Illinois Action For Children

1. Illinois Action For Children “Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most.”

2. Who they are? Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most. It was founded in 1969 by a group of child advocates. They have worked to ensure that all children in Illinois have access to high-quality opportunities and families are supported regardless of their income. They are a state and national leader.

3. What they do? • Action for children works with low-income families. • They ensure that early care, education and other opportunities are available for children in most need. • Highlights from their programs • Expanding access to child care, early education and other supports. • Making early learning programs available to young children so they can succeed. • Connecting child care providers, parents, and employers with resources such as child care referrals, professional development, health services and community supports.

4. History Action has been around for 40 years and it was led by a small group of women including the founder Sylvia Cotton. They focused on Chicago and advocated for a city Office of Child Development for both center-based and home-based care. After 15 years that it was founded, the council grew and shrunk. Sylvia retired and then a group of women and men took over. Their name became the “Day Care Action Council of Illinois” with an emphasis on “ACTION”. In the mid 1980’s, Day Care Action Council of Illinois received a two year grant (35,000 each year) to support their development to become the Child Care Resource and Referral Program. Years after they grew bigger and they continued providing services to parents and providers o locating and getting informed about child care, and for the providers improving practice.

5. Cont…. Illinois made critical decisions as it developed its welfare reform program. As long as the parent qualified for care in terms of income and employment, the care for their child would be available and affordable. The Day Care Action Council became the lead provider in Cook County. 10 years after this; new staff were hired, the council grew, they had new approaches etc. Their name changed to “Illinois Action for Children”, still with an emphasis on ACTION. They have grown and developed, many things were changed but their mission has remain the same. They want parents to love their children and want happiness for them.

6. Mission “Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter the most”

7. Vision Children and families are a priority. Children and families have the opportunities and resources they need. A broad-based coalition of public and private funders and collaborators support their mission. Their diverse and talented staff demonstrate that every action can change a life.

8. Policies • Complaint Policy • Policy regards their services • Complaint Policy • Complaints about their child care providers • Confidentiality Policy • Employees are obligated to ensure that information remains confidential and is not disclosed. • Information must be handled with respect. • Only Illinois Action for Children employees have access. • They are responsible for safeguarding the information. • Any disclosure is considered a serious violation to the organization. • Disclaimer Policy • Maintaining integrity when providing referrals. • Consultants would only refer families to legal forms of child care. • Explaining that these are referrals and not recommendations.

9. Cont…. • Fee Policy • Illinois Action for Children shall base annual fees for consumer education and referrals on the following scale:

10. Funding • The policy and advocacy work is funded through grants from private foundations, individual donors and the state of Illinois. • However the governor of Illinois has created a budget proposal that includes a mixture of increases and decreases in the funding for childcare and other programs that if passed it will hardly impact working families and their children. • To learn more about this proposal and take action visit http://www.actforchildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Advocacy

11. Staffing (Leadership) President CEO (Chief executive officer) Chief operating officer Chief program officer Vice President (Policy and Strategic Partnerships) Vice President (Program Development) Vice President (Strategic Planning and Execution) Vice President ( Organizational advancement) Board of Directors (Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Past Chair) Members (Education consultant, and other children advocates) Family resources specialist Infant-toddler child care specialist Teacher Manager of organizational Development

12. Programs that are offered…. • Preschool for all • Implements a curriculum for 3 and 4 years olds based on the Illinois Early Learning Standards. • Community Connections Preschool • Preschool in home based child care. Four days a week, they are transported to a child care center and on the fifth day the teacher visits the child’s home sharing curriculum materials and learning activities with the home providers. • Prevention Initiative • Teachers and parent educators work with the children from birth to three years old and their parents in order to provide a strong foundation for success. • Early Reading First • Demonstrates the best practices in language and literacy to preschoolers.

13. Eligibility Calculator Two major requirements: Checklist: • They make it possible for families who qualify to receive financial assistance in paying for child care. • Parents must be engaged in an activity such as work and/or school. • Parents must also meet income and family size guidelines that have been set according 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. (FPL) Determine your gross monthly income. Use the eligibility calculator. Identify your child care provider. Download and print the Child Care Application and all other required documents. Read all documents before completing and submitting your application. Make sure that you and your provider sign the application. Submit your completed application via mail, fax, drop box, or walk-in. Allow ten business days from the day you submitted your application for it to be reviewed.

14. Eligibility Chart as of October 1,2009 Cont…. It is important that you read all documents and submit a complete application that includes supporting documentation. You can contact the office for help if needed.

15. Paying for Child Care • Illinois Action for children makes it possible for families who do qualify to receive financial help in paying for child care. • Parents must be engaged in a qualifying activity • Work • School • Parents must also meet income and family size guidelines

16. Need Help? • How to find a quality child care center? You have the following options: • Licensed child care center • License-exempt child care center • License family child care home • In-home care • Head start • Preschool for all ****Not all child care centers have these options e.g.) not all have head start.

17. Cont… • Child Care Checklist • Infant and Toddler • Preschool • Kindergarten • School-age • Special needs • Non-traditional • Summer Camp

18. Cont…. • Quality Indicators • Educational activities based on the age of the child • Low ratio of children to staff • Children are supervised at all times • Nutritious meals and snacks are served • Parent involvement is encouraged • A curriculum is set to focus on the child’s language, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs • Toys are sanitized daily • Caregivers received CPR and First Aid Training • Parents are greeted and welcomed in the classroom • Accredited programs have met the quality standards set by national organizations • Smaller size group programs provide more one on one attention • Provider’s references are available upon request • Open communication between the parent and provider is encouraged • Caregivers have worked in current child care setting for at least a year

19. Locations Near You Central/West Side 1340 S. Damen 3rd Floor Chicago, Il 60608 South Side/Chatham 8741 S. Greenwood Suite 300 Chicago, Il 60619 North Side/Uptown 4753 N. Broadway 1st floor Chicago, Il 60640 Contact number: 312-823-1100 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

20. Resources http://www.actforchildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Home