Executive Fellows
Learn how child development contributes to your work.
Investing in Early Childhood Leads to Lifetime Benefits
Improve the life trajectory of a child by investing in early childhood programs and services. Your engagement can lead to children’s academic achievement, improved health, economic stability, and future success.
As a highly influential decision-maker on policies that affect children and families on a local, regional, or state level, the Executive Fellows program introduces you to the long-term benefits of quality early childhood experiences and the policy opportunities to improve programs and services for all children and families.
Broader benefits to society include:
Strong and productive future workforce
Healthier and safer environments
Economic growth associated with reduced costs for interventions later in life
Better earnings for children in the future
Executive Fellows Affect Change Across Multiple Levels
As a highly influential decision-maker on policies that affect children and families on a local, regional, or state level, the Executive Fellows introduces you to the long-term benefits of quality early childhood experiences and the policy opportunities to improve programs and services for all children and families.
Leaders Like You Are Needed
Cross-disciplinary experts benefit from child development knowledge
Are you or do you know an Illinois leader? We accept nominations from a cross-sector of leaders for the Executive Fellows program, and have included legislative officials, state’s attorneys, judges, school board members, superintendents, state agency heads, faith-based leaders, and additional community leaders.
Build knowledge to inform decision-making in your field and improve programs and services for children and families.
This program happens every other summer in August and September.
The Executive Fellows Experience Supports Child-Centered Solutions
Empowering Leaders Through Dynamic Learning Experiences
Leaders participate in multi-day sessions in August and September with national experts leading seminars each day on topics such as brain development, relationship attachment theory, toxic stress and trauma, workforce shortages, and the long-term benefits of investing in children at an early age. Staff provide a safe environment that fosters candid discussions as well as ensures the cohort is constructed with a range of distinct perspectives.
The program gives you a lens to:
Thoughtfully examine how policies affect young children and families
Shift legislative policy to be efficient and effective and ensure families access to resources
Leverage your influence and role to champion the needs of young children and their families
Increase investments in early childhood programs and services
Change organizational policies and procedures
Engage community voices in the decision-making process.
Service Day
A Distinct Feature of the Executive Fellows Program
Enjoy the opportunity to volunteer at a Chicago home- or center-based early learning program for half of a day.
Assisting early childhood teachers in the classroom helps reinforce the learning objectives and expert presentations delivered over the course of the program. This experience allows insight into early workforce issues such as low wages, staffing shortages and professional development.
Grow Your Impact As an Erikson Executive Fellow
Join the Erikson Institute community and discover the difference one person can make.