The Villa Park Public Library, Friends of the Villa Park Library, and the Villa Park Area Early Childhood Collaborative are excited to announce the upcoming Welcome Baby Resource Fair scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 12-3 p.m. at the Villa Park Public Library.
This FREE event is tailored to expectant parents, those planning future pregnancies, and families with young children up to age 5. The Welcome Baby Resource Fair will offer many resources and community engagement opportunities, all aimed at supporting families on their journey from pregnancy through early childhood and promoting early childhood literacy. There will be over 25 local organizations participating.
The first 100 families to register for this event will receive a Welcome Baby tote bag, which contains two books, an Early Childhood Literacy calendar, and resources on how to read with your child, along with information from participating organizations. Registration is not required for this event, just for the Welcome Baby tote bags, as there is a limit of 100 for this event. Anyone is welcome to attend this event, it is not limited to those who live in Villa Park.
Please note that photos will be taken at this event. If you would like to opt out, please speak to a library staff member when you arrive and we will make the necessary accommodations.
Here is a list of participating organizations:
Birth to Five Illinois – Birth to Five Illinois is on a mission to shift the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) landscape across Illinois by centering the experiences of families. Where there are families, there are stories: stories of bureaucracy and systemic shortcomings, and stories of families and children thriving in the face of compassionate providers and exemplary services. We are here for it all! Organization website: www.birthtofiveil.com
Child’s Voice – Early Intervention Speech Therapy, Developmental Therapy – Hearing, Audiology Testing (Hearing Tests), and Preschool – 2nd grade programs for children with hearing loss. Organization website: https://childsvoice.org/
Despertar Latino – Cultural and Artistic Programs, Wellness Programs, Labor Rights Advocacy. Organization website: http://despertarlatino.org
DuPage County Community Services – 211, Information and Referral, housing expense assistance, utility payment assistance, furnace repair, home weatherization, adult protective services, Choices for Care, Community Care Program, Home Delivered Meals Screenings, Long Term Care Ombudsman, Money Management, Senior Health Insurance Program, Family Self-Sufficiency, Caregiver resource center, Court ordered parenting services, Ride DuPage (transportation), community volunteer coordination, and an annual scholarship program. Website: https://www.dupagecounty.gov/government/departments/community_services/
DuPage County Health Department – Mental Health, Dental, WIC, Childhood Immunizations. Website: https://www.dupagehealth.org/764/DuPage-AOK-Early-Childhood-Collaboration
DuPage County Health Department/AOK – We’re an early child collaborative based out of the health department. We promote health programs like WIC that serve families with children 0-5, and initiatives like Basics DuPage that promotes positive child development. Website: https://www.dupagehealth.org/764/DuPage-AOK-Early-Childhood-Collaboration
DuPage Regional Office of Education Parents as Teachers Home Visiting Program – Home visiting and doula services for ages birth-3 years old. Website: http://Dupageroe.org
Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley – Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Work, Nutrition, Early Intervention, Specialty Clinics & Diagnostic Clinics. Website: http://eastersealsdfvr.org
Elm Tree Christian Child Care – Preschool/ Pre-K ages 3-5. Website: https://www.stpaulchristiandaycarevp.com/
Evangelical Child and Family Agency – Pregnancy support services, adoption, counseling, intact family services. Website: https://www.evancfa.org/
Family Focus DuPage – Children 0 to 3 any age parent. Website: http://Familyfocus.org
Friends of the Villa Park Library – The Friends act as advocates for the library; sponsoring programs and fundraising events, promoting the Library within the community, and helping to improve the Library facilities and services. Website: https://www.vppl.info/library-info/friends-of-the-library/
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana – The mission of Girl Scouts GCNWI aligns with the broader Girl Scouts of the USA mission, which is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Whether through earning badges, going on exciting adventures, or participating in community service projects, Girl Scouts in this region are encouraged to pursue their passions, explore new opportunities, and lead with purpose. Website: https://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/
Hamdard Health Alliance – Hamdard is a not-for-profit organization focused on providing primary care and behavioral health services, public benefits support, resource navigator, food pantry for our patients, micro pantry open to the public outside our Addison building and health education to our community. We serve all patients from those with private insurance to Medicaid/Medicare, or no insurance coverage. We offer a sliding fee scale plan depending on patient income and dependents, if currently not employed they automatically qualify for $25.00 dollar fee per visit. We want to make sure everyone in our community is able to access the care they need. No matter their culture, creed, language, or ability to pay. We can also offer presentations, virtual discussions, health education programming, etc. to our community. Website: https://www.hamdardhealth.org/
Hopeful Beginnings of St. Mary – Adoptions and Counseling Services. As well as a Baby Closet. Website: https://www.hopefulbeginning.org/
Illinois Chapter, AAP / Reach Out & Read Illinois – Reach Out & Read Illinois prepares children for kindergarten and strengthens the bond between a child and their caregiver by incorporating books into pediatric visits from newborns to five years, connecting families to neighborhood resources, and encouraging families to read together. Website: https://reachoutandreadil.org/
La Leche League of Lombard/Wheaton – We provide free breastfeeding support for pregnant and breastfeeding moms, including monthly in-person meetings. We are available by text, phone, or email for any breastfeeding questions or support any other time. Website: https://llloflombard.weebly.com/
Metropolitan Family Services – Early Childhood Education, Domestic Violence, Behavioral Health, Legal Aid, etc. Website: http://metrofamily.org
Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes – As our region’s only nonprofit milk bank, Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (Milk Bank WGL) is proud to serve over 90 hospitals and thousands of families throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. We are registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and we are an accredited member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Website: https://www.milkbankwgl.org/
Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association – Recreational activities for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. http://www.nedsra.org
Teen Parent Connection – Teen Parent Connection delivers free education, support, and resources to adolescent parents (12-22 yrs) and their children in DuPage County, Illinois. Our primary goal is to provide services that will prevent child abuse and neglect among this at-risk population. We have many free programs for young parents such as our doula program, young dads’ program, home visiting, young parent support groups, parents’ pantry, therapy services, as well as our prevention program. Website: http://teenparentconnection.org
The Outreach House – Food, Clothes, Diapers and Emergency Financial Assistance. Website: http://www.theoutreachhouse.org
Tri-Town YMCA – Before and After childcare. Website: https://tritownymca.org/
Villa Park Area Early Childhood Collaborative – Community support Early Childhood Screenings Early Intervention & Home Visiting Programs Kindergarten Readiness Opportunities Vaccinations & Well Child Visits Mental Health Services Community Resources Family Engagement & Education. Website: https://vpaecc.org/
Villa Park Lions Club – Sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, environmental issues, and many other programs. Website: https://www.lionsclubs.org/en/about-us/our-organization/about-lions-international
VNA Health Care – FQHC Health Center – medical care, mental health, WIC, and women wellness. Website: http://VNAHealth.com
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago – Early Childhood Services. Website: https://ywcachicago.org/