A weekly communication source for keeping you updated on the latest local/state/federal HS/EHS information |
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SIU-C HEAD START: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Open House in Celebration of New Murphysboro Center |
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On January 8, the Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Head Start program held a ribbon cutting for a new stand alone Murphysboro Head Start site in Murphysboro, IL. The Murphysboro Center was previously located in a school district building with public preschool and special education preschool but the program decided to work with community members and city leadership to open a stand alone site to better meet the needs of the families and community. The SIU-C Head Start community as a whole met to celebrate the new site and tour the center. SIU-C is very excited about the new facility and the opportunity to be located in the center of town and reach more families in need. |
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HEAD START WINS! in the ACLU DEIA LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION |
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Remember the lawsuit that Illinois Head Start Association filed last spring, along with 4 other state Head Start associations, 2 parent groups, and the ACLU, challenging the Administration on bans of DEIA practices in Head Start programming and grant writing?
Well, we’re writing with the fantastic news that the Court (finally!!!) granted our preliminary injunction motion regarding both the DEIA Ban and the mass layoffs and office closures!
This means that HHS is not allowed to continue implementing the DEIA Ban anywhere, either through enforcement of the 3/19 Guidance Letter or grant conditions. The order also pauses the RIFs and does not allow the administration to move forward with the firing of OHS employees in connection with the April layoffs. (The HHS layoffs are currently already paused under a separate court order in the state Attorney General's case, New York v. Kennedy, but this offers another additional layer of protection for OHS employees.)
This injunction does not have any geographic limitations and applies to all Head Start providers and families across the country. |
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HEAD START LITIGATION UPDATE : What the New Federal Ruling Means for DEI & Workforce Cuts |
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Together for Head Start leaders will share a timely update on the court’s ruling and what it means for Head Start grantees and the communities they serve. The webinar will feature the legal advocates who led this effort, including litigators from the ACLU, along with plaintiffs who shared their voices to help protect Head Start. |
| Date: January 15, Thursday at 2PM |
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FUNDING FREEZE: Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) & Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) |
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Last week HHS announced a funding freeze for CCDF, TANF, and SSBG impacting 5 states (IL, WA, CA, NY, and MN). HHS also sent letters to these states indicating that the agency will withhold CCDF funds until the state implements additional fiscal controls and attendance records.
HHS’s press release indicated that the freeze is in response to widespread fraud but did not provide evidence of the fraud allegations. Earlier this month, a viral video from a social media influencer visited child care programs in Minnesota and alleged fraud. However, the state investigated these programs and found that they were operating as normal in early January. The White House also announced a DOJ position focused on fraud, which mentions investigations of fraud in Minnesota Head Start programs.
On Friday, a judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) which prohibits HHS from implementing the freeze. Specifically, HHS is prohibited from freezing TANF, CCDF, and SSBG funds for 14 days while the judge holds a hearing, including blocking HHS’s requiring conditions articulated in the letters to states requesting attendance records and additional fiscal controls. The TRO also directs HHS to remove any restrictions, outside of permitted statutory authority, on plaintiffs’ ability to draw down funds under the TANF, CCDF, and SSBG.
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TAKE ACTION FOR HEAD START! for FY2026 Appropriations Bill |
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As 2026 Appropriations deliberation continue, Congress needs to decide to adequately fund Head Start! Right now, Congress is landing on flat funding for the second year in a row (meaning using FY2024 budget numbers to run programs in 2026, which also means no COLA or any living adjustments). |
| Reach out to your elected officials! |
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HUDDLE with IHSA: Wednesday, January 14 at 4:00PM |
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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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48th ANNUAL IHSA CONFERENCE |
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CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Head Start - The Power of Us |
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Join us as we come together in extraordinary times to share knowledge, inspire one another, and deepen our collective impact for children, families, and communities.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS Full Conference Pass - Includes access to all sessions, events, and meals across all three days. Individual: $485.00 (Late Registration: $530.00). Group (5 or more attendees): $440.00 per person (Late Registration: $485.00 per person).
One-Day Pass - Perfect if you can only join for one day! Includes sessions and meals for the selected day. -
Tuesday (Opening Day) - Half day of session + Keynote + Welcome Reception: $160.00 (Late Registration $185.00),
- Wednesday (Full Conference Day) - Full day of sessions, Awards & Recognition Luncheon: $200.00 (Late Registration $230.00),
- Thursday (Closing Day) - Half day of session + Closing Keynote + Lunch: $160.00 (Late Registration $185.00).
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| March 17 (T) to 19 (R) East Peoria, IL |
Attend on your own or gather a group from your program & make it a road trip! |
Don't forget
to book your rooms! by Feb 23 for group rates. |
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2025-2026 IHSA AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIP NOMINATIONS: NOW OPEN! |
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You are invited to nominate, or self-nominate, the next Administrator, Teacher, Support Staff, and Parent of the Year, along with two scholarship recipients.
Recognize your colleague, or yourself!, for their hard work, efforts, passion and compassion for this last year. Anyone can nominate anyone who is eligible within the Head Start community.
All six winners will receive scholarship to attend the 2025-2026 Illinois Head Start Annual Conference Awards & Scholarship Recognition Luncheon on March 18, where they will be recognized. |
| Deadline: Friday, February 7. |
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"EYE LEARN ABOUT" SERIES OF LESSONS TO KEEP EYES HEALTHY |
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Features staff from the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project. |
Offered with English and Spanish captioning and simultaneous interpretation in Spanish. |
| January 15, Thursday at 1-2PM This webinar series features three lessons aimed at teaching young children, ages 4 to 6 years old, about good eye health. The lesson topics cover: - eating vitamin-rich foods that can keep eyes healthy,
- understanding and appreciating when eyeglasses are needed,
- and protecting eyes from injury and sun damage.
Gain practical tips for teaching children these eye health lessons, explore fun interactive learning activities, and hear from Head Start programs that are currently using the series in their classrooms. |
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INDIVIDUALIZED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES |
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IHSA offers tailored and individualized professional development services for your Head Start/Early Head Start program. Work together with our Director of Learning, Cathy Welsh, to develop a topic that is relevant to your programs' needs, choose in-person session or virtual training, and decide on a date.
IHSA also has a library of professional development trainings available in-person, on-site or virtual. Each will be featured in future weekly Scoops. |
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BECOMING A MORE TRAUMA-INFORMED ORGANIZATION: Creating Conditions, Connection & Community in your Head Start/EHS Agency
Day after day, we work with children, families, and staff who have experienced trauma, yet we often do not know how to respond to their needs. As a result, as Head Start / Early Head Start agencies, we need to expand our work to become "trauma-informed & resilient organizations". This training participants will: - Unpack key concepts of becoming trauma informed organizations and explore what this really means,
- Explore how the culture of an organization can care for and support staff while also creating safe, supportive environments for families and children,
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Walk away with tools for assessing and integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures and practices, and a deeper understanding of how trauma informed care leads to more sustainable, resilient organizations.
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NEXT Quality Enrichment Circle (QEC): Tuesday, Jan 20 at 10AM-Noon. |
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Family Services & ERSEA Start the New Year with a new cycle of QECs!
QEC is designed so new participants can join at any point. Choose your component but have access to all! |
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QUESTION: Using the data from assessments, what are Head Start teachers able to do for their Head Start students?
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 does CACFP stand for? Answers: Child & Adult Care Food Program.
Winner: Vernesha Williams-Jackson, Director of Finance & HR at Shining Star Head Start in Chicago!
Look out in the mail for your prize from our friends at The Discovery Source! |
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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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