A weekly communication source for keeping you updated on the latest local/state/federal HS/EHS information |
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HEAD START AWARENESS MONTH WRAPS UP WITH CELEBRATIONS AT 14 CHILDRENS MUSEUMS IN ILLINOIS |
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Fourteen childrens' museums in Illinois opened up their doors to host Head Start Days all throughout October 2025. In addition to free admission to all Head Start children, staff, and families, programming activities and community outreach events were available.
In partnership with IHSA, museums and its local Head Start programs worked together to create memorable experiences - exploring the exhibits together, singing Happy Birthday to Head Start, snapping photos in fun photo walls, writing birthday notes of gratitude to Washington DC, and sharing stories of how Head Start impacts their families.
With over l,500 in attendance (and counting), Head Start Days would not have been successful without you! We deeply thank our incredible museum partners, our amazing Head Start staff who served on planning committees, and for all of those who came out to play and celebrate with us! |
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL ILLINOIS HEAD START PROGRAMS WHO SERVED ON PLANNING COMMITTEES: |
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Brightpoint
Carole Robertson Center for Learning Chicago Commons Childcare Network of Evanston Community Action Partnership of Central IL (CAPCIL) Educare of West DuPage
El Valor Family Focus Heartland Head Start
Illinois Action for Children Marillac St. Vincent Family Services Metropolitan Family Services - Chicago & DuPage |
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Northwestern IL Community Action Agency (NICAA)
Parents & Children Together (PACT) for West Central IL PCCEO Head Start Quincy Public School District - ECFC Riverbend Head Start & Family Services Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville Springfield Urban League Tazewell-Woodford Head Start
Two Rivers Head Start YWCA Metropolitan Chicago |
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If you have any photos from Head Start Days that can be shared, please email to lwang@ilheadstart.org. |
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GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HEADS INTO WEEK 6: Longest in History |
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As of yesterday, the current shutdown is the longest in history. The House remains out of session and the Senate reconvened yesterday. Unfortunately, there is no accurate prediction of when the shutdown will end at this time.
Impacts on Head Start, nutrition benefits, and increased premiums during open season for the Affordable Care Act could create pressure on Congress this week. It is important that the Head Start community continue to communicate the impact on Head Start children, families, and staff during this time. |
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President Trump called for Republicans to eliminate the filibuster so that they can pass a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) with a simple majority, rather than the required 60 votes.
Eliminating the filibuster is an issue that President Trump has championed since his first term in office. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), and many other Republicans are not interested in removing the filibuster due to concerns that doing so could backfire if control of the Senate shifts in the future.
We do not anticipate a vote on the Senate floor to eliminate the filibuster. Senator Thune has asserted that the “60-vote threshold has protected this country,” and Senator John Curtis (R-UT) agreed, noting that “power changes hands, but principles shouldn’t,” and that the filibuster forces senators to find common ground. |
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STATUS OF IMMIGRATION VERFICATION IN HEAD START |
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The federal government has until November 10th to appeal the preliminary injunction on immigration verification.
In September, a judge ordered a preliminary injunction, effective in all states, that prohibits HHS from implementing requirements to verify immigration status in Head Start. The federal government has not yet appealed, and they have until November 10 to do so. |
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SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) UPDATE |
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The Trump Administration previously announced that it would not use the SNAP Contingency Fund to extend benefits. However over the weekend, two federal judges ruled that the federal government must at least partially fund SNAP benefits in November using the Contingency Funds. |
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Child nutrition programs, including CACFP, are expected to continue in November per an October 24 memo from the Administration to Congress. |
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COLLECTING & SHARING STORIES: Immigration Encorcement Activities in Head Start |
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We know that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in and around communities have created fear, stress, and disruption for families and staff. We want to better understand what is happening in your area so we can ensure that the needs and voices of our Head Start/Early Head Start families and staff are represented and supported. The stories we have been hearing are heartbreaking. Yet many don't know or understand the impact on our community.
Our primary goal is to collect stories so others can understand how these activites are affecting children, families, and staff. We will aggregate the information and share with congressional members, state legislators, policy makers, etc. These stories will help us advocate for Head Start programs and families in Illinois. Please note: No need to share any names, personal identifiers, or locations that could put anyone at risk. Stories can be shared anonymously or with limited details. |
| Thank you for helping us
lift up the real experiences
of our families, staff, and communities
during this challenging time. |
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HUDDLE with IHSA: Wednesday, 11/5 at 4pm. |
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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! |
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VACCINE & VACCINE ADVOCACY: Thursday, 11/6 at 3-4PM |
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| Join advocates from the American Academy of Pediatrics to answer questions about vaccines and vaccine advocacy. |
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IMMIGRATION DETENTION PREGNANCY TRACKING TOOL & PARENTAL RIGHTS: Friday, 11/7 at 2-3PM |
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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.
Women's Refugee Commission 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. |
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NEW! IHSA GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WEBPAGE: Current Information All In One Spot |
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IHSA is tracking the US government shutdown to provide impacts and program updates. This page provides real-time updates, funding notes, and operational guidance for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Illinois.
We are parking every piece of information here, in one spot, so you can locate the most current. |
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FIND FOOD ILLINOIS - Community Food Map |
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| 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. |
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BEYOND ENROLLMENT: REIMAGINING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT- A Web Series for Family Engagement Staff, Family Advocates, & Program Leaders |
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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 IHSA 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,
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Leave with practical tools ready to use immediately.
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Next Quality Enrichment Circle (QEC): Tuesday, Dec 2 at 10AM-Noon |
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Health, Safety, & Nutrition Not too late to register! Join us now! |
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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! |
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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! |
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