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Illinois Child Care Grants, Programs and Services

Whether you are looking to start a child care program in Illinois or are a seasoned owner, there are many resources available to help fund your programs. Each state has a primary agency or organization responsible for subsidizing child care programs. They partner with local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies and shared services organizations to raise awareness of grant opportunities and support the distribution of funding. They also provide additional programs and services to help you run your business. 

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Illinois Child Care Grants, Programs and Services 

Primary State Agency (Child Care Development Fund)

This primary agency oversees early care and education programs and services in Illinois, and is responsible for subsidizing child care programs through federal and state grants. Visit the Illinois Department of Human Services. 

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R Agency)

Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are another great resource for assisting child care providers with available grants and funding and other resources. Find your local CCR&R.

Shared Services Organization

The community of ECE leaders working to provide services to support sustainable child care programs is growing all the time. Reach out to your local organizations to learn more about their services. 

Champions of Mixed Delivery Monthly Call

The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) and National Child Care Association (NCCA) and are partnering to offer Champions of Mixed Delivery, a series of monthly check-in calls to share and receive updates about key proposals, coordinate messaging and talking points and share resources for advocacy. View dates and register for a call here.

Illinois Child Care Licensing Requirements

Learn more about Illinois early learning standards: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services – Sunshine

Learn more about child care licensing requirements in Illinois: Illinois Learning Project

Illinois Early Childhood Education Quality Ratings, Curriculum and Assessments

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) 

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. Many states require these quality standards in order to receive grants and additional funding. Learn more at ExceleRate Illinois.

State-Aligned Curriculum

Procare Solutions is partnering with Learning Beyond Paper to provide curriculum to our customers. Procare Early Learning Powered by Learning Beyond Paper is ExceleRate Illinois-approved and provides a 100% digital curriculum and assessments addressing the needs of child care centers, daycares, preschools and early learning teachers. 

ECE state-approved curriculum programs provide consistency, quality assurance, comprehensive development and teacher support, all contributing to a strong educational foundation. Aligning with state-approved ECE curriculum is also essential for securing grant funding and providing high-quality education. 

Assessments

Simplify the assessment process and meet Illinois state standards with a unique early childhood assessment framework that makes clarity a key strength of your child care center’s assessments and communications.

Average Cost of Child Care in Illinois

Understanding the cost of child care in Illinois is important for both parents and child care providers. 

Annual Child Care Costs in Illinois
Annual infant care in Illinois will cost families an average of $14,560 per year.

Child Care Affordability in Illinois

For families near the median household income level, placing an infant in child care costs more than 12 of gross income.

More Information on Illinois Child Care

Illinois ranks in 11th place – just outside the top 10 – for the most expensive infant care rates in the United States.

View child care costs in other states.

Professional Development Training Requirements in Illinois

In Illinois, it is required that early childhood professionals complete 15 hours of professional development every calendar year. Training hours and continuing education units (CEUs) are documented in each person’s professional development record in the Gateways to Opportunity registry. Be sure to create and manage your registry profile to track and document your training hours to comply with Illinois state licensing requirements for ECE professionals. Visit the National Database of Child Care Regulations to find licensing regulations and requirements in your state. 

Bertelsen Education, a Procare Solutions Company provides IACET-accredited courses that meet state licensing requirements. Visit BertelsenEducation.com to purchase. 

Professional Development Resources

Professional development programs are designed to encourage, support and recognize early childhood professionals seeking to expand their skills to raise the quality of their programs. View a list of professional development resources for child care providers here.