What is AOK?

The All Our Kids (AOK) Early Childhood Networks is a maternal-child program ensuring that all families with children under the age of five years receive needed services — from pre-natal care to well-baby checkups, parenting education to specialized services.

Recent studies have proven that 80% of what a child will ever learn, he/she learns before their third birthday.  That makes the experiences during every child's earliest days, months and years the most important experiences they will have in their lifetime. Working to assure that these experiences are positive ones is critical to the health and the future of our community. For this reason, public officials are expanding state and federal funding for a variety of early childhood programs.  But too many Illinois families with very young children either do not know about services available in the community or can't find anyone to provide the specific service they need.

ALL OUR KIDS (AOK): EARLY CHILDHOOD NETWORKS is a joint effort between the Illinois Department of Human Services, ten Illinois Health Departments, family members, the Ounce of Prevention Fund, and other local agencies serving very young children and their families.  This pilot project is designed to create a coordinated system in order to help families receive the services they need.

THE GOAL:
The overall goal of the Networks is to ensure that all children under the age of five years and their families have the opportunity to receive the services they need, from pre-natal care to well-baby checkups to parenting education to specialized services, all to support the family and provide for the best and healthiest start possible for young children.

Who Is Involved In The Networks?:
The specific makeup of the Networks will vary from pilot community to pilot community. Each of the ten community Networks includes a wide range of service providers as well as family members who are, or who could be, recipients of local services.