The Illinois Head Start Association (IHSA) is now accepting proposals for presentations at our upcoming Annual Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, March 10, 2027 - Friday, March 12, 2027, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield, IL 62703

Submission Guidelines:

• Audience: We invite proposals that cater to Head Start and Early Head Start professionals, including directors, managers, staff, and parents.
• Content Areas: Proposals should align with the following tracks:
  • Early Education and Child Development (3-5 yrs old or PreK)
  • Family and Community Engagement
  • Health and Wellness
  • Infant/Toddler Early Care and Education (under 3 yrs old)
  • Program Governance and Management
  • Workforce Development Innovative Practices
  • Fiscal/HR
  • Tackling Change (i.e., navigating change, leading change, communicating change, digital transformation and change management, overcoming resistance,etc.)
  • Implementation of the new HSPPS
• Format: Sessions may be workshops, panel discussions, or interactive presentations.
• Duration: Each session is allotted 90 minutes.

Submission Requirements:

Proposal Title: A concise and descriptive title.
Abstract/Description: A summary of up to 250 words outlining the session's objectives, content, and format.
Learning Objectives: Clearly defined outcomes participants can expect.
Presenter Information: Names, titles, affiliations, and brief biographies of all presenters.
Contact Information: Email addresses and phone numbers for all presenters.

Submission Deadline: Proposals must be submitted by end of business, December 18, 2026.
Selection Criteria: Relevance to the conference theme and/or tracks. Clarity and coherence of the proposal. Engagement strategies for participants. Presenter qualifications and experience.

Notification: Presenters will be notified of acceptance by January 20, 2025.

Presenter Responsibilities:

• Provide session materials and handouts in advance.
• Ensure availability for the entire conference duration.

Benefits for Presenters:

• Access to the conference; we ask, however to help off set the cost, presenters purchase meals offered during the conference.
• Recognition in the conference program.
• Opportunities for networking and professional development.
• Recognition of expertise among HS/EHS community of professionals

For questions or additional information, please contact Cathy Welsh at cwelsh@ilheadstart.org. We look forward to your contributions to a successful and enriching conference.