About Us
WWECC connects families with children birth–5 to the trusted support and early childhood resources they need to grow, learn, and thrive. We help make sense of programs, services, and community partners so you don’t have to navigate it alone.
2025: A Year of Impact
Strengthening families, partnerships, and early childhood support across Wheaton and Warrenville.
In 2025, Wheaton Warrenville Early Childhood Collaborative (WWECC) continued to bring families, providers, and community partners together to support children ages 0–5. Throughout the year, we expanded access to developmental screenings, supported families through community-based programming, and strengthened partnerships with local organizations, schools, and regional initiatives.
From family events and screenings to collaboration with partners like libraries, early learning providers, and The Basics DuPage, our work remained focused on early identification, family engagement, and building a strong foundation for lifelong learning. We are grateful to the families, partners, and funders who helped make this impact possible.
Who We Are
WWECC brings together early childhood programs, schools, libraries, health providers, and community organizations to strengthen the early childhood system in the Wheaton and Warrenville area.
Our goal is simple: help families find the right support at the right time. We focus on coordination, connection, and communication, so families don’t have to figure everything out on their own.
Our Mission
A community where all young children and their families are supported, valued, and ready for school and life.
Our Vision
To connect families, programs, and community partners so that every child from birth to age 5 in Wheaton and Warrenville has the support they need to grow, learn, and thrive!
Annie Behrns
ECE Project Director
Jeanett Hurtado
Family Advocate
Our Team!
WWECC is coordinated by a small leadership team and guided by partner organizations committed to early childhood success.
How WWECC Helps Families!
Connect Parents
Help families understand what programs are available and how they can access them.
Coordinate Services
Bring early childhood partners together so services are easier to find and use.
Communicate Information
Share resources, events, and opportunities that matter.
Advocate for Children
Amplify the needs of children and families with local leaders and funders.
Our Team
Annie Behrns
ECE Project Director
Since March of 2020, Annie has been the Project Director for the Wheaton Warrenville Early Childhood Collaborative. In this role, she collaborates with community partners to support the success of young children and their families in Wheaton and Warrenville. This role includes the management of several initiatives and grants focused on positive developmental outcomes.
Annie Behrns holds a master’s degree in child development from the Erikson Institute and has worked in higher education since 2006, having taught early childhood and child development courses at 6 different colleges in the Chicagoland area.
Annie is currently an adjunct faculty member at College of DuPage in the Early Childhood Education and Care Program. Her teaching specialty areas include human growth and development and child, family, and community relations.
Jeanett Hurtado
Family Advocate
Jeanett Hurtado serves as the Family Advocate for the Wheaton Warrenville Early Childhood Collaborative, a role she has held since 2023. In this position, she acts as a liaison between the collaborative, families, and community partners.Her primary focus is learning about and sharing the resources available to families in District 200.
Jeanett holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Nuevo León, Mexico, and a Professional Translator certification from the Southern California School of Interpretation. Most recently, she completed Community Interpreter training through the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, Language Access Resource Center.
Her professional experience includes working as a dual-language teacher assistant in two Illinois school districts. Currently, she serves as an interpreter for a technology class at the College of DuPage.
Need Support?
Looking for home visiting for children 0-3 or early learning for children 3-5, or not sure where to begin?
We’re here to help connect your family with the right support.