For Providers

Table of Contents

• Illinois Cares for Kids
• Provider Resources & Tools
• Support to Help Meet Children's Diverse Needs 
• Additional Provider Supports 
• Workforce & Professional Development Supports 
• How to Get Involved 

Provider Resources & Tools

• An Overview of the DCFS Licensing Process
  
• Child Care Assistance Program Child Care Telephone Billing System Information
  
• CCAP Child Care Payment Information and Updates
  
• Early Childhood Block Grant: Prevention Initiative
  
• Early Childhood Block Grant: Preschool for All
  
• Early Childhood Block Grant: Preschool for All-Expansion
  
• ExceleRate Illinois Information for Providers
  

Supports to Help Meet Children's Diverse Needs

• How can I support children in my program who have special needs?
• Information on developmental screening
• Resources from Early CHOICES
• Information on Early Intervention
• How do I support students who are emergent bilingual?
• Resources from the Illinois State Board of Education
  

Additional Provider Supports

• Erikson Institute's Town Square provides Family, Friend, and Neighbor care provider supports
• NAEYC provides social and emotional development supports 
• Find resources on the recent Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion legislation here
  
• Find information on Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (I/ECMHC) here
  
• Visit iGrow to learn more about home visiting 
  
• Learn more about professional development in the Pyramid Model
  
• Illinois Early Learning Project (IELP) Tip Sheets are easy-to-read, one-page resources on a variety of topics of interest to parents and teachers of young children
  
• Subscribe to the IELP monthly e-newsletter to keep up with the latest additions to the Illinois Early Learning website; the newsletter is now available in Spanish
• The Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map provides comprehensive early childhood data and maps to local and state stakeholders
  

Workforce & Professional Development Supports

Gateways to Opportunity is Illinois' early childhood education and care professional development system. It includes:

• Gateways Registry: The registry allows you to track your education, Credentials, and training online in your personal and secure Professional Development Record.
• Online Training: Gateways i-learning is the hub of online training for Illinois child care providers. You can locate online training for DCFS Licensing, ExceleRate Illinois, and other courses related to caring for children.
• Training Calendar: Search the Gateways Training Calendar for professional development events around the State. 
• Gateways Credentials: These credentials are symbols of professional achievement that show your knowledge, skills, and experience in caring for and educating children. 
  

How to Get Involved

• Illinois Early Learning Council: A public-private partnership created by P.A. 93-380 to strengthen, coordinate, and expand programs and services for children, birth to five, throughout Illinois. Meetings are open to the public.
• Professional Development Advisory Council: A group of key stakeholders from a wide variety of child related industries who work to advance the field of early care and education, school-age, youth development, and family support. Meetings are open to the public.
• DCFS Child Day Care Licensing Advisory Council: This group provides input and suggestions on day care licensing rules and procedures, areas of focus and future planning, issues, concerns, and trends. Meetings are open to the public.
• Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention: This council provides advice and assistance as defined in the EI Services System Act. Meetings are open to the public, and interested individuals can nominate themselves for membership.
• Illinois Head Start Association
• Partner Plan Act: Resources on local Early Childhood Collaborations