Chicago Early Childhood Program Locator

Finding quality Early Childhood Education programs for your child has never been this easy!  Whether you are looking for a program near your home or near your job, the Chicago Early Childhood Program Locator can help you find what you're looking for.  There are many Early Childhood Education programs for children ages 3 to 5 with varying services, hours and fees-- whether it's a half day at your neighborhood public school or a full day at your community center.

Click here to locate a Chicago Early Childhood Program

Chicago Community Needs Summary Tool

The Chicago Community Needs Summary Tool lets the user map demographic data in discrete areas of the city drawn by the user.  The tool focuses on data related to young children, including demographic information for children under age six, community-level risk factors, and family composition information.

Click here: http://cnat.childrenserviceschicago.com/

Professional Development Scholarship Information

Effective immediately, DFSS has purged and discarded any scholarship applications that were submitted prior to November 30, 2016.  Unless you have been otherwise notified by DFSS via email that your application has been sent to the institution of higher learning  for next steps, then your application and any applicable documents are no longer valid.  

Any applications that were not sent to the institution of higher learning will be discarded at the end of grant fiscal year.  Interested applicants will have to resubmit a new application unless otherwise notified by DFSS.

Below is the revised scholarship opportunity application to support your professional development goals.

Please be mindful of the following requirements when submitting applications:

• Only the revised application will be accepted
• The application must be signed by both the applicant and the program/site director
• The letter of support/recommendation on agency letterhead and signed by the program/site director
• Only completed applications with current COPA HR information will be processed
• Applicant Information must be entered in to COPA HR:

• Correct mailing address
• Criminal Records Check Dates
• Current TB/Physical
• Salary Percentage Recorded (must align with HS/EHS/EHSCCP respective budgets)
• Current Professional Development Plan applicable to
• Years of services/Years in Position should match application

For additional information/inquires, contact Elaine Millsap Parker, Supervisor Children Services Programs at 312-743-1926 or at Elaine.Millsap-Parker@cityofchicago.org

Revisiting the Environment For Young Children Seminar

Chicago Commons, in collaboration with Columbia College Chicago and Crossroads for Learning, is offering a 2-day seminar Revisiting the Role of the Environment. 
Presenters: Kristin Brizzolara-Educational Consultant, Kim Cothran-Chicago Commons and Karen Haigh-Columbia College Chicago


Dates and Time:  June 23rd and 24th, from 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Location:  Columbia College Chicago/Hokin Hall, 623 S. Wabash, Chicago 
Cost:  $100 for both days, registration must be for both days. (Lunch Provided)
Registrations due by June 17th. 

CFCL Transitions Workshop

Have you heard the expression “the only constant is change?” Let’s explore ways to prepare your children for everyday transitions and support your family as children move to a new classroom or school environment.  Free and open to all DFSS Head Start/Early Head Start Parents.

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Time: 9:30am - 11:30am
Location: King Community Service Center || 4314 S. Cottage Grove, Room 106 Chicago, IL 60653

Call 312.733.3134 to register or find us on Facebook. Certificates will be provided. Workshop is held by the Center for Family and Community Leadership (CFCL).

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Request for Proposals

The Coalition of Site Administered Child Care Programs is seeking a Service Provider that can provide the following services:

• Provide a team of consultants to support Chicago Head Start agencies including:
  
  • Training the consultants in the area of Program Management
  • Assigning consultants to Chicago Head Start sites to provide direct work to the delegate programs
  • Coordinate site visits between consultants and delegate programs
  • Payment of consultants prior to reimbursement from the Coalition
• Provide Project Management services in the area of early childhood education, Head Start and Early Head Start
• Serve as a liaison between the Department of Family and Support Services and the Coalition

Requirements:

1. Has a verifiable cadre of consultants experienced in the area of Head Start at the upper management, executive, and grant level.
2. Capacity to engage and support 36 delegate agencies
3. Previous verifiable experience in significant work with super grantees and delegates for DRS Federal Reviews

Please forward serious inquiries to Judith Walker-Kendrick at judithk@cnh.org or 773-373-5700.  Proposals are due by November 31, 2015 and can be mailed or delivered to:

Judith Walker-Kendrick

Centers for New Horizons

4150 S King Drive

Chicago, IL 60653

Black Child Development Institute

The Chicago Chapter of The Black Child Development Institute invites agencies to nominate programs and projects that provide clear evidence demonstrating that Black children and families can and do succeed on a range of measures, across many communities. 

You can find more information, criteria and the nomination form online at www.nbcdi.org/pointsofproof.  We kindly request that you submit the ten-question nomination form by March 13, 2015.

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Head Start: 50 Years of Opportunity

Upcoming Events

March 30 - April 2, 2015
National Head Start Association 50 Years of Opportunity Conference
Washington, D.C.


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Measles Virus

Dear Parents and Staff of Head Start and Early Head Start Children, 

As the Medical Consultant for Head Start I am encouraging all of you to check the immunization records for the children and yourselves to determine if you or your children are at risk for contracting Measles during this epidemic. Your health care provider can give your further direction. Please read the information below. 

WHAT IS MEASLES? Measles is a preventable communicable disease caused by the measles virus. It is a respiratory disease that can have serious life-threatening complications. In the year 2000, measles was eliminated and declared no longer endemic (common disease) in the United States. Therefore, the recent confirmed cases of measles in the United States are considered part of an epidemic (more than usually expected). In the past week, there have been 5 confirmed cases of Measles in Palatine, IL in infants that attend the same day care center. These infants are too young to routinely receive the Measles vaccination. 

ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS: The Measles vaccination (immunization) is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Council on Immunization Practices. The initial dose is between 12 and 15 months. The second or booster is recommended between 4 and six years of age. Children receiving the measles immunization following this schedule are 95% likely to have immunity against Measles. See http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/ 

IMMUNIZIING THE COMMUNITY: Infants under the age of 12 months have no significant immunity against measles. This is why it is so important that all other children and adults receive these immunizations. The reason this is effective is “Herd Immunity”. This means that all others around the unvaccinated person are immune and should not catch disease. Hence the community or “herd” shelters the weakest one(s) from the disease by not exposing them. All eligible children should be vaccinated against Measles as well as adults with no history of vaccination or physician diagnosed history of Measles. 

RISK COMPLICATIONS OF MEASLES: The risk of complications of Measles is highest in young infants and those over 20 years of age. The complications may be something manageable like an ear infection, suffered by one in 20 children with Measles. A more serious and life threatening complication is pneumonia. Pneumonia is the Measles complication that most often leads to death. Encephalitis (swelling of the brain) is suffered by 1 in a thousand persons with Measles and may lead to brain damage and/or death. 

Written by Joyce M. Smith, M.D., MPH
DFSS Head Start Medical Consultant

View DFSS Cover Letter: English | Spanish
View Measles Memo: English |  Spanish
View Measles Fact Sheet: English | Spanish

October DFSS Hearing and Vision Clinic Visits

DFSS H/V Team will be conducting screenings for any newly enrolled children without any screenings due to absences and/or late enrollment ONLY for sites that was already visited by our H/V staff. 

Dates: Thursday, October 9, 2014 and Tuesday, October 14, 2014

 Times: 9:30am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm

Screenings will be conducted at:
DFSS Central Office, 1st Floor Conference Room 155 
1615 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL
 

Please contact your assigned H/V Technician or Angela Maiden, H/V Supervisor at 312-743-1905 if your site would like to attend these scheduled clinics or have any questions or concerns regarding the clinic schedule.

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