Chicago Center for Early Education presents its Fall 2010 Workshop Series. Topics include: Basic Computer Training, Basic PowerPoint Training, Intermediate PowerPoint Training, Introduction to Computers and Microsoft Word in Spanish, Science All Around, and Virtual Pre-K.

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Join us for three Early Head Start workshops: Promoting Child Development through Play with Keri Grossman, Helping Parents Read to their Children with Jane Hough, and Child’s Space and its Applicability to Early Head Start with Renee Moses.  A description of each workshop, including dates, times and locations, are listed on the information sheet.

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Register Online: Promoting Child Development | Helping Parents Read | Child’s Space

The Office of the City Treasurer is sponsoring a series of workshops at six different branch libraries across the city.  Series I will be presented at the Coleman, Rogers Park, and West Chicago Avenue branches. Topics will include: Ten Money Rules to Live By, Getting Through Tough Financial Times, and Recordkeeping: What to Keep and Why.  Series II will be held at Humboldt Park, King and Thurgood Marshall branches. These topics will be: The Road to Retire Well (especially useful for early to mid-career workers), Maximizing Social Security Retirement Benefits, and Personal Finance: Charting a New Course.

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USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services has authorized the Illinois Department of Human Services to offer a special Disaster SNAP benefits for residents of 7 counties declared federal disaster areas as a result of flooding in late July.

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Chicago Conference on Financial Stability for Families with Young Children
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Summit Executive Centre | 205 N. Michigan Avenue

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Region V invites early childhood and asset building leaders to a conference to launch its initiative on financial stability for families with young children.

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Join the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services for SERENDIPITY 2010. It is an evening at Millennium Park featuring performances by Chicago’s most talented seniors, taking place on Tuesday, September 7 at 5:30pm in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millenium Park.  We urge you to promote and encourage your staff and families to attend this free, fun-filled evening.  We are providing a free dinner and CTA transit cards for Head Start parents and staff.

Download Flyer | Download Letter | Download Sign-Up Sheet

URGENT Nationwide Egg Recall: Eggs in Their Shells May Put Consumers at Risk for Salmonella

Fast Facts:
- The current recall of eggs in their shells, or “shell eggs,” is part of an ongoing and intensive investigation by local, state, and federal officials into the cause of recent cases of Salmonella Enteritidis.

- This recall affects shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. The eggs are packaged under different brand names and distributed nationwide.

- The shell eggs may contain Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and may cause serious illness.

- Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

- Consumers should throw away the product or return the product to the store

For More Information:
Additional Background on Salmonella Outbreak

Eggs and Egg Products

Food Safety

Salmonella

Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs

In early April the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection issued their Sign Permit Amnesty Program. This program gives an opportunity for existing businesses that have an existing sign but no permit to come into compliance.  This program allows existing business (including child care programs) that are lacking permits for their existing signs, canopies, awnings, marquees or banners to apply for one or both of the permits at no cost.  The program is temporary and runs from April 15, 2010 – October 15, 2010.  By applying for all the proper permits during the amnesty, businesses will have all the permit fees waived and avoid future fines.

Call the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at 312-744-6249 or visit one of the following websites.

Download Flyer | Information Page

The traveling exhibition, “The Wonder of Learning”, calls attention to the importance of education and schools as places for discussion and exchange. “The Hundred Languages of Children” exhibition aims to reconfirm the values that underlie the educational philosophy of the Municipal Infant-toddler Centers and Preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy and in particular to highlight the changes, innovations, and developments that have taken place. We are looking for individuals interested in volunteering for the position of installing the exhibit or serving as a host at the exhibit, which will be taking place July through November, 2010.

Download Host Volunteer Form | Download Installation Volunteer Form

The purpose of the Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSSCO) is to facilitate collaboration among Head Start agencies and entities that carry out activities designed to benefit low income children from birth to school entry and their families. The collaboration needs assessment addresses the needs of Head Start agencies with respect to collaboration, coordination and alignment of services. The Illinois HSSCO is situated in the Department of Human Services’ Bureau of Child Care and Development.

The following federal priority areas, which mirror Head Start service areas, are the focus of the collaboration needs assessment: health, services for children experiencing homelessness, welfare, child welfare, child care, family literacy, services for children with disabilities, community services, education, and professional development.

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Below are the instructions and reporting forms developed by DFSS for use with documenting funding from ARRA. If you have any questions regarding these forms or need further guidance, please contact either Loukisha Smart-Pennix or Elizabeth Stover from DFFS at (312) 743-0300.

ARRA Program Reporting Instructions

Use this monthly report for COLA & Quality Improvements:
ARRA COLA & Quality Improvements Report

Use this monthly report for Head Start/Early Head Start expansion:
ARRA Head Start/Early Head Start Expansion Report

In order to assist Delegate Agency staff in meeting their educational goals, the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) is offering virtually full coverage of tuition and possibly books and fees (some institutions may require a minor charge).  In order to take advantage of these opportunities please review the general requirements listed below before you apply. 

1.  Applicants must be a current employee in a DFSS funded Head Start, Early Head Start, Family Child Care Home program, Child Care, or Child Care Collaboration Programs.

2.  Applicants must be in good standing at their current place of employment.

3.  Upon completion of their chosen educational program, applicants must commit to maintaining employment for 3 years in a DFSS funded Head Start, Early Head Start, or Family Child Care Home program.

4.  Applicants must submit a completed DFSS Scholarship Application form at www.childrenserviceschicago.com along with a letter of recommendation from the Agency, Program or Site Director.  Letters of recommendations for Partner Sites must be certified and completed by DA. These materials should be mailed to:

City of Chicago
Department of Family and Support Services
1615 West Chicago Avenue – 2nd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60622
Attention:  Isolda Davila
(312) 743-1647

5. DFSS will maximize additional resources in conjunction with the scholarship including Gateway to Learning, Pell Grants, etc.

6. Acceptance of application is contingent upon verification of educational data in COPA.

Download: Scholarship Application | School-Age Scholarship Application | Professional Development Opportunities Booklet