Suspending Early Childhood Expulsion

This seminar is designed for staff and practitioners interested in learning about Illinois law PA 100-0105, which aims to end the practice of expelling infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from their early childhood programs. This presentation discusses research, statistics, and causes of early childhood expulsion and suspension, highlighting the gender and racial disparities, as well as explores how the law came to pass, how it is being implemented, and best practices and resources programs can utilize to implement its practice. It will include case and policy examples and time for discussion and questions.

Allison Lowe-Fotos, MSW, LCSW is a Policy Manager with the Ounce of Prevention Fund. She works on mental health, special education, early childhood expulsion, child welfare and juvenile justice, and workforce development initiatives and issues at the Ounce. She has previously worked in direct practice in early childhood education programs providing case management, family support work, therapy with children and families, infant/early childhood mental health consultation, and supervising a teen parent home visiting program. She also has international experience working in programs and projects in China, Mexico, and Turkey. Allison has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.S.W. from Loyola University Chicago.

This seminar is co-sponsored by the Center for Practice Excellence at Jewish Child and Family Services.