A weekly communication source for keeping you updated on the latest local/state/federal HS/EHS information |
|
|
HEAD START DAYS' CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS |
|
|
| |
Children's Hands-On Museum of NW Illinois in Freeport, IL, hosted Head Start Day on Thursday, October 23, with families and staff from Northwestern IL Community Action Agency (NICAA) Head Start, and more. |
|
|
Special thanks to Gwynne French, Director of Children's Hands-On Museum of NW Illinois. |
|
|
|
| |
Children's Discovery Museum in Normal, IL, hosted Head Start Night on Thursday, October 23, with families from Heartland Head Start, Brightpoint, Community Action Partnership of Central IL (CAPCIL), and more! |
|
|
Special thanks to Erin Wiese-Reichert, Early Childhood Educator at Children's Discovery Museum. |
|
|
| |
Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview, hosted Head Start Day on Saturday, October 25, with families from Childcare Network Evanston, Chicago Commons, Brightpoint, Metropolitan Family Services, YWCA, & more! |
|
|
Special thanks to Stephanie Bynum, Vice President of Programs, and Jasmine PIchardo, Education Specialist II at Kohl Children's Museum. |
|
|
| | Kidzeum of Health & Science in Springfield, IL, hosted Head Start Day on Sunday, October 26, with families from Springfield Urban League Head Start, and more! |
|
|
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HEADS INTO WEEK FIVE: Brief Summary from DLA Piper |
|
|
The Senate returned the other day but did not hold a vote on the continuing resolution (CR). The House remains out of session, with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) now indicating he will make decisions about returning on a day-by-day basis. The House has not been in session since September 19.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union of federal workers in the country, has called for Congress to end the shutdown immediately by passing a clean CR. The AFGE’s president criticized both parties for trying to put a partisan spin on the situation and called the fact that Americans are being forced to work without pay a “national disgrace.” Federal workers represent an important contingent within the Democrats’ base, and this messaging places pressure on Democrats who could lose support from federal workers at risk of missing another paycheck.
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) are working to merge their two shutdown funding bills to create bipartisan legislation that would pay an unknown number of federal employees. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has said he is open to a compromise. Several senators criticized Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) for not keeping the Senate in session over the weekend. Senator Thune indicates that a deal is likely not close.
Democrats are also struggling to remain unified as the shutdown continues. On Thursday, Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) in voting for the Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 3012), indicating they are willing to dissent from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) wishes.
Despite concerns about a lack of progress, many senators are still looking to push ahead. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) is continuing to support a three-bill minibus to pass more appropriations bills, and other senators have expressed interest in passing bills and conferencing with the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (H.R. 3944).
|
|
|
| Tallahassee Democrat_ 10.24.2025 |
| Illinois Head Start Association |
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) UPDATE |
|
|
The Trump Administration announced that it will stop SNAP benefits on November 1. SNAP has a $5 billion contingency fund that the Administration has decided not to use. |
| |
|
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES: SNAP Federal Impact Center - Feeding Illinois |
|
|
In the past, when the government shut down, Congress usually fixed the problem before families missed their benefits. But this time, things are uncertain.
The State of Illinois is sharing information to help all who rely on food benefits make the best plan for themselves and their families.
For the most recent updates on SNAP, visit SNAP Federal Impact Center, which includes a link to Feeding Illinois where individuals and families may search for food pantries and other free food assistance programs operated in partnership with Feeding Illinois Food Bank partners. Search by location and apply filters to narrow the results to find the programs that best meet your needs.
|
|
|
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) UPDATE |
|
|
Illinois WIC is funded to operate throughout November. |
|
|
TODAY! DAY OF ACTION TO PROTECT HEAD START |
|
|
Head Start has come together with a broad coalition of organizations in a National Day of Action today. We are united in our work to protect children and families who rely on Head Start and other critical care, education, and nutrition programs currently at risk because of the federal government shutdown. Join us in this critical effort!
Families need action now. If the shutdown continues past November 1, 2025, an estimated 141 Head Start programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico will not have their operational funding. Together, these programs serve more than 65,000 children who could lose access to their classrooms, nutritious meals, health screenings, and the caring teachers who help them thrive. |
|
Protect Head Start funding! |
|
|
CACFP & GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: Pop-Up Zoom Meeting Tomorrow |
|
|
As the November 1 date approaches, states and CACFP operators still don’t have clear guidance or understanding of what to expect. In response, CACFP Roundtable and National CACFP Forum are hosting a meeting to come together in community.
This gathering is a space for CACFP sponsors, sites, operators, and partners to: - Hear from anti-hunger advocates to understand what’s happening and support you and your communities,
- Share food access resources and challenges,
-
Speak to what you’re seeing and experiencing in your communities and organizations,
- We’ll also share a brief update on what we understand about the shutdown and its impact on CACFP in this unpredictable environment.
|
|
Thursday, October 30 @ 2-3PM Central |
|
|
WOMEN'S REFUGEE COMMISSION (WRC) PRESENTATION: Immigration Detention Pregnancy Tracking & Parental Rights |
|
|
Friday, November 7 at 2-3PM
Detention Pregnancy Tracker is the first nationwide tool to collect real-time reports about pregnancy, postpartum, and nursing women detained in the United States as a result of immigration enforcement operations. This is a confidential reporting form. The information provided will be used to advocate for these women on individual and systemic levels.
WRC will also share about the Parental Rights Toolkit which provides detained and deported immigrant and undocumented mothers and fathers with crucial information they need to protect and maintain parental rights and make well-informed, critical decisions regarding the care and welfare of their children. |
|
|
VACCINE & VACCINE ADVOCACY
|
|
|
|
Thursday, November 6 at 3-4PM
Join advocates from the American Academy of Pediatrics to answer questions about vaccines and vaccine advocacy. |
| |
|
HUDDLE with IHSA: Wednesday, 11/5 at 4pm. |
|
|
Join IHSA Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl and your Illinois Head Start community for a weekly 30-minute check-in. This space is for everyone and anyone to ask questions and to learn the latest on what's going on. See you this afternoon! |
| |
|
BEYOND ENROLLMENT: REIMAGINING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT- A Web Series for Family Engagement Staff, Family Advocates, & Program Leaders |
|
|
|
Date: Fridays - November 21, December 19, January 9, February 6. Times: 10AM - 11:30AM (Central)
Family engagement isn’t paperwork — it’s relationship-building.
And that takes skill, strategy, and stamina.
Join the Illinois Head Start Association and Yolanda Winfrey of Freystyle by Winfrey, LLC for a focused, interactive training that helps you strengthen how your program connects with families, supports staff, and builds lasting trust.
This web series is built for those who do the heart work of engagement and want tools that actually work in real life. What You’ll Gain - Understand how agency culture shapes engagement and enrollment,
- Build systems that make family engagement sustainable,
- Explore how values, norms, and beliefs influence interactions,
- Learn why trust should come first — not last,
-
Leave with practical tools ready to use immediately.
|
|
|
Next Quality Enrichment Circle (QEC): Tuesday, Nov 4 at 10AM-Noon |
|
|
| Component -
Family Services/ERSEA Specialists, Advocates & Workers Not too late to register! Join us now! |
| |
|
FIND FOOD ILLINOIS - Community Food Map |
|
|
|
Use the Find Food IL map to find places in your community offering free food or meals. You can also find stores and markets that accept SNAP/LINK or WIC coupons. Plus, see the DHS or WIC office nearest to you. Enter your zip code or city to get started. |
|
|
QUESTION: What is the ratio for a Head Start class?
How to play: Respond to this Scoop with your answer! (or email lwang@ilheadstart.org). If correct, you'll be put in a raffle for a prize! Winner and answer will be announced in the next Scoop.
Last week's Q&A Question: What is the maximum number of over-income students?
Answer: No more than 10% of total enrollment.
Winner: Teresa Braswell, Program Aide II at Riverbend Head Start & Family Services in Alton! (Second time winner!) Look out in the mail for your prize from our friends at Paper Pie Books! |
|
|
What's going on at your Head Start Program? Share your recent center activities, congressional visits, field trip adventures, staff spotlights, exciting news, and more!
Let's build community by sharing what's going on IN our community! |
| |
|
|
