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Updates from IHSA Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl
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Hey February! What happened to January? For me January is always a hard month. I am such a kid at heart and enjoy every minute of the holidays. This makes January a letdown. But, WOW, did this January fly by! I have lots to share with you! First, I just came back from Washington DC. As you can guess there is much going on. I had several small meetings with key leaders regarding the increase in minimum wage. The impact on eligibility is huge for us and a key issue for Illinois. To change the federal poverty level will take opening up Head Start for Reauthorization and many believe that this would be a mistake. But what other options do we have? We are hard at work with coming up with other solutions. Other urgent needs addressed was the movement of universal prekindergarten and childcare. How does Head Start fit within the movement? Governor Pritzker just announced he is supporting "universal home visiting." How will Head Start fit in? The meeting with the Office of Head Start was interesting. Several key things to note include: OHS is working with the National Superintendent Association and the National Elementary Principal Association and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with both Associations; the new announcement from the Secretary of HHS on duration stating that 45% of Head Start enrollment must meet the 1020 hours by 2021; the final rules for DRS are projected to come out in late summer, and last but not least, a Program Instructions on Quality Improvement dollars will be coming out soon; the projection shared was that the dollars will be based on the number of children you are serving, $250 for a Head Start slot and $350 for EHS.
We've been working with the Illinois Office of Early Childhood Development on Parent Cafes. This has been exciting work with developing Parent Leaders who lead and facilitate Parent Cafés for parents. Key topics have been around attendance and suspension and expulsion.
5 Great Reasons to Attend:
- There's something for everyone: The 2020 Annual Conference has something for every Head Start agency role type in the field - education managers, family services, home visitors, ERSEA managers, parents, program directors, health managers, mental health & disabilities, teachers, and more!
- Stay ahead of the curve: With over 35 sessions to choose from, learning opportunities abound! You can be sure to expect cutting edge and timely topics delivered by trusted experts in the early childhood and Head Start field. Connect with subject matter experts and add a new resource to your contacts.
- Face-to-face networking opportunities: There will be ample opportunity to connect and network with your counterparts from across the state. Share best practices or bounce ideas off someone during the course of the week. Early childhood professionals from diverse programs will gather to share their knowledge and experience, providing an unmatched opportunity to build your network of professionals you can rely on for support and information.
- Get inspired by our keynotes: We're excited to announce that Dr. Steve Perry will be kicking off our conference! Dr. Steve Perry is one of the most sought-after Nationwide Motivational Speaker in America. Widely respected by grassroots community members and internationally renowned leaders as an educator, social worker and public speaker, his charismatic and compelling voice is an inspiration. He is the educator Oprah Winfrey, Sean "P-Diddy" Combs, Bishop TD Jakes and Steve Harvey call on to offer insight to parents and children. To close out our time, we will hear from Head Start alum Rachel Giannini who will join us to talk about her journey from preschool teacher to advocate and how she engages fun and creativity to make learning magical. Rachel is a childhood specialist, an early childhood advocate, and a video blog host. She is currently the writer, director, and on-screen talent for a series of video blogs for the Chicago Children's Museum and the feature-length documentary, "No Small Matter". Don't miss the exclusive viewing "No Small Matter" on Thursday night during our movie get-together. If you're needing a morale boost, do not miss these keynotes!
- Exhibits: The exhibit area will be packed with the latest services and vendors to cover all your program needs! Whether you're looking for a new vendor for technology and data service, furnishings and supplies, professional development or employee benefits, our exhibitors are sure to have what you're looking for.
Recently, I read an article on Ten Quotes by Confucius That Will Change Your Life Forever. I thought this was interesting as it is the beginning of a new year. Confucius (551- 479 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and politician. His philosophy, known as Confucianism, is mainly known for personal and governmental morality, the correctness of social relationships, justice, and honesty. Confucius is famous for being one of the most important and influential individuals shaping our history. His philosophy enormously affected people all over the world and is still dominant.
Here are 10 insightful quotes Confucius shared with humankind throughout his presence:
"The Man Who Asks a Question Is a Fool for a Minute, the Man Who Does Not Ask Is a Fool For Life"
"If Your Plan Is for 1 Year, Plant Rice. If Your Plan Is for 10 Years, Plant Trees. If Your Plan Is for 100 Years, Educate Children"
"Respect Yourself and Others Will Respect You."
"It Does Not Matter How Slowly You Go as Long as You Do Not Stop"
"Your Life is What Your Thoughts Make it"
"By Three Methods We May Learn Wisdom: First, by Reflection, Which Is Noblest; Second, by Imitation, Which Is Easiest; And Third by Experience, Which Is the Bitterest"
"If You See What is Right, and Fail to Act on it, You Lack Courage"
"If You Hate a Person, You are Defeated by them"
"You Cannot Open a Book Without Learning Something"
"He Who Chases Two Rabbits Catches None"
Which one do you like? My favorite right now is "He Who Chases Two Rabbits Catches None." For me, going after too many things at once hardly ends up in success, but rather in confusion and disappointment. So, my goal is to laser focus on several key projects so I can bring them over the finish line. I'll let you know how this goes!
I hope to see you at the IHSA Annual Conference! Bringing our community together is always energizing and so exciting. So if you are looking for something to energize you and a place to learn new strategies, the IHSA Annual Conference is a great opportunity! As always, I appreciate YOU and the work you do! Thank you!
Click
here
for the entire (printable) article.
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Updates from Associate Head Start State Collaboration Director Donna Emmons
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Upcoming Training Events
* Illinois Head Start Association Annual Conference, March 11 - 13, Springfield, IL
* Pre-Conference, March 9 - 11, on Parent, Family, Community Engagement
*
Practice Based Coaching Training Institute, March 25 - 26, Springfield, IL
* For the events marked above with an asterisk, please register on the IHSA website (under Trainings) -
http://ilheadstart.org/
Upcoming Conferences
Collaboration for Early Childhood Symposium, Feb. 23, Oak Park, IL,
ILASCD Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Conference
March 4-6, Schaumburg, IL
Oakton Infant Toddler Conference, Des Plaines, IL, March 7, 2020
Leadership Connections National Conf., April 29-May 1, Wheeling, IL
SAVE THE DATE
"Equity from the Start: Shifting from Intention to Outcomes"
Partner Plan Act Conference, June 11-12, 2019, Bloomington, IL
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ISBE ECBG RFPs for FY 21 Available
FY21 Request for Proposal opportunities for Preschool for All (PFA), Preschool for All-Expansion (PFAE) and Prevention Initiative (PI) funds are available. Proposals are due in the ISBE offices no later than 4 p.m. March 23, 2020.
There are some changes this year. For instance, Licensed Family Childcare Homes are eligible if they partner with an administrative agency such as an LEA or another Early Childhood agency.
In addition, for PFA and PFAE, there is a new resource document this year called the PFA/PFAE Community Classroom Data resource. This document lists every school district in the state and, using a formula, cites how many more slots are needed to serve at least 80% of the eligible children in the school district. I recommend you check out your school districts since HS slots were supposed to have been included in the data calculations. Please let me know if the data seems incorrect for your area(s). Or feel free to email ISBE at earlychi@isbe.net and let them know. Here is a link to the Data Document: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/PFA-PFAE-Comm-Classroom-Data.pdf
Tier 1 and Tier 2 school district areas are once again given ... (read more)
More HOT Topics
PDG Renewal Grant
Early Childhood Funding Commission
Parent Cafés
Illinois PN3 Initiative
More Resources for Working With Families Experiencing Homelessness
Lessons Learned from the EHS-CCP Initiative (a report)
Some toddlers are chronically absent from preschool. A text message can help!
Click
here
for
D
onna's full printable article with ALL links.
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Upcoming Trainings and Events . . and more!
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You may also register for these:
Friendly reminder:
READ your event details!
IHSA's standing
no
cancellation policy =
no
refunds granted.
Every submitted online registration form
= expected payment.
However, name changes are gladly accepted up
to 72 hours prior to IHSA training event dates.
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Riverbend Head Start and Family Services hosted legislative visit by State Rep. Katie Stuart (Dist. #112) at Collinsville in Dec. 2019. 
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Illinois Early Learning News
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Have your Orientation Modules yet?
Don't pass up these opportunities, we know you're going to love
using these Modules and creating / tailoring your own!
Great ways for on-boarding staff with
exciting new format, training available 24/7.
Great time to
ENROLL
your agency
since your 2020 fee structure is EXACT SAME as for 2019!
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Upcoming National Awareness Month for . .
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Read about
IDPH's
Public Input Survey
Here are posts shared from IDPH:
Facebook
link
and
Twitter
link
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Does your agency have parents interested in an IHSA Ambassadorship for 20
20-20
21?
Click
here to open their latest Parent Ambassadorship booklet; read the shared stories.
Call us (217) 241-3511 for more details about this ongoing program.
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| Membership Matters -- to the Children, Families and our EHS/HS Teams! |
LOOK for your recent Agency Membership invoice; let's meet our 100% GOAL for 2020!
Anna Waters (DMCOC)
Baby Talk Early Head Start
BCMW Community Services, Inc.
CAA of McHenry Co.
CAP of Central Illinois
CAP of Lake County
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet
CEFS Economic Opportunity Council
Centerstone
Champaign Co. Head Start (with CCRPC)
Chicago Commons Early Head Start
Chicago Department of Family Support Services
Child Care Resource & Referral
Childcare Network of Evanston
Children's Home + Aid
Christopher House Early Head Start
City of Rockford Head Start
Community Link/1st Step
East Central IL Community Action
Easter Seals Head Start & Early Head Start
Educare of West DuPage
El Valor - Chicago
ERBA, Inc.
Evanston-Skokie Community SD#65
Governor's State University Early Head Start
Heartland Head Start
Howard Area Community Center
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Illinois Dept. Human Services Migrant & Seasonal Head Start
Illinois Action for Children
Illinois Valley Economic Development Corporation
Kankakee School District #111
Metro Family Services DuPage
Mount Vernon School District #80
NICAA (Northwestern Illinois Community Action Agency)
Ounce of Prevention Fund
PACT (Parents and Children Together)
PCCEO, Inc.
Pillars Community Services
Project NOW, Inc.
Proviso Leydon Council for CA (PLCCA)
Quincy Public Schools
Riverbend Head Start & Family Services
Rock Island-Milan Head Start Program
SIU-Carbondale Head Start
SIU-Edwardsville Head Start
Southern 7 Health Dept./Head Start
Springfield Urban League
Tazewell-Woodford Head Start
Tri-County Opportunities Council
Two Rivers Head Start Agency
Wabash Area Development, Inc.
West Central Community Services
Western Egyptian Economic Opportunities Council
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
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Renew annually to save budget $$$
for your agency's professional
development and training.
Give a "hoot" and stay fiscally wise!
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Get 100% from your
membership fee benefits
by renewing annually
before upcoming event dates!
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IHSA Member Agency Job-pages:
Illinois (working from home with extensive travel): n/a
Out of state
(within the other Region V states of Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin): n/a
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Spotlighting BRIGHT Innovative Practices . .
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Featuring a brilliant
innovative strategy incorporated by Wabash Area Development, Inc. on how they met a challenging [and mandatory] supervisory training for Center Directors!
Read more about their exciting success - click this Bright Practices
LINK
for details.
Use their brilliant idea for your own agency!
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IHSA Staff
Alumni Project
For Associate Individual Membership Form click HERE.
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You ARE Head Start -- so join us -- today!
Annual Memberships for Staff Alumni are $35; but your first
year = FREE!
G
et word out
to retired
Head Start friends & staff members.
Tell your former colleagues about this project!
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Staff Alumni Mission: to encourage and support former Head Start staff who still love the program to reconnect, become
informed, and receive opportunities to make a difference in local programs and the state association.
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| Every month at IHSA is $2 Per Child month . . |
What's
in
your
basket?
It's not too early to start filling your basket for the 2020 Annual Conference Raffle!
[IHSA Silent Auction FUN-raiser has now been scheduled for our 2020 Annual Conference]
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Read All About It ! [A specific offer within Greater Chicago Area]
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Cannabis for medical or recreational use in the presence of children under 21 years of age is limited by state statutes.
Click
HERE
for English flyer; and HERE for Spanish flyer.
Still have questions?
Or, call DCFS Foster Care
Licensing Information
877.746.0829
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Our Mission Statement:
IHSA mobilizes and strengthens its membership by creating a passion for leadership and advocacy in the interest of our most vulnerable children and families.
IHSA Purposes
- To engage in and to receive, maintain and expend funds for benevolent and charitable purposes.
- To conduct activities designed to upgrade the quality and quantity of Head Start services for children, families and communities and to safeguard, upgrade and promote the social welfare of the children and families in the State of Illinois.
- To develop policies, positions, and statements which reflect a consensus of opinion of Head Start parents, directors, staff and friends.
- To provide a referral of service to maximize the use of community resources and governmental agencies.
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