Wabash / Edwards Counties

Contact Info

Network Coordinator: Steve Akins (618) 263-3873 ext. 121 sakins@wabashhealth.org

Family Engagement Specialist: Gracie Barnes (618) 263-3873 gbarnes@wabashhealth.org

Address: Wabash County Health Department
WCHD Prevention Office

Bringing Childhood Collaboration to Wabash and Edwards Counties

Wabash and Edwards Counties sit side by side in the rural southeastern corner of Illinois, two small communities with deep roots and real needs. Wabash County hugs the Indiana border along the Wabash River and ranks among the five smallest counties in the state, home to just over 11,000 residents. More than half of its households are families, and nearly one in six has a child under the age of six. Edwards County, just to the west, is smaller still — about 6,700 people — but shares a similar profile, with families making up more than two-thirds of households and young children present in roughly one in nine homes.

For more than 20 years, the Wabash County Health Department has been home to the All Our Kids (AOK) Network and today, that Network is the only established early childhood collaboration serving both counties. That’s not a small thing in communities this size. It means pediatricians, home visitors, Head Start staff, WIC coordinators, school-based birth-to-three programs, behavioral health providers, law enforcement, and parent groups are all at the same table. They share information, identify gaps, and work together on solutions that no single program could pull off alone. The result is a more connected, more responsive early childhood system for the families who depend on it.

In recent years, the Network has expanded this work through its Healthy Families Initiative—a focused effort to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and more intentionally engage families in the conversation. Through this initiative, partners have trained providers, shared resources, and hosted a community conference that brought professionals and families together in meaningful ways. The Network also hosted a Children’s Mental Health Conference in partnership with District #348, drawing more than 100 educators to learn practical strategies for supporting students with ADHD in the classroom. In addition, AOK continues to collaborate with community partners to stock and maintain blessing boxes throughout the greater Mt. Carmel area, helping meet the needs of individuals and families facing food insecurity. This effort has recently expanded with the addition of a new blessing box in Edwards County.

Across programs, the messaging around healthy habits has become more consistent, families have gained access to better tools, and the broader community has grown more intentional about building environments where young children can thrive. The early results are encouraging: providers and caregivers are more aware, collaboration across sectors is stronger, and there’s real momentum behind a shared commitment to healthy growth and development for children in both counties.

Testimonial

Parent Testimonial

“Before connecting with the AOK Network, I didn’t know where to turn for help. Through the Healthy Families Initiative, I found practical ideas for healthier meals, fun ways to keep my children active, and support from people who truly care. It feels like our community is working together to help families like mine succeed.” – Olivia, Parent

Community Partner Testimonial
“The AOK Network has transformed the way organizations in Wabash County and Edwards County work together. Instead of operating in silos, we are sharing resources, identifying gaps, and coordinating our efforts to better serve young children and their families. The collaboration has created real momentum and stronger outcomes across both counties.”