State Representative Kate Cloonen met with Tim Carpenter, State Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois, Kankakee County State's Attorney Jamie Boyd, Grundy County State's Attorney Jason Helland, and Kankakee Police Chief Larry Regnier (Ring-E) to discuss the vital roles early childhood programs and access to quality childcare play in preventing crime.

The meeting also included conversations about increasing child abuse prevention awareness and the role after school programs play in keeping children and communities safe.

Cloonen said. "This meeting was just one of many steps towards providing our communities with more resources for early childhood programs, and I will continue to be a strong advocate for our community."

94.1 FM, WGFA