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2026 DFSS PreService
Welcome to the 2026 3-Day DFSS PreService

šŸ“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 5 clear filter
Tuesday, August 4
 

9:20am CDT

Advancing in ECE - Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship (CELWS)!
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
Learn about the Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship, a citywide initiative supporting aspiring and current early childhood education professionals. This program covers full tuition and book costs at partner institutions, helping Chicagoans grow their careers and strengthen the early learning workforce.
Speakers
avatar for Darrell Brown

Darrell Brown

Manager - Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship, CELWS

avatar for Moe Azaan

Moe Azaan

Manager, Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship
Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 5
  CELWS

11:10am CDT

Annual Nutrition Training for Head Start and Child Care Staff
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
As a Nutrition Consultant, an annual training for Head Start and Child Care Programs is a mandatory requirement from CACFP and should focus on compliance, healthy eating environments, and practical staff implementation. Core topics to be covered are: USDA CACFP standards, family-style dining practices, and accommodating special dietary needs of children.
Speakers
avatar for Maria Pepito

Maria Pepito

Nutrition Consultant
Public Health Nutrition has been my passion for many years, starting from the remote villages, teaching mothers on healthy meals and proper nutrition for their families.Coming to the United States, worked with the City of Chicago Department of Health as a Coordinator of WIC, Nutritionist... Read More →
Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 5
  Nutrition Consultant

1:20pm CDT

Peer to Peer Networking Session: Home visiting
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Fredy Carranza

Fredy Carranza

SSC Program Management Quality Unit, DFSS
Former federal reviewer and Adjunct CDA professor at St. Augustine College Currently City of Chicago Children Services Division. Specializing in Systems Evaluation Compliances, Federal and State Eligibility, Human Resources, Health and Safety, Ongoing Monitoring etc.
Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT
Salon 5
  DFSS

3:10pm CDT

Gateways Credentials Overview
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
This presentation will provide a general overview of Gateways Credentials and the application process. We'll go over the three Credential components, the Gateways career lattice, how to apply, and what happens after an application is received. A brief walk through the website and the Registry Professional Development Record will be shared. General questions can be addressed but please, no applicant specific questions during the presentation.
Speakers
SH

Stephanie Hellmer - INCCRRA

Program Manager, INCCRRA
Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 5
  INCCRRA
 
Wednesday, August 5
 

9:20am CDT

GOLD, 3-5, Part 2
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Wilbert Owens
Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 5
  Teaching Stategies

11:00am CDT

Begining of Year, 0-3,Part 2
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Wilbert Owens
Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon 5
  Teaching Stategies

2:10pm CDT

Educator Power: Empowering ECE staff to Lead and Advocate for Change
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
This will be a workshop on advocacy and leadership, helping workers understand how to effectively use their voices to help improve early childhood policy and increase public investment in early childhood at the city, state, and federal level. After a successful session last year, we would like to return with added urgency, given unstable funding for many ECE programs. Empowering educators with the skills to lead and advocate for their profession is not only appropriate but essential for sustaining and strengthening the early childhood workforce.
Speakers
avatar for Shruthi Kannan
Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 5
  SEIU Healthcare Illinois (SEIU HCII)
 
Thursday, August 6
 

9:20am CDT

Educator Power: Empowering ECE staff to Lead and Advocate for Change
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
This will be a workshop on advocacy and leadership, helping workers understand how to effectively use their voices to help improve early childhood policy and increase public investment in early childhood at the city, state, and federal level. After a successful session last year, we would like to return with added urgency, given unstable funding for many ECE programs. Empowering educators with the skills to lead and advocate for their profession is not only appropriate but essential for sustaining and strengthening the early childhood workforce.
Speakers
avatar for Shruthi Kannan
Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 5
  SEIU Healthcare Illinois (SEIU HCII)

11:10am CDT

Annual Nutrition Training for Head Start and Child Care Staff
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
As a Nutrition Consultant, an annual training for Head Start and Child Care Programs is a mandatory requirement from CACFP and should focus on compliance, healthy eating environments, and practical staff implementation. Core topics to be covered are: USDA CACFP standards, family-style dining practices, and accommodating special dietary needs of children.
Speakers
avatar for Maria Pepito

Maria Pepito

Nutrition Consultant
Public Health Nutrition has been my passion for many years, starting from the remote villages, teaching mothers on healthy meals and proper nutrition for their families.Coming to the United States, worked with the City of Chicago Department of Health as a Coordinator of WIC, Nutritionist... Read More →
Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 5
  Nutrition Consultant

1:20pm CDT

Observation-Ready: Preparing Programs for High-Quality On-Site Assessments Aligning Staff, Practices and Environments for Success
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
"This workshop is designed to strengthen teacher leaders and administrator capacity to effectively prepare staff, learning environments, and organizational systems for successful on-site observations. Participants will explore strategies for creating a culture of readiness, aligning practices with observation expectations, and utilizing standardized tools to ensure consistency and efficiency throughout the preparation process.

Through guided discussions, practical examples, and collaborative planning, administrators will learn how to support staff, and establish systems that promote confidence and success during on-site visits. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with actionable tools and a clear framework for preparing their teams and environments for high-quality observations and continuous quality improvement."
Speakers
avatar for Katie Gaul

Katie Gaul

Assessor and Training Specialist, McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at NLU
Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon 5
  McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University

3:10pm CDT

Emergency Preparednes
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 5
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
LH
Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 5
  Claridigm
 

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  • Bright Scholars Academy
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