little girl with dandelion

2025 IHSA Annual Conference


Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - Friday, February 21, 2025 / President Abraham Lincoln Hotel  - Springfield, Illinois


The Illinois Head Start Association (IHSA) invites proposals for its Annual Conference from February 19-21, 2025, in Springfield, Illinois. Presentations should cater to Head Start and Early Head Start professionals, covering tracks like child development, family engagement, health, governance, and workforce innovation. Sessions are 90 minutes and can be workshops, panels, or interactive. Submissions must include a title, a 250-word abstract, objectives, presenter details, and contact information by end of business, December 19, 2024. Presenters will be notified by January 20, 2025. More details are available in the conference proposal page located HERE.


SUBMIT A PROPOSAL


Have questions? Contact Cathy Welsh, cwelsh@ilheadstart.org.

Conference Overview & Information 

Celebrating 60 Years of Love, Learning, and Lifting Up Families  


This year marks Head Start’s 60th anniversary, celebrating its legacy of commitment to supporting children and families through Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The theme, "Celebrating 60 Years of Love, Learning, and Lifting Up Families," highlights the mission and lasting impact of Head Start.

 For six decades, Head Start has nurtured children and families with love, supported lifelong learning, and uplifted communities for a brighter future. Since its beginning in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, Head Start has grown into a powerful movement, supporting the holistic development of young children and promoting equity for families. Beyond preparing children for school, Head Start has built a legacy of compassion, resilience, and transformative support. This celebration honors the fulfillment of Head Start’s mission over the past 60 years, recognizes the dedication of those who have made it possible, and looks forward to continuing the legacy that has been built for future generations. 


Join us as we celebrate 60 years of making a difference—honoring the love, learning, and commitment that have lifted up families and strengthened communities.

 This year's conference will provide high-quality educational sessions for Illinois Head Start/Early Head Start Directors, Managers, staff, and parents! Plenty of opportunities to engage in a variety of in-depth educational sessions that focus on various subjects of interest to the Head Start and Early Head Start community.
 

Full Conference Registration Fee Includes:

  • All concurrent breakout sessions
  • Access to the IHSA Conference Exhibit Hall
  • Opening Keynote
  • Capitol Gathering Celebrating 60 years of Head Start (includes hors d'oeuvre & treats)
  • Thursday Awards Luncheon (lunch provided)
  • Closing Keynote (lunch provided )

Conference Highlights

In addition to the great programming planned at the conference, take this opportunity to:

  • Network with exhibitors offering the best products and services available to the Head Start/Early Head Start Community.
  • Connect and learn from those who do what you do and understand the challenges and issues you face.
  • A Night at the Museum - Join us as we celebrate '60 Years of Love, Learning, and Lifting Up Families.' As an exclusive side event within the larger celebration, this evening requires a separate ticket and fee for entry. Join us for a memorable gathering that highlights the legacy and shared commitment to supporting families.
  • Win basket raffle prices in support advocacy of our Power of Two Campaign -  crowd favorite, we will have our Power of Two Raffle! We're hosting our annual basket raffle that adds an extra element of fun to your event. Here's your chance to not only attend insightful sessions but also win fantastic prizes by participating in our basket raffle. Purchase tickets, choose your favorite basket, and drop your tickets right there for a shot at winning! It's a fantastic way to add some excitement to your conference experience and potentially walk away with some amazing goodies. Don't miss out on the thrill – grab your tickets and join the anticipation! You can support our efforts in raising funds for our Dollar Per Child Campaign by donating a themed basket. Reach out to anyone of our IHSA team and members at 217-241-3511.
  • Capitol Gathering Celebrating 60 years of Head Start - Wear your program/agency shirt and join us as we unite to champion the cause of Head Start and Early Head Start. Make your voice heard! Meet with your State Representative to champion the cause of Head Start and Early Head Start.
  • And more!

Interested in Sponsoring or Exhibiting . . Vendors Welcome! 

Exhibitor/Sponsor/Vendor details and sign-up form  - coming soon.

Have questions about the vendor tables or trade show space? Need to forward your logo to Mitch? 

Reach out to: mwood@ilheadstart.org  or call 217-241-3511

Hotel Information

The IHSA Annual Conference will take place in the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel - DoubleTree by Hilton, Springfield Hotels, Illinois, 701 E Adams St, Springfield, IL, 62701, Springfield, Illinois.

Deadline to book your room to take advantage of the special conference pricing is on or before January 27, 2025. Price is subject to change once the room block is sold out.

Individual needing reservations, call or reach out to the hotel Front Desk directly at  217-544-8800 for the front desk reservations.  

CONFERENCE HOTEL GUEST BOOKING PAGE