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

11:10am CDT

Understanding and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

FILLING

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity filling up

This training will provide participants with an in-depth look at the contents of an Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP). Participants will learn how to link family outcomes to their curriculum to better plan for and individualize for a child who has an IFSP as well as discuss various adaptations and accommodations that can be made in their classroom to better support the needs of children.

Speakers

Zakiya Gilliam

Infant Toddler Inclusion Consultant, Erikson Institute

Pamela Stutzman

Infant Toddler Inclusion Project Consultant, Erikson Institute

I'm a former school social worker and administrator. I have 20 years of experience working in public schools with a focus on early childhood and early childhood special education. I am excited to be a part of the Infant Toddler Inclusion Project (ITIP) as a Consultant at Erikson Institute... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 10

Erikson Institute

1:20pm CDT

Supporting Interactions to Enhance Literacy Development

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity seats available

The process of learning words, sounds, and language is enhanced by the meaningful interactions children
have with the adults and children around them. This session focuses on how educators can develop early
literacy skills and ensure each child is a valued conversational partner through intentional daily interactions

Moderators

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone

Speakers

Melissa Wilhelm

Teachstone

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT
Salon 10

Teachstone

3:10pm CDT

Supporting Interactions to Enhance Math Development

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity seats available

It is important for educators to understand how educator-child interactions can impact the way children think
and learn about mathematics. This session focuses on supporting educators in promoting early childhood
math concepts through intentional interactions during activities, conversations, and play.

Moderators

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone

Speakers

Monica Barrera

Teachstone

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 10

Teachstone

9:20am CDT

Interactions that Support Students with Learning Differences

FULL

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

A warm, supportive learning environment is of the utmost importance
for every child. This session takes special care to share strategies for
acknowledging learning differences and responding to meet the needs
of every child.

Moderators

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone

Speakers

Melissa Wilhelm

Teachstone

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 10

Teachstone

11:00am CDT

Focusing on the Purpose During Center Time

LIMITED

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity seats available

Educators offer robust learning experiences when they invite active engagement. This session
focuses on ways to offer clear objectives and facilitate purposeful and engaged learning
during center time.

Moderators

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone

Speakers

Melissa Wilhelm

Teachstone

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon 10

Teachstone

2:10pm CDT

Differentiating Language for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Tiny tweaks to create meaningful interactions

LIMITED

Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:45pm CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity seats available

We all know that language is important for children at all stages of life, but how do we know what’s most meaningful for the youngest children? It doesn’t have to be big, sweeping changes. Using the theories of language development and research-based tools, come discover how small changes in your interactions can maximize language opportunities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Speakers

Sharmeen Reyes

Assessor and Training Specialist Center for Early Childhood Leadership., NLU

Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 10

McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University

9:20am CDT

Getting Started with CLASS (Eng)

LIMITED

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity seats available

Designed for educators who are newer to CLASS concepts,
this session offers CLASS basics and describes how educators,
leaders, and coaches can use them to develop better, more
meaningful interactions with children

Moderators

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone

Speakers

Liana Ondra

CLASS Specialist, Teachstone

Liana has over 10 years of experience working in Early Childhood. She earned a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Liberty University and has worked in classrooms in both private and public ECE programs. She has also worked as an Instructional Coach with Head Start and... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 10

Teachstone

11:10am CDT

Optimizing Your Online Presence for Mission Impact

LIMITED

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity seats available

A strategic overview of how nonprofits can use their website and social media channels to advance organizational goals. This training helps teams strengthen community trust, improve parent engagement, highlight program successes, and support recruitment efforts by applying simple, effective digital communication practices tailored to early childhood services.

Speakers

Phil Maclin

Sr. Client Delivery Manager, https://www.claridigm.com/

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 10

Claridigm

1:20pm CDT

Sensory Play: Define and Explore

FULL

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT

Salon 10

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This training will focus on understanding our sensory system, defining sensory profile and preferences as participants and for 0-3 yr olds, and incorporating what is learned into activities to support sensory development utilizing materials easily found in EHS classrooms.

Speakers

Erikson Institute

2026 DFSS PreService

9:20am CDT

Chevon Townsend-King

11:10am CDT

Zakiya Gilliam

Pamela Stutzman

1:20pm CDT

Alisha Bourque

Bibi Rahim

Melissa Wilhelm

3:10pm CDT

Alisha Bourque

Bibi Rahim

Monica Barrera

9:20am CDT

Alisha Bourque

Bibi Rahim

Melissa Wilhelm

11:00am CDT

Alisha Bourque

Bibi Rahim

Melissa Wilhelm

2:10pm CDT

Sharmeen Reyes

9:20am CDT

Alisha Bourque

Bibi Rahim

Liana Ondra

11:10am CDT

Phil Maclin

1:20pm CDT

Zakiya Gilliam

Paulina Razo

Pamela Stutzman

LaToya Williamson

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