2026 DFSS PreService: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 2026 3-Day DFSS PreService

📍Palmer House Chicago
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Breakfast and Registration open at 8:00am
Conference programming from 9:00am -4:10pm

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

9:20am CDT

“Back to Basics: Home Visiting Safety & Boundaries Refresher”

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity seats available

This training provides home visiting professionals with practical tools and strategies to maintain clear professional boundaries while ensuring personal safety in the f ield. Working in participant’s homes presents unique challenges, and this session is designed to help staff navigate those environments with confidence, consistency, and care. Participants will explore what professional boundaries look like in home-based services and why they are essential for building respectful, effective relationships. In addition, the session will focus on safety awareness before, during, and after home visits. Participants will learn how to assess risk, recognize warning signs, apply situational awareness, and use practical strategies for safe entry, engagement, and exit.

Speakers

Chevon Townsend-King

Chevon is the Assistant Program Manager for our PLN division at Start Early. She provides in-person and virtual trainings and technical assistance to program staff who work in center-based and home-based programs across Chicago and Illinois. She is also a Parents as Teachers (PAT)... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 10

Start Early

9:20am CDT

Getting to Know Born to Learn: Tools for Home Visiting Success

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT

Salon 1

Limited Capacity seats available

This interactive workshop introduces the next evolution of Parents as Teachers curriculum and platform —Born to Learn®. Participants will explore key features of the platform, including how to locate curriculum materials, tools, and resources to support planning and implementation of family engagement and home visits. Beyond navigation, this workshop focuses on integrating the Born to Learn curriculum and platform into home visiting and family engagement activities. Through guided exploration, reflection, and collaborative activities, participants will practice using the platform to plan intentional, relationship-based visits/interactions that support child and family engagement/programming. We would encourage participants to bring their laptops for hands-on practice.

Speakers

Chevon Townsend-King

Angie Trejo

Technical Assistance and Training Specialist, Start Early

Angelica Trejo, M.A.T, is a Technical Assistance and Training Specialist for Start Early. She partners with early childhood professionals, supports engagement efforts within center-based sites, and is a Parents as Teachers Virtual Foundational and Model Implementation Certified Trainer... Read More →

Griselda Zuluaga

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 1

Start Early

1:20pm CDT

Conociendo Born to Learn: Herramientas para el éxito en las visitas al hogar

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT

Salon 1

Limited Capacity seats available

Este taller interactivo presenta la próxima evolución del programa de estudios y la plataforma de Parents as Teachers—Born to Learn®. Los participantes explorarán las funciones clave de la plataforma, incluyendo cómo localizar materiales del currículo, herramientas y recursos para apoyar la planificación e implementación de visitas al hogar y actividades de participación familiar. Más allá de la navegación, este taller se enfoca en la integración del currículo y la plataforma Born to Learn® en la práctica diaria. A través de exploración guiada, reflexión y actividades colaborativas, los participantes practicarán cómo utilizar la plataforma para planificar visitas e interacciones intencionales, basadas en relaciones, que promuevan la participación de los niños y las familias dentro de su programación.

Speakers

Angie Trejo

Technical Assistance and Training Specialist, Start Early

Griselda Zuluaga

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon 1

Start Early

2026 DFSS PreService

9:20am CDT

Chevon Townsend-King

9:20am CDT

Chevon Townsend-King

Angie Trejo

Griselda Zuluaga

1:20pm CDT

Angie Trejo

Griselda Zuluaga

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