Types of Child Care

All staff who have contact with children are subject to a background check for criminal activity. Centers provide substitutes during staff absences or vacations who also submit to background checks.

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License-Exempt Child Care Center

Several types of child care centers do not require a license. These include, but are not limited to, programs which:

• Serve children three years and older and are operated by public or private elementary or secondary schools, institutions of higher education, or other accredited schools registered with the state Board of Education.
• Are conducted on federal government premises.
• Care for no individual child for more than 10 hours in a seven-day week and are operated by a church or social service agency.
• Offer short-term, special activities and are operated by civic, charitable, and governmental organizations.
• Provide temporary care for children whose parents are on the premises.
   

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Licensed Family Child Care

Family child care is provided for children in the home of the caregiver. Family child care offers a blending of ages. Each child has the opportunity to relate to a few other children of different ages - some younger and some older.

Usually, family child care providers are parents themselves. In Illinois, family child care providers who care for more than three children under the age of 12, including their own, are required to be licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). 

A family child care provider may often live in your neighborhood and may be able to make more flexible arrangements than a child care center.  Some providers are available to care for children whose parent works at night or on weekends when most centers are not open.

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License-Exempt Family Child Care

Family homes in which care is provided for more than three children (including the caregiver's own children), related and unrelated under the age of 12, must be licensed by DCFS. However, if the family child care provider cares for three or fewer children (including their own) under age 12, or the children cared for are all from one family, the provider is not required to be licensed. A license-exempt family child care provider must be registered with our office to be referred to by our organization.

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Preschools

Preschools (or nursery schools) offer group programs primarily for three to five year old children for part of the day on specified days of the week. Most follow the school calendar and do not operate during school holidays, vacations, snow days, or summer months. Preschools can be licensed by DCFS under the same regulations as child care centers.

Preschool for All

Preschool for All is a high-quality Early Childhood education program for children three and four years old and is funded by the Illinois State Board of Education to provide a half-day preschool program at no cost to parents. The Preschool for All promise extends to all Illinois children, though it will take time to provide enough classrooms to meet demand.

Head Start and Early Head Start

The Head Start program (for children ages three to five) and Early Head Start program (for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers) promote school readiness for children in low-income families by providing comprehensive educational, health, nutritional, and social services. Parents play a large role in the programs, both as primary educators of their children and as participants in administering the programs locally. Both programs provide pre-literacy and literacy experiences in multi-cultural environments. Parents are also provided social services, including assistance with childcare.

School-Age Programs

School-age programs offer child care before and after school, and for holidays, snow days, and summer vacations. School-age programs can be found at child care centers, elementary schools, community centers, family child care homes, parks, and playgrounds. Some programs are licensed by DCFS and some are exempt from licensing.

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Child Care Regulations                                                                                                                             

License:  A license means that the provider has met the State of Illinois standards for care in areas such as teacher-to-child ratio, educational qualifications, safety standards, capacity, and nutritional requirements. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is the agency responsible for licensing Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes.

License Exempt: A center or home may be exempt from licensing from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) because of characteristics such as school-age-only services, number of children in care, and school or religious affiliation.

*Any Child Care Provider accepting Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Payments must complete the CCAP Required Health and Safety Training.