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n Provider Resources
Illinois Action for Children Provider Resources
The resources available to child care professionals at Illinois Action for Children are as diverse as the providers we serve. Call (312) 823-1100 or (773) 564-8781 for support or specific information about any of the following programs:
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Help Parents Get $
We can answer questions about helping parents pay for their child’s care and assist you in receiving payments. Ask for the:
CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE (CERTIFICATE) PROGRAM
Promote Yourself
Want parents to know you offer child care services? To be listed in our database, to update, or to check your listing, ask for:
PROVIDER REFERRAL DATABASE
Professional Development
Individuals in need of support for professional development activities in early and school-aged care and education may be eligible for funding assistance. Ask for information about:
INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS (IPDF)
Quality Improvement
If you are a licensed child care center or licensed family child care home and want support and/or assistance in making improvements to your program by completing training required for ExceleRate Illinois, you may be eligible for an
EXCELERATE ILLINOIS TRAINING STIPEND
If you want assistance in making quality improvements to your program by participating in a peer learning cohort, you may be eligible to participate in an
EXCELERATE ILLINOIS COHORT
If you want support and/ or assistance in achieving or maintaining high quality programming by becoming an accredited program, you may be eligible for ACCREDITATION ASSISTANCE. To access any of the funding areas, ask about:
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS
Make Your Voice Heard
Let your legislators and community know how important caregivers and educators are in developing the potential of every child. Ask for:
ADVOCACY
Community Partners
Our Community Partners make training available to early care and education providers right in their own neighborhoods. Ask about:
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Understand Behavior
Our Mental Health Consultant Program offers a wide range of services and support about challenging childhood behaviors at no cost to those caring for and educating children. Ask about:
CAREGIVER CONNECTIONS ExceleRate Illinois
Illinois’ new statewide quality recognition and improvement system recognizes child care programs for achieving and maintaining high-quality care that goes above minimum licensing requirements. The new and improved system also provides a framework for early learning professionals to identify opportunities for professional development, increase their skills and take steps to make positive changes. Ask about:
EXCELERATE ILLINOIS
The First 1,000 Days
The first three years of a child’s life are an amazing journey of learning and discovery. Child care for infants, toddlers, and "twos" is a unique type of care. Get support and training for caring for children during these important early years. Ask about:
INFANT-TODDLER PROGRAM
Make Healthy Meals
Healthy food is important to a child’s mental and physical development and can help prevent obesity, diabetes, and other illnesses. You may be eligible to receive reimbursement for serving nutritious meals and snacks to the children in your care. Ask about:
