PROVIDER RESOURCES
IDHS Bureau of Child Care and Development
Visit the IDHS Child Care and Development web site at
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29720
to get information on the following topics and more:
Child Care
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
Migrant Head Start
Head Start State Collaboration Office
Healthy Child Care Illinois
Early Intervention
To help children (ages 0 to 3), with disabilities or delays, to learn and
grow.
More Information & Resources
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Eligibility Calculator
Child Care and Parenting Tips
Childhood Obesity Project
Child Care Application & Instructions (English) PDF
Solicitud para Cuidado de Niños e instrucciones (Español) PDF
Billing Information
IDHS Child Care Telephone Billing System for Providers
Payments
Child Care Payment Inquiry
Child Care Payment Rates
Parent Co-Payment Information
Illinois Debit MasterCard® card
Reports/Plans/Staffing Surveys
Current and Previous Reports
Publications
Affordable Child Care Brochure (English) DHS-3211
Cuidado de Niños a su alcance (Español) DHS-3211S
CCAP Resource Guide for Determining Eligibility
Child Care Assistance Program: Providers Guide (English) DHS-4612
Programa de Ayuda Para Cuidado de Niños de Illinois: guía para el
proveedor de cuidado de niños (Español) DHS-4612S
Find you local CCR&R
Child care resource and referral services are available in all Illinois communities via a local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agency.
Each CCR&R represents a grouping of counties in the state, referred to as a service delivery area (SDA). To find the CCR&R Agency that
serves a specific area, call 1-877-202-4453 (1-877-20-CHILD), 1-800-649-1884 (TTY), or at the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and
Referral Agency (INCCRRA) web site at: http://www.inccrra.org/default.aspx
Telephone Payment System
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Child Care Telephone Billing System (also known as IVR) is an alternative to mailing the
Child Care Assistant Program (CCAP) Child Care Certificate to the local CCR&R Agency at the end of each month. The Telephone Billing
System helps providers get payments quicker. By using the Telephone Billing System instead of mailing a Certificate to the local CCR&R: The
information is entered into the State’s payment system faster; there are no mail delays in getting information to the CCR&R; the payment
information may be entered 7 days a week, 24 hours a day; providers get immediate confirmation that their payment information has been
entered. Licensed and license-exempt family home child care providers may use this system to bill for IDHS Child Care Assistance Program
families. Contact your local CCR&R to get more information and an IVR Agreement Form.
Payment Inquiry
The IDHS has a toll-free number that child care providers can use to check if their child care certificate has been entered for payment by the
local CCR&R Agencies and approved for payment by IDHS. This phone number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Follow the voice
instructions to enter your Social Security Number (SSN) or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and the service month of the
payment. Please remember, it may take up to 16 working days for your payment to be mailed after you submit an accurate and complete child
care certificate. The toll free number is 800/804-3833. http://www2.dhs.state.il.us/PPI/ppi.aspx
Illinois MasterCard Debit Card Option
A fast, convenient and secure method of receiving CCAP payments. The IDHS offers this option for licensed and license-exempt family
home Child Care Providers. Providers must sign up in order to receive payments on the Debit Card. For questions, call: 1-866-338-2944, or
1-866-528-0367 (TTY). For the Provider Payment Option Form and more information, go to the IDHS web site at: www.eppicard.com
Direct Deposit
Direct Deposit is an effective and proven financial transaction method that offers security, efficiency and convenience to th e payment process.
Direct Deposit is safer, more cost effective and more reliable compared to traditional paper checks and mail delivery. Provider must call the
Illinois Office of the Comptroller at 217-557-0930 in order to have CCAP payments deposited directly into a savings or checking account.
Quality Rating System QRS
The Quality Rating System (QRS) offers levels which providers can achieve depending on the type of care they provide. Specific quality criteria
must be met to achieve a level. Once a child care provider has met the required criteria for a level, they receive a QRS certificate and a quality
add-on rate (from 5% to 20%) to the CCAP standard daily reimbursement rate. This voluntary System is available to License-Exempt Family
Child Care Providers, Licensed Family/Group Home Child Care Providers, and Licensed Centers. License-Exempt Centers will need to become
licensed to participate in QRS. For questions about the Quality Rating System or to request an application, please call toll free 1-866-697-8278
or go to the web site at: http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=3801&ekmensel=c57dfa7b_23_0_3801_6
Great START
Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) is a wage supplement program that rewards eligible early care and education
practitioners in Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) licensed child care centers and family/group family child care
providers for receiving higher education and for remaining at their current place of employment. Visit the INCCRRA website for more
information at: http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=171
Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program
The Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program is an individual-based scholarship opportunity for practitioners working in Early Care and
Education (ECE). Practitioners working in IDCFS licensed centers and homes can apply for a Gateways Scholarship. The Gateways
Scholarship Program will pay a percentage of the cost of tuition, fees and books based on an eligible participant’s child car e position
income. The program also provides bonuses based on an eligible participant’s grade point average and completion of work commitment in
ECE. Visit the INCCRRA website for more information at: http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=5765
Healthy Child Care Illinois
The Healthy Child Care Illinois (HCCI) program links child care to health care by utilizing a child care nurse consultant network to provide
guidance and assistance to child care providers and families on a range of issues affecting the health and safety of children. The Child Care
Nurse Consultants (CCNCs) partner with a multi-disciplinary group to either expand existing public and private services and resources or to
create new services and resources that link families, health care, and child care. This network of nurses also provide: trainings; consultations
and assessments; conference planning / facilitation; assistance with policy development; environmental assessments and; playground safety.
Visit the INCCRRA website for more information at: http://www.inccrra.org/parentsandpublic.aspx?id=4497
Caregiver Connections Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Caregiver Connections was developed in 2003, to be an early childhood mental health consultation project for child care providers, sponsored
by the Illinois Department of Human Services and coordinated by Chaddock Child and Family Center and Illinois Action For Children.
Caregiver Connections currently has a full complement of 21 full time consultants, plus two part time MHCs, a presence coinciding with all
CCR&R Service Delivery Areas (SDAs). The goals of Caregiver Connections are to promote children’s development by enhancing child care
providers’ knowledge and skills, and to reduce expulsions of children from programs. Other programs include: provision of support to providers
to strengthen and build their relationships with children and families; facilitate successful referrals and ensure the smooth transition of children
to other settings when appropriate. To achieve these goals, consultation services are relationship-based and primarily focus on child care
providers, regardless of licensure or business structure.
For more information visit the Caregiver Connections web site at:
http://www.caregiverconnections.org/ or contact the local CCR&R.
Illinois Trainers Network
The Illinois Trainers Network (ITN) is a group of trainers providing quality and accessible early childhood professional development
opportunities for child care practitioners. For more information, visit INCCRRA’s web site at:
http://www.inccrra.org/overview.aspx?id=105
Infant/Toddler Specialists
The goals of the Infant Toddler Specialist program are to: increase the quality of child care for infants, toddlers and two-year-olds with focus on
at-risk children first; Provide training, technical assistance and build capacity in child care settings. Infant/Toddler Specialists offer a full range
of services and expertise such as: Identifying infant toddler needs in each CCR&R SDA, provide on-site technical assistance based on an
assessments of the infant toddler program (e.g. PITC Principles, ITERS, etc), provide technical assistance by phone and e-mail, and assist
child care practitioners with developing and implementing quality improvement plans, develop intensive infant toddler training that will be
offered statewide. In addition, Infant and Toddler Specialists recruit infant toddler practitioners for intensive training, work in cooperation with
and refer to Child Care Nurse Consultants, Mental Health Consultants and QRS Specialists, as necessary, provide infant toddle r resources and
guidance to CCR&R staff, suggest infant toddler resources to add to the CCR&R resource libraries, and work with community partners, e.g.
businesses and schools, to increase awareness of the importance of brain development and the impact that high quality child c are has on the
developing child. Contact your local CCR&R to reach an Infant and Toddler Specialist that serves your area.
SEIU Local 880
All family home child care providers are represented by the union SEIU Local 880. The state is required to make deductions from CCAP
payments in accordance with the SEIU contract. Providers that have questions about the union or would like to register concerns about union
deductions may contact them at 1-800-321-7348. More information about SEIU Local 880 may be found on their webs site:
http://www.seiulocal880.com/