Each Spring, the Cabinet distributes Kindergarten readiness bags to over 300 children in the community who will be attending Kindergarten in the Fall. with tips for families in how best to get their child ready to succeed in school
Moving into a new community can be overwhelming and frustrating. Beginning in August 2025, the Cabinet will be distributing welcome bags to families who recently moved into the community. Among the resources provided is the Cabinet’s new Guide for Families, designed to help make the transition easier and connect families to the information and resources they need. Check out our new guide below.
With funding from Birth to Five Illinois, the Cabinet sponsored Terrier P.U.P.s in Spring 2025., This Pop Up Preschool is designed for children not currently enrolled in a preschool program. Facilitated by the staff of the Science Center of Southern Illinois, children were able to explore, create and learn through play along with their parent or caregiver
The Carbondale Youth Congress is a representative body of high school age youth that provides a platform for equitable youth voice and influence in decisions, policies and initiatives relevant to their lives acts.
The CYC will serve as an advisory group to the Carbondale Mayor’s office. and as it grows may develop into a broader group wtth diverse interests and responsibilities,. Youth Congress members are selected through a nomination process. Students may self nominate.
The Cabinet is a contributor to FindHelp SI, a new regional resource directory and referral platform.. Sponsored by Southern Illinois Healthcare, the Healthy Southern Illinois Delta Network, the Southern Illinois Coalition for Children and Families, McKinney-Vento Homeless Program ROE 21, Carbondale District 95, and Herrin School District # 4, this exciting new resource will be made available to the public in September 2025.
Community information, parenting support and other resources are shared through the Cabinet’s social media network platform. From January 2025 through June 2025, over 11,000 people viewed our page, reaching over 2,817 individuals.
The Cabinet hosts and facilitates important community conversations to elevate issues, provide a platform for family voice e and facilitate more efficient service coordination. To date, topics have included services for children ages birth to five, Opportunity and Access ( featuring a panel of high school students talking about their experiences in growing up in Carbondale), Out of School Time opportunities, and child care.
During its first three years in operation, the Cabinet has provided support and contributions to the annual backpack and school supply giveaway coordinated by Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church and the Christmas toy giveaway coordinated by Toys for Tots Inc.
Data is one of the pillars of the Cabinet’s work. To that end, Cabinet members have collected, and analyzed a wide variety of community data as demonstrated below.
