical and emotional health
  • Children enter school ready to learn
  • Families are connected to services they need
  • Parents are community leaders

To accomplish this purpose, AOK networks are guided by five goals:

  • The community has a coordinated and collaborative System of Early Childhood services
  • Families have access to needed and appropriate Early Childhood Services that are responsive to community
  • The Early Childhood System is comprised of a skilled, competent workforce
  • Early Childhood Services are family focused, culturally competent, and strength-based
  • Parents/caregivers are leaders in their families, the Early Childhood System, and their communities.

AOK-Cicero is one of thirteen programs located throughout Illinois (www.aoknetworks.org). Cicero represents one of the largest immigrant and Hispanic populations in the state-- 77 percent of its 85,000 residents are Latino -- 70 percent speak Spanish in the home—and almost 10,000 children under the age of five need health, social, mental and educational services.

Some significant accomplishments from past years include:

  • Through the advocacy efforts of AOK providers, quality early childhood programs have significantly increased in Cicero. The capacity to provide early childhood programming in Cicero has improved from 13 to 50 percent.
  • AOK recognized childhood lead poisoning as a major issue in Cicero. Through increased lead testing efforts, remediation of homes contaminated with lead, and prevention education, childhood lead poisoning has been reduced in the community.
  • Early childhood intervention agencies along with the school district conduct an annual screening days attended by hundreds in the Cicero community.
  • Throughout the community, activities are held during the Week of the Young Child that celebrate the importance of young children.

For more information, call 708-492-2000 or view documents in the AOK Cicero Publications and Reports in PDF format.