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2026 DFSS PreService
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
Venue: Salon 12 clear filter
Tuesday, August 4
 

9:20am CDT

Reconnecting with your WHY
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity seats available
"Early childhood professionals do more than teach, guide, and care for young children. They help shape the foundation for how children feel seen, supported, and prepared to engage with the world. Yet the work can be emotionally demanding, physically exhausting, and deeply challenging, especially when staff are navigating burnout, stress, shifting expectations, and the everyday realities of serving children and families with complex needs.

This interactive workshop invites early childhood staff to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the passion and purpose that brought them to this work. Through guided reflection, meaningful discussion, and practical self-awareness activities, participants will explore their personal “why,” identify the values that continue to drive their commitment, and examine how purpose can serve as an anchor during difficult seasons."
Speakers
DC

Dr. Carla Stewart

CEO, Counselor, and Assistant Professor, CLS Comprehensive Services & National Louis University
Dr. Carla L. Stewart, Ed.D, NCC, PEL, LCPC, is a renowned mental health educator, counselor, and advocate, celebrated for her dedication to supporting diverse communities. With an Ed.D in Counselor Education and Supervision from Argosy University, Dr. Stewart merges her comprehensive... Read More →
Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 12
  CLS Comprehensive Services   LLC

11:10am CDT

Classroom Data and Continuous Improvement
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity seats available
This PDM training will This training helps Head Start educators build the skills and confidence needed to use classroom level data as a powerful tool for reflection, planning, and continuous improvement. Participants learn how to collect, interpret, and apply data from multiple sources—child assessments, CLASS observations, attendance patterns, accident and incident data, child health data and daily routines—to make informed decisions that elevate instructional quality and support each child’s growth.
Speakers
avatar for Artiya Nash

Artiya Nash

Consultant, Claridigm
With over twenty-five years of experience as an Early Childhood Administrator, Artiya has a wealth of experience in designing and managing Head Start/Early Head Start and State Pre- K Programs. She has served as a District Director of Child Lab Centers for City Colleges of Chicago... Read More →
Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 12
  Claridigm

1:20pm CDT

DFSS CSD FY 26-27 Data Training
FILLING
Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity filling up
Come see what's new on the attendance form that will roll out September 1st? What new requirements are on the ISBE rpt? Did you hear about PIR this year? Oh, snap let's talk about that data collection.
Speakers
JB

JOCELYN Buchanan

Supervisor of Children Services Division, Department of Family and Support Services

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon 12
  DFSS

3:10pm CDT

No Everyday Healing: Trauma-Informed Practices in Early Childhood Education
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Melissa Moore

Melissa Moore

Manager of Behavioral Health Programs, SGA Youth & Family Services
Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 12
  SGA Youth and Family Services
 
Wednesday, August 5
 

11:00am CDT

Juvenile Diabetes
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity seats available
Discuss with teachers about the sign and symptoms of diabetes. How calculated the dosage of insulin using carbs numbers. Give vital information when glucose level is high or low.
Speakers
avatar for stephanie Waites

stephanie Waites

Director, Little Genius Community DCC inc
Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon 12
  Bright Scholars Academy

2:10pm CDT

Redirecting and Reframing Misbehavior
FULL
Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:10pm CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
We’ve all had students who push limits, struggle to manage their feelings,
or constantly demand attention. This session provides a variety of tools
and strategies for proactive responses, misbehavior prevention, and
modeling desired behaviors.
Moderators
AB

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

BR

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone
Speakers
avatar for Melissa Wilhelm

Melissa Wilhelm

Teachstone
Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:10pm CDT
Salon 12
  Teachstone

3:20pm CDT

Non-Federal Match- What Counts
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity seats available
This PDM training will provide Key takeaway about what counts as non-federal match for DFSS ECE programs, and how to document/ value match
Speakers
avatar for Ken McGhee

Ken McGhee

Engagement Manager, Claridgigm Inc.

Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm CDT
Salon 12
  Claridigm
 
Thursday, August 6
 

9:20am CDT

Reconnecting with your WHY
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity seats available
"Early childhood professionals do more than teach, guide, and care for young children. They help shape the foundation for how children feel seen, supported, and prepared to engage with the world. Yet the work can be emotionally demanding, physically exhausting, and deeply challenging, especially when staff are navigating burnout, stress, shifting expectations, and the everyday realities of serving children and families with complex needs.

This interactive workshop invites early childhood staff to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the passion and purpose that brought them to this work. Through guided reflection, meaningful discussion, and practical self-awareness activities, participants will explore their personal “why,” identify the values that continue to drive their commitment, and examine how purpose can serve as an anchor during difficult seasons.

"
Speakers
DC

Dr. Carla Stewart

CEO, Counselor, and Assistant Professor, CLS Comprehensive Services & National Louis University
Dr. Carla L. Stewart, Ed.D, NCC, PEL, LCPC, is a renowned mental health educator, counselor, and advocate, celebrated for her dedication to supporting diverse communities. With an Ed.D in Counselor Education and Supervision from Argosy University, Dr. Stewart merges her comprehensive... Read More →
Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 12
  CLS Comprehensive Services   LLC

11:10am CDT

Reconnecting with your WHY
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:45pm CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity seats available
"Early childhood professionals do more than teach, guide, and care for young children. They help shape the foundation for how children feel seen, supported, and prepared to engage with the world. Yet the work can be emotionally demanding, physically exhausting, and deeply challenging, especially when staff are navigating burnout, stress, shifting expectations, and the everyday realities of serving children and families with complex needs.

This interactive workshop invites early childhood staff to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the passion and purpose that brought them to this work. Through guided reflection, meaningful discussion, and practical self-awareness activities, participants will explore their personal “why,” identify the values that continue to drive their commitment, and examine how purpose can serve as an anchor during difficult seasons.

"
Speakers
DC

Dr. Carla Stewart

CEO, Counselor, and Assistant Professor, CLS Comprehensive Services & National Louis University
Dr. Carla L. Stewart, Ed.D, NCC, PEL, LCPC, is a renowned mental health educator, counselor, and advocate, celebrated for her dedication to supporting diverse communities. With an Ed.D in Counselor Education and Supervision from Argosy University, Dr. Stewart merges her comprehensive... Read More →
Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:45pm CDT
Salon 12
  CLS Comprehensive Services   LLC

1:20pm CDT

Creating BLISS: In Our Childcare Interactions: A Reflective Journey of Connection and Insight
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon 12
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a self-challenging tool for childcare providers to use to challenge themselves to reach excellence in their daily caregiving practices.
Speakers
avatar for Leslie Holycross

Leslie Holycross

Early Childhood Trainer, SEIU
Leslie Holycross is an early childhood trainer, consultant, and lifelong educator dedicated to supporting family childcare providers. After 35years as a public-school teacher, she now focuses on empowering caregivers through practical, relationship-centered training grounded in real-life... Read More →
Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon 12
  SEIU
 

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  • Bright Scholars Academy
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