A weekly communication source for keeping you updated on the latest local/state/federal HS/EHS information |
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2026 ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR: Kelly Neidel, Executive Director at Two Rivers Head Start in Aurora |
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From a reluctant volunteer 36 years ago to the Executive Director of Two Rivers Head Start Agency in Aurora, IL, Kelly Neidel’s journey is a masterclass in service and grit. After initial skepticism about the field, Kelly found her calling, rising from teacher assistant to executive leadership while balancing two jobs and caring for her family.
In the most challenging chapter of the program’s history, Kelly faced the harsh reality of losing funding access head-on. While others chose silence to avoid becoming targets, Kelly chose advocacy. She became both shield and voice for her staff, offering reassurance and dignity while maintaining morale with honesty and clarity when it mattered most. She met the crisis with courage and transparency, always showing profound respect for her staff. Kelly transformed fear into a platform for change. She didn't just manage the crisis; she took it to the highest levels of government with direct engagement.
She hosted Governor JB Pritzker and Senator Tammy Duckworth at the Elgin West center, ensuring they saw the faces behind the headlines. As a trusted source for the Chicago Tribune and Shaw Media, she exercised her public voice as an unwavering advocate for vulnerable children and families across the state. |
| IHSA Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl with Administrator of the Year Kelly Neidel. |
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Kelly Neidel is more than a leader; she is a driving force of accountability and empathy. Her willingness to stand when it was risky has left her program, her staff, and her community stronger, ensuring that the human impact of Head Start is never forgotten. |
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48th ANNUAL IHSA CONFERENCE |
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THAT'S A WRAP ON THE 48TH ANNUAL IHSA CONFERENCE! |
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Three days. Hundreds of conversations. ONE incredibly dedicated community.
From the opening keynote with Jennifer Shephard Lester where she reminded us that "every day, we are planting seeds-long before we ever see the harvest," to breakout sessions packed with ideas, energy, and connection, the Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start community showed up ready to do the work. Connecting hearts, creating change, cultivating futures. That's exactly what this conference looked like.
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A special thank you to Kory M. Shrum for closing us out with a powerful reminder to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others. A Well Cared For Human is a better human and we're taking that message home with us.
Thank you to our presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, and every attendee who made #PowerOfUs2026 what it was. You showed up for children and families across Illinois, and that matters.
We'll carry what we learned, connected, and created here into the work ahead — keep connecting hearts, creating change, and cultivating futures. See you next year! |
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Sometime in the next few weeks, the President will unveil his budget for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins on October 1, 2026. Lawmakers have already begun collecting information to begin the annual funding, or “appropriations,” process. |
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EMAIL CONGRESS: Ask Your Member of Congress to Sign On To “Dear Colleague” Letters Today
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Congress has kicked off the annual Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations process, which will ultimately determine how much funding Head Start will receive for the year ahead. Members right now are circulating “Dear Colleague” letters to gather support for Head Start from their colleagues. We especially need Republican representatives to sign on! |
| Tell Your House Representative to show support for the child care and early learning programs our community needs. |
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HUDDLE with IHSA: Wednesday, March 25 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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PROMOTING HEALTHY EATING & NUTRITION FOR HEAD START CHILDREN & FAMILIES - Nutrition Support Opportunities Available to Illinois Early Head Start/Head Start Programs
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In March 2025, the Administration of Children & Family Services (ACF) issued a memo to affirm the critical role Head Starts play in ensuring families and children have access to nutritious foods and in providing comprehensive nutrition services. It emphasized the importance of leveraging partnerships and resources available to support programs in meeting relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.
As such, the Illinois Head Start Association (IHSA) is pleased to announce the partnership with the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) to provide Illinois Early Head Start/Head Start programs with two free opportunities developed based on feedback and identified needs. IHSA strongly encourages you to take advantage of these opportunities, which commence in April 2026. Please sign up by Tuesday, March 31, 5pm. |
| Looking for up to 12 programs to strengthen local food access/Farm to ECE practices and up to 8 programs to strengthen lactation support practices. |
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2026 HOME VISITING STAFFING & SALARY SURVEY |
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Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies is conducting a statewide home visiting workforce survey for all Illinois home visiting programs.
It asks about the number of home visitors, applicants and their qualifications, home visitor demographics and the average salaries and benefits offered.
Information collected by this new survey will be used to guide state agency partners to strengthen recruitment and retention of the home visiting workforce. Advocates also hope to use this information to push for increased funding for home visiting and home visitor compensation |
| No personally identifiable, individual-level, or organizational-level data will be shared. Responses will not have any impact on current funding, or future eligibility for any funding. |
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NEXT Quality Enrichment Circle (QEC): Tuesday, April 7 at 10AM-Noon. |
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Component - Family Services & ERSEA |
| QECs is taking a break in March to recuperate from the awesome Annual Conference last week. We'll reconvene in April! |
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QUESTION: Which US Government agency oversees the Head Start program?
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: How many annual conferences has the Illinois Head Start Association hosted?
Answers: 48 including last week!
Winner: Amber Jackson, Education Coordinator at Wabash Area Development Inc (WADI) in Enfield! Look out in the mail for your prize from our friends at Paper Pie and 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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