In 2023, Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative developed and conducted a statewide survey from their position as evaluators of the Illinois Preschool Development Birth through Five Planning Grant (PDG B-5). The survey queried families (with small children) and community members (with and without small children) about three key areas: (1) use of the early childhood system, (2) goals for early childhood for their children and the state as a whole, and (3) access to the early childhood system. 995 responses were received, including healthy sample sizes for subgroups by geography (urban, suburban, town/rural), race/ethnicity (Black, Latino, White), and education level. The author examined overall responses, both quantitative and qualitative, by subgroup. They then examined convergence across subgroups to generate key findings for the state. How do families find childcare options? National research suggests that parents tend to rely upon word-of-mouth from family and friends, as well as internet searches, rather than formal child-care referral initiatives. This study explores the issue of how families find childcare, as well as their challenges, more deeply for Illinois.