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Infant Welfare Society warns board that returning Head Start slots could reduce local access
Summary
During public comment, Robert Jones of the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston urged the boards not to return Early Head Start slots, saying a return could displace families and that the agency maintains high performance scores and rising enrollment.
Robert Jones, board chair of the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston (IWSE), told the joint board meeting the agency had prepared a fact sheet asking that the districts place the statement in the public record and consider the local consequences of changes to Early Head Start slots.
Jones said that IWSE is the delegate agency running Early Head Start slots in Evanston and that, under their subcontract, "if the federal government cuts early Head Start programming, District 65 does not have an obligation to pay IWSC per our subcontract agreement." He urged the boards to consider that returning slots to the federal Office of Head Start could mean (1) there is no guarantee the slots would be allocated back to Evanston and (2) about 55 families could lose comprehensive subsidized care.
Jones said the community has a growing need for 0–3 Head Start services—"approximately 150 to 200 additional families" who need services—and argued that data do not support returning delegate slots. He also noted that the Infant Welfare Society had a 95.5% rating from the Office of Head Start in April 2024 and reported projected enrollment at 87%, tied to teacher recruitment.
Jones asked that the board consider those facts in any decision affecting the local Early Head Start slots and to record the fact sheet in the public record.
The boards did not take an immediate staff action during public comment; Jones's remarks were heard during the public comment period and recorded for the meeting minutes.
