Our department houses several units that focus specifically on outreach:

  • The Family Resiliency Center
    The Family Resiliency Center systematically translates research to practice and policy to inform the public and engage the community about issues relevant to the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families.
  • The Family Life Extension Team
    University of Illinois Extension is the flagship outreach effort of the University of Illinois, offering evidence-based educational programs to residents of all of Illinois’ 102 counties.
  • Child Development Laboratory
    The Child Development Laboratory (CDL) provides high quality early childhood programming for 160 enrolled children and their families. As one of only three early childhood programs in east central Illinois accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the CDL meets standards of quality that go well beyond what State licensing regulations stipulate, thus ensuring that enrolled children are immersed in a learning and developmental environment that is based on what research would suggest are best practices in early childhood programming
  • Child Care Resource Service
    The Child Care Resource Service (CCRS), housed in Bevier Hall, serves 6 counties in central Illinois as part of a statewide network of resource and referral agencies that support the early care and education children. CCRS administers the Child Care Assistance Program in its region, serving on average 4,000 families (over 7,100 children) per year enabling parents to work or attend school and supporting the development of self-sufficiency.

Learn more about our Centers and Services