CFL Annual Report 2025

2025 Annual Report

SUPPORTING CHICAGO COMMUNITIES

Table of Contents Letter from the Director Mission Values Programs Accomplishments Staff & Supporters

1

2 3 4 7 11 17

Dear supporters, partners and friends, Thank you for your commitment to UIC’s Center for Literacy through another great year!

In 2025, we served 1,515 parents, caregivers, educators and early childhood program leaders. Each of these individuals represents families and communities whose lives are impacted through our work.

Our Professional Development and Family Engagement team served 204 early childhood educators. These trainings support professionals to work with parents and children in Chicago Early Learning sites. In the past year, 20 emerging professionals graduated with a Gateways Level 1 credential, equipping them to pursue more opportunities in the early childhood education field.

Our Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD) served 788 participants through workshops and consultations. We facilitated over 8,000 visits to RCADD’s virtual and onsite resource rooms, which allow parents and educators to take home resources to use with the children in their lives.

Our Parent and Youth Outreach team provided 89 workshops on topics ranging from family literacy to employment readiness, serving 371 parents. We led three cohorts for fathers through our 24/7 Dads program, which supports fathers of young children as they build community and learn to improve their parenting skills.

Our Adult Education Program served 125 participants. Our virtual GED class has continued to grow and support learners across the City of Chicago, including at Chicago Public Library locations.

We look forward to deepening our impact in 2026. Thank you for your partnership and continued support!

Sincerely,

Andrea Vaughan Director, Center for Literacy College of Education University of Illinois Chicago 2

MISSION We teach families to access strengths within themselves and to connect with available resources to build thriving communities.

3

VISION We envision a world where families are at the center of their communities and in charge of their educational futures.

4

MARY LAKE CPS SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

5

“The Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays is essential to my work.

When I’ve needed guidance on complex issues, like how to behaviorally support a student— or even my own son—

the RCADD team has

been there.”

6

PROGRAMS

Parent and Youth Outreach The Center for Literacy works with parents in our family literacy, financial literacy, and fatherhood and parenting programs.

Adult Education We support adults in their efforts to advance their education and access employment opportunities through our GED program and workforce development services.

7

Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays We support parents and educators of children with autism and other developmental delays through one-on-one coaching, professional development, and access to our resource library.

Professional Development and Family Engagement We provide one-on-one coaching, learning circles, and workshop programming to early childhood educators and emerging providers.

8

“After participating in the Early Learning Pathway program, I feel more motivated to continue reaching my academic goals.

I learned to

believe 9

in myself.”

LAURA AGUILAR EMERGING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR

10

2025

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Adult Education 125

18

Learners Enrolled in GED Classes

New Community Health Workers Graduated

Initiated new classes at multiple Chicago Public Library locations Offered courses at the Dennis Deer Center, a residential facility for citizens returning from incarceration 11

Parent and Youth Outreach 89

371 Parents Served

Cohorts Of Dads Facilitated

Provided 89 workshops on family literacy, financial literacy, career readiness and more to parents at Head Start and Early Head Start sites

Served 371 unique parents through these workshops across the South and West sides of Chicago

Facilitated 3 cohorts of dads in our 24/7 Dads program

Workshops Provided

100% 85%

3

of attendees reported learning something new and that they would make life changes as a result of workshops of attendees indicated they would attend another training to further their knowledge

12

Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays 825

18

Consultations Facilitated

Workshops Provided

Facilitated 18 workshops and 825 consultations for educators, parents and caregivers of children with autism and other developmental delays, for a total of 788 individuals served

98%

13

788 8,000+ Individuals Served

Visits to RCADD

Facilitated over 8,000 visits to RCADD’s virtual and onsite Resource Rooms for patrons to check out and create materials for the children in their lives

of participants reported that tools and information provided by RCADD will be useful for their child/ children at home or student (s) in the classroom

Professional Development and Family Engagement 132

72

Early Childhood Professionals Served

Emerging Professionals Served

Served family support workers, early childhood educators, and site leaders through 24 workshops on topics like goal-setting, case notes, and home visiting techniques

Facilitated 4 cohorts of emerging professionals working toward their Early Childhood Education credentials, for a total of 72 individuals served

20

Gateways Level I Credentials Achieved This year, 20 emerging professionals achieved their Gateways Level I credential

83%

of participants continue pursuing their professional goals such as enrolling in ESL classes, acquiring their ECE credential level 1, and enrolling in college classes

95%

of participants reported increased understanding of Transitions, Time and Case Management, Case Notes, and Creating a Smart Goal within their site

100%

of program participants reported satisfaction with staff and services in meeting their needs 14

DONJANAE JOHNSON CPS SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

15

“The lives of my students have changed drastically since I’ve participated in RCADD. My students now always have materials and support that are at their level.

Now they can

learn

with materials they enjoy.”

16

STAFF & SUPPORTERS Admin/Business Office Andrea Vaughan Barbara Travis

Adult Education

Joshua Krasne Angela Duffy Nora Stillwell

Annaly Pardino Carina Gonzalez

Parent and Youth Outreach

Professional Development and Family Engagement Jade Jackson Maria Guadalupe Narvaez

17

Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays

Donna Hampton Juanita Harris Michael Hampton Antoinette Brown Veronica Ocampo Maria Martinez Rosa Alvarez

Supporters - Funders City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Illinois Community College Board The Autism Program of Illinois Illinois Secretary of State Be the Best

Supporters - Partners Chicago Public Library Community Organizing and Family Issues Literacy Volunteers of Illinois UIC Neighborhood Centers - Office of Community Collaboration North Lawndale Employment Network

18

Education, Theatre, Music & Social Work (ETMSW) 1040 W. Harrison St. Chicago, IL 60607 312-413-1914 CFL@uic.edu