Dedicated to strengthening
the lives of Chicago children, families and communities
The Department of Family and Support Services, Children Services Division is dedicated to helping Chicago's youngest residents make the most of their lives and potential. We manage Head Start, Early Head Start, child care and youth programs throughout Chicago. We work on behalf of families to ensure they receive quality programming.
Latest Provider News
Chicago Early Learning Program Implementation Manual
Children Services Division is happy to release the final version of the Early Learning Program Implementation Manual for Community Based Organizations.
The Manual has been a group effort—the result of thoughtful input from staff of the Department of Family and Support Services Children Services Division, the Chicago Public Schools Community Partnership Program, and Head Start, Early Head Start, Pre-School for All, and Prevention Initiative delegate agencies. The Manual provides guidance of program implementation for all Chicago Early Learning programs.
Click to view the Manual
Chicago Early Childhood Program Locator
Finding quality Early Childhood Education programs for your child has never been this easy! Whether you are looking for a program near your home or near your job, the Chicago Early Childhood Program Locator can help you find what you're looking for. There are many Early Childhood Education programs for children ages 3 to 5 with varying services, hours and fees-- whether it's a half day at your neighborhood public school or a full day at your community center.
Click here to locate a Chicago Early Childhood Program
Chicago Community Needs Summary Tool
The Chicago Community Needs Summary Tool lets the user map demographic data in discrete areas of the city drawn by the user. The tool focuses on data related to young children, including demographic information for children under age six, community-level risk factors, and family composition information.
Click here: http://cnat.childrenserviceschicago.com/
Measles Virus
Dear Parents and Staff of Head Start and Early Head Start Children,
As the Medical Consultant for Head Start I am encouraging all of you to check the immunization records for the children and yourselves to determine if you or your children are at risk for contracting Measles during this epidemic. Your health care provider can give your further direction. Please read the information below.
WHAT IS MEASLES? Measles is a preventable communicable disease caused by the measles virus. It is a respiratory disease that can have serious life-threatening complications. In the year 2000, measles was eliminated and declared no longer endemic (common disease) in the United States. Therefore, the recent confirmed cases of measles in the United States are considered part of an epidemic (more than usually expected). In the past week, there have been 5 confirmed cases of Measles in Palatine, IL in infants that attend the same day care center. These infants are too young to routinely receive the Measles vaccination.
ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS: The Measles vaccination (immunization) is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Council on Immunization Practices. The initial dose is between 12 and 15 months. The second or booster is recommended between 4 and six years of age. Children receiving the measles immunization following this schedule are 95% likely to have immunity against Measles. See http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/
IMMUNIZIING THE COMMUNITY: Infants under the age of 12 months have no significant immunity against measles. This is why it is so important that all other children and adults receive these immunizations. The reason this is effective is “Herd Immunity”. This means that all others around the unvaccinated person are immune and should not catch disease. Hence the community or “herd” shelters the weakest one(s) from the disease by not exposing them. All eligible children should be vaccinated against Measles as well as adults with no history of vaccination or physician diagnosed history of Measles.
RISK COMPLICATIONS OF MEASLES: The risk of complications of Measles is highest in young infants and those over 20 years of age. The complications may be something manageable like an ear infection, suffered by one in 20 children with Measles. A more serious and life threatening complication is pneumonia. Pneumonia is the Measles complication that most often leads to death. Encephalitis (swelling of the brain) is suffered by 1 in a thousand persons with Measles and may lead to brain damage and/or death.
Written by Joyce M. Smith, M.D., MPH
DFSS Head Start Medical Consultant
View DFSS Cover Letter: English | Spanish
View Measles Memo: English | Spanish
View Measles Fact Sheet: English | Spanish
View All Provider News Here
