Erikson Institute

DIRECT CLINICAL SERVICES: Erikson provides a variety of direct services to children and families, as well as consulting and training for professionals who work with them. Our Fussy Baby Network, Center for Children and Families (CCF), and Early Childhood Project, a partnership with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, have served over 7,000 families. Every year, our students contribute over 49,000 hours of field service across 68 agencies that serve children and their families. The team at Erikson's Center for Children and Families consists of psychologists, social workers, developmental and behavioral pediatricians, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and other licensed mental health professionals who provide pediatric mental health services for children aged 0-8, as well as their families and caregivers. In fiscal year 2023, the Erikson DCFS Early Childhood Project served 5,993 children directly through collaborative work, reaching children across the state of Illinois. Erikson also offers programs to help professionals who work with children and families improve their skills, learn new techniques, and earn credits to maintain their professional licenses.

RESEARCH, POLICY & LEADERSHIP: Erikson Institute leads the field in early childhood research, uncovering opportunities for us to drive positive change for children, families, and communities. Erikson's current research projects respond directly to the needs of young children and the people who serve them by focusing on what works and models that can be replicated. Our groundbreaking research includes several studies that are the first of their kind in the field on topics including home visiting, Infants and Toddlers, and home-based childcare. Erikson's Policy and Leadership Department works to advance our systems by making them more effective, efficient and accessible to young children and their families by providing key leaders with the knowledge and tools to generate policy solutions that improve access to high-quality early childhood supports and services. The Policy & Leadership team supported Erikson President, Mariana Souto-Manning, in her presentation to the Illinois Senate's Early Childhood Education Committee, which highlighted that 90 percent of the brain is developed by age five and how every $1 invested in quality early childhood programs yields a $7 return. In 2023, the Early Childhood Leadership Academy (ECLA) enrolled 18 Illinois leaders from various sectors in a learning experience that blended expert presentations and activities to build their knowledge of child development and why the first five years are critical. The Policy and Leadership team's workshop series saw 255 participants from a wide variety of social service organizations across the United States.