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• Preschool Development Fact Sheet
  Information on the expectations for Preschool Development Grant participants, the types of grants, and the states receiving them.
• Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development Website
• U. S. Department of Education Preschool Development Grant Website​​​​​​​​​​
• Expenditure Guidance for Preschool Expansion Subgrantees
• Notice Regarding Fees in Preschool Expansion Programs​
• PDG/EG FAQ
• PDG Fact Sheet 
• PDG Guidance Document
• PDG/EG Weighted Eligibility Flowchart​
• An introduction to the Illinois Program Expansion Program Model
• ​​Frequently Asked Questions - Program Models & Structures​
  

Heal th

• Get Covered Illinois/ The Official Illinois Health Marketplace
  Procedures/options for attaining health insurance in Illinois.
  
• IMIL Interactive Tool
  The Head Start interactive I Am Moving, I Am Learning (IMIL) tool is filled with quick and easy ideas for integrating movement, nutrition, and healthy habits into everyday life. It is available in two formats: one for staff that visit families in the home and parents, and one for classroom teachers and other caregivers.
• Early Childhood National Center on Health and Wellness
  Provides resources on health and wellness, including physical and oral health, mental health, and healthy living.
• Medical Home Definition and Research
• Example of a Promising Practice
  An example of a partnership between an early childhood program and medical providers to ensure that each child has access to a medical home.
• Oral Health and Learning: When Children’s Oral Health Suffers, So Does Their Ability to Learn
• Why Children’s Mental Health Matters
• Early Childhood Mental Health and Homelessness
• Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership Reflective Practice Guide
  Reflective strategies for early childhood professionals, including mental health providers. Practices for promoting positive and productive interactions with children, families and staff.
  
• FY 18 Early Childhood Block Grant: Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health
  

Support Services

• All Our Kids (AOK) - Early Childhood Networks
  The primary focus of the AOK Networks is to promote the positive growth and development of all children birth to five and their parents/caregivers. AOK Network partners engage in cross-sector, strategic initiatives so that more babies are born healthy, more children remain healthy, more children enter school ready to learn, and more parents/caregivers are leaders in their families and the community. AOK Networks improve outcomes like these by creating a more connected and coordinated system of services and supports as they address local child and family priority issues.
• Illinois Housing Assistance Support
  The Office of Community Development administers several programs that offer housing support including rental assistance, housing rehabilitation, housing rehabilitation assistance for occupancy by persons with disabilities, and Section 8 housing choice vouchers. Assistance is offered through a variety of programs which are listed below and must be accessed either through a participating community action agency, other not-for-profit organizations, or a unit of local government.
• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
  DHS' Child Care Assistance Program provides low-income, working families with access to quality, affordable child care that allows them to continue working and contributes to the healthy, emotional and social development of the child. Families are required to cost-share on a sliding scale based on family size, income and number of children in care.
• Food Support
  Links to Illinois sites for Emergency Food, SNAP, WIC, WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, Homeless Youth Services, and Illinois Welcoming Center; includes steps for application, tools and calculators.
• Mental Health Support
  Every individual who suffers from a mental condition has different circumstances that will require a unique set of services/level of care to address their specific needs. The Illinois Division of Mental Health (DMH) provides a wide variety of services at all levels for adults and children throughout the state. These services are offered through hundreds of DMH partners called "Providers" (i.e. mental health clinics, agencies and hospitals). Providers serve as 'front doors' to enter the publicly funded system of mental health care. These links provide resources for individuals in crisis and those working with individuals (children through adults).
• Employment
  State of Illinois links for career planning and job search including education and training opportunities.
• Domestic Violence
  Domestic violence programs are located throughout Illinois and provide safety assistance to victims of domestic violence. Services are free and private. They are available regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, income, disability, or sexual orientation. You do not have to leave the abuser or your home to get help. The Helpline Operator or the Local Agency will decide what services will assist you from the program at either the first meeting or via the telephone call. To locate a Domestic Violence Center, visit: Domestic Violence Agency Listing. The list identifies a center or agency in a near by city or surrounding area as well as the local hotline number(s).
• Substance Abuse Services and Assistance
  The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (DHS/DASA) provides funding for alcohol and other drug abuse treatment services for pregnant women and women with children, youth, those receiving TANF funds and those at risk of or infected with HIV; as well as counseling and early intervention services to individuals with gambling disorders. DHS/DASA also provides services to individuals with active DCFS cases. Individuals are screened and referred by DCFS offices and local service providers. Treatment providers work with DCFS staff to bring patients into the treatment process, and when needed, provide transportation for patients and/or their children to child care so they may attend treatment.

Family Assessments

The following are assessment instruments for parenting, family relationships and support systems, education and vocation, adequacy and stability of income for food, clothing, housing and health insurance.

• Preschool Development Grant -Expansion Grant (PDG-EG) Family Goal Template Sample
• The National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement (Office of Head Start) Family Engagement and Ongoing Child Assessment
  This set of guides explores strategies for sharing child assessment information with parents in early childhood education programs.

The following are also appropriate Family Assessment Resources but do not include specific questions about access to medical care including health insurance.

• National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention - Protective Factors Survey
  The Protective Factors Survey (PFS) is a pre-post evaluation tool for use with caregivers receiving child maltreatment prevention services. It is a self-administered survey that measures protective factors in five areas: family functioning/resiliency, social support, concrete support, nurturing and attachment, and knowledge of parenting/child development.

Tools for Families

• Ages and Stages Questionnaire
  Easter Seals offers this free, comprehensive and confidential online screening tool to help guide families and help them keep track of their child’s growth and development during the first five years.
• Easter Seals - Make the First Five Count
  Helps families understand the five key growth areas during the critical years before the child starts kindergarten.
• Illinois Early Learning Project - Tip Sheets for Families
  • Eyes Right! Your Child's Vision (English, Spanish, Polish)
  • Ready for a Good Checkup! (English, Spanish, Polish, Korean, Arabic)
  • Is My Child OK? (English, Spanish, Polish, Arabic)
  • Prevention Lead Poisoning in Children (English, Spanish, Polish)
  • Young Children's Mental Health: What is Essential? (English, Spanish, Polish)
  • Protecting Children from Preventable Diseases (English, Spanish, Polish)
  • Eating Right = Healthy Children (English, Spanish, Polish, Arabic)
    

Frameworks and Strategies

• ISBE Family Engagement Framework Guide
  The Illinois State Board of Education Family Engagement Guide brings together research, best practices, and legislative requirements and provides resources that integrate family engagement into the school improvement process. This tool is for school districts and schools to use in developing and expanding school-family partnerships to support student learning and healthy development.
• Be Strong Families - Early Childhood Programs
  Be Strong Families / Strengthening Families Illinois can assist early childhood programs with increasing the quality and quantity of parent engagement, building better relationships between staff and families, and through a menu of professional development offerings developed to support the ability of staff to implement the Strengthening Families approach.
• Best Practices in Family Engagement Video Series
  Real world examples of strategies and approaches that parent educators can use to engage and partner with families in their programs.
• NAEYC - Engaging Diverse Families
  The NAEYC Engaging Diverse Families project identified policies and practices exemplary programs use to engage diverse families successfully.
• NAEYC - Research News on Family Engagement
  NAEYC provides recent news and research on the importance of family engagement.
• NAEYC - Conducting A Family Survey
  NAEYC provides information on how to create and conduct a family survey.
• The Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework
  The PFCE Framework was developed in partnership with programs, families, experts, and the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement. It is a research-based approach to program change that shows how an agency can work together as a whole—across systems and service areas— to promote parent and family engagement and children’s learning and development.
• Head Start Parent and Family Engagement Outcomes - Research to Practice
  The Research to Practice Series addresses each of the Family Engagement Outcomes. Each resource presents a summary of selected research, proven interventions and promising practices, and program strategies.
• Head Start Parent and Family Engagement Outcomes - Resources
  Resources in this summary highlight key research findings and information to support successful engagement strategies
• Families as Advocates and Leaders
  This article describes how programs can provide opportunities to families that help develop advocacy and leadership skills.
• Using Data for Family and Program Progress
  Head Start – Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) provides resources on using data more effectively to strengthen work with children and families and support family and program progress.

Resources for Professional Learning on Family Engagement

• ISBE Family Engagement Framework - Training Materials
  The Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools provides resources and contacts for training on the ISBE Family Engagement Framework.
• Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Technical Assistance (TA) - Family Engagement Community of Practice
  This online community of practice is a central location for professionals working on issues related to family engagement to come together to share ideas, strategies, experiences, and resources with peers from across the country.
• Accessing Hard to Reach Families - Recorded Webinar
  In this recorded webinar, Deb Watson from Connecticut's Office of Early Childhood discusses her state's strategies to access hard to reach families. In addition to the recording, various supporting materials are also available. Sponsored by the PDG – TA Family Engagement Community of Practice.
• Parent, Family and Community Engagement - Professional Development Guide
  The Head Start – Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) offers this guide to professional development and learning resources to strengthen parent, family and community engagement.
• Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Simulation: Boosting School Readiness through Effective Family Engagement Series
  The Head Start – Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) created this online, interactive simulation on strengthening relationships with families and goal setting.

Transitioning to Kindergarten

• Engaging Families in the Transition to Kindergarten
  This video shows how a Head Start program prepares children and families for the transition to kindergarten. Provides specific strategies that support children and families during this important transition.
• Family Engagement in Transitions
  Aligned with Head Start Performance Standards, this resource presents a selected summary of research, promising practices, and program strategies for transitioning children to kindergarten.
• The Transition to Kindergarten: A Review of Current Research and Promising Practices to Involve Families
  This brief examines transition practices that focus on families, considering both practices and key players in implementation; it includes examples of promising transition practices that involve families.
• Ready for Success: Creating Collaborative and Thoughtful Transitions into Kindergarten
  This brief examines effective collaborative approaches in which state departments of education, advocacy organizations, school districts, early education teachers, kindergarten teachers, families, and community members work together to help kindergartners enter school ready to begin this new phase of their lives.
• Getting Parents Ready for Kindergarten- The Role of Early Childhood Education
  This brief draws from the literature on transition, recent findings from the School Transition Study at the Harvard Family Research Project, and recommended practices from early childhood professionals.
• Presentation on Effective Transitions
  This presentation can be used to provide training on supporting children and families in transitioning to Kindergarten.
• Transition Plan Example
  An example of a transition plan created by the Office of Head Start – National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning.
• Transition Plan Template
  Same form as the Transition Plan Example but fields are blank​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  

Additional Resources

• ​Family Engagement and Communication Tool​
  
• Community Systems Toolkit​​
  

• Illinois Early Learning Project - Resources for Families
  Resources include tip sheets, videos, and evidence-based information on various topics for families of young children.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - For Families
  NAEYC site that focuses on information for families.

Social-Emotional Development

• Parent Training Modules
  From The Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL), this series of six modules have been developed to help professionals working with parents to promote positive and effective parenting behaviors in order to promote children’s social and emotional development. Includes a Family Workbook.
• Family Routine Guide - English Version
  This Family Routine Guide was developed to assist parents and caregivers in developing a plan to support young children who are using challenging behavior. The Family Routine Guide includes strategies for the common routines and activities that occur during the family’s wee
• Family Routine Guide-Spanish Version
  
• Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children - Families Community (TACSEI)
  Information and select resources that have been compiled specifically with the needs of families in mind.
• Eight Practical Tips for Parents of Young Children with Challenging Behavior - English Version
  Evidence-based, effective strategies based on what the child is communicating that families can use to address challenging behavior.
• Eight Practical Tips for Parents of Young Children with Challenging Behavior - Spanish Version
  
• Backpack Connection Series- English Version
  Created by TACSEI to provide a way for teachers and parents/caregivers to work together to help young children develop social emotional skills and reduce challenging behavior. Each Backpack Connection handout provides information that helps parents stay informed about what their child is learning at school and specific ideas on how to use the strategy or skill at home.
• Backpack Connection Series- Spanish Version
  
• Making Life Easier Series
  This series of tip sheets contains valuable information on how to make often challenging events easier to navigate, and even enjoyable, for both caregivers and children.
• Children's Book List
  List of books that support emotional literacy.
• Tucker Turtle Technique for Managing Strong Emotions
  A scripted story that provides a technique for young children to manage strong emotions. (Go to scripted stories section). In English and Spanish.

Health

• Early Childhood National Center on Health and Wellness
  Provides resources on health and wellness, including physical and oral health, mental health, and healthy living.
• USDA Choose My Plate - Health and Nutrition Information for Preschoolers
  The USDA Site containing nutrition information and resources.
• My Plate - Healthy Eating for Preschoolers Mini Poster
  The USDA “Choose My Plate” information sheet for families. In English and Spanish
• My Plate - Snack Tips for Parents
  The USDA “Choose My Plate” tip sheet for families. In English and Spanish.
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eating Healthy. Getting Strong.
  The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the American Academy of Pediatrics have joined with the best-selling children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle to help families learn about healthy eating habits. Includes tips for healthy eating at home.
• Illinois Early Learning Project - Tip Sheets for Families
  • Eyes Right! Your Child's Vision (English, Spanish, Polish)
    
  • Ready for a Good Checkup! (English, Spanish, Polish, Korean, Arabic)
    
  • Is My Child OK? (English, Spanish, Polish, Arabic)
    
  • Prevention Lead Poisoning in Children (English, Spanish, Polish)
    
  • Young Children's Mental Health: What is Essential? (English, Spanish, Polish)
    
  • Protecting Children from Preventable Diseases (English, Spanish, Polish)
    
  • Eating Right = Healthy Children (English, Spanish, Polish, Arabic)
    

Transitioning to Kindergarten

• Engaging Families in the Transition to Kindergarten
  This video shows how a Head Start program prepares children and families for the transition to kindergarten. Provides specific strategies that support children and families during this important transition.
• Family Engagement in Transitions
  Aligned with Head Start Performance Standards, this resource presents a selected summary of research, promising practices, and program strategies for transitioning children to kindergarten.
• The Transition to Kindergarten: A Review of Current Research and Promising Practices to Involve Families
  This brief examines transition practices that focus on families, considering both practices and key players in implementation; it includes examples of promising transition practices that involve families.
• Ready for Success: Creating Collaborative and Thoughtful Transitions into Kindergarten
  This brief examines effective collaborative approaches in which state departments of education, advocacy organizations, school districts, early education teachers, kindergarten teachers, families, and community members work together to help kindergartners enter school ready to begin this new phase of their lives.
• Getting Parents Ready for Kindergarten- The Role of Early Childhood Education
  This brief draws from the literature on transition, recent findings from the School Transition Study at the Harvard Family Research Project, and recommended practices from early childhood professionals.
• Presentation on Effective Transition
  This presentation can be used to provide training on supporting children and families in transitioning to Kindergarten.
• Transition Plan Example
  An example of a transition plan created by the Office of Head Start – National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning.
  
• Transition Plan Template
  Same form as the Transition Plan Example but fields are blank.​​​​​​​​​​​
  

Community Partnerships

• Pipeline Building Examples from the Illinois Innovation Zones
  
• Community Tool Box: Creating and Maintaining Partnerships
  

Full Day Preschool

• Preschool For All Implementation Manual - Schedule
  Section from the PFA Manual containing scheduling guidelines.
• Sample of Full Day Schedule
  An example of a full day schedule to ensure alignment with the requirements of the Preschool Development Grant and the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale’s (ECERS) recommendations and best practice.

Nutrition

• United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Website
• United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) - Nutrition Standards for School Meals Website
• USDA Choose My Plate - Nutrition Information for Preschoolers
  The USDA site containing nutrition information for preschoolers and resources.
• My Plate - Healthy Eating for Preschoolers Mini Poster
  The USDA “Choose My Plate” information sheet for families. Includes information on healthy foods and serving sizes. In English and Spanish.
• My Plate - Snack Tips for Parents
  The USDA “Choose My Plate” tip sheet for families. In English and Spanish.
• Feeding Your Preschooler
  Head Start Early Learning and Knowledge Center provides this tip sheet for families.
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eating Healthy. Getting Strong
  The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the American Academy of Pediatrics have joined with the best-selling children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle to help families learn about healthy eating habits. Includes tips for healthy eating at home.

Continuous Quality Improvement

• Preschool For All (PFA) Implementation Manual - Accountability
  Section from the PFA manual that provides information on Continuous Quality Improvement.
• Continuous Quality Improvement Plan (CQIP) Instructional Webinar
  Section from the PFA manual that provides information on Continuous Quality Improvement.
  • Continuous Quality Improvement Plan (CQIP) Compliance Checklist Template
    Blank form for use in writing a CQIP for Compliance Checklist items.
    
  • Continuous Quality Improvement Plan (CQIP) ECERS Template
    Blank form for use in writing a CQIP for ECERS indicators.
• Continuous Quality Improvement Plan (CQIP) ECERS Sample Plan
  Sample form provides examples of how to complete the CQIP for ECERS indicators.
• Partner Agreement Guidance
  Guidance on agreements with community partners.
• Community Partner – Monitoring Plan Checklist
  This monitoring plan checklist is a tool for grantees to develop a plan to monitor compliance of Community partners with the requirements of the Preschool Expansion Program.
• Preschool Expansion Community Partner Monitoring Webinar​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​