Serving Champaign, Douglas, Iroquois, Macon, Piatt and Vermilion, IL Counties
Quality Rating System (QRS) 
Providers serving families on the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and receiving state payments have the opportunity to participate in the QC~Quality Rating System. This voluntary program provides child care providers with more money for meeting specific indicators of quality care.
To be eligible for QRS providers must meet specific eligibility requirements based on the type of care they offer.
Licensed-Exempt Family Child Care (non-licensed) Providers need to complete specific training in order
to become eligible for a Training Tier 1-3 with add-on rates ranging from 10%-20%.
Licensed Family/Group Home Child Care Providers and Licensed Child Care Centers need to complete
specific training and meet specific indicators of quality based on the Star Level applied for. Once it has been verified that a provider meets the criteria for a particular Star Level 1-4, a quality add-on will be applied to the base reimbursement from the state ranging from 5%-20%.
License-Exempt Child Care Centers are ineligible for this program.
ALL providers interested in applying to QRS must attend the Quality Rating System Orientation prior to application. By attending this two hour training you will learn all about the statewide quality rating and tiered reimbursement system including eligibility requirements, application process and supports/resources available. Please check the training calendar for times and locations.
For more information please go to the Illinois Network for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies website at http://inccrra.org.
OR contact the Quality Coordinator at CCRS at (217) 333-3252 option #2 or 1 (800) 325-5516 option #2.
Quality Counts Mini Grants
Funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services has created the Quality Counts Mini Grant Program administered by Child Care Resource Service to improve and expand early care and education services.
All legally operating programs listed on Child Care Resource Service Provider Data Base may apply. Programs who have received a grant in the past are eligible to apply.
The Quality Counts Grant Program is offered annually in the Fall dependent on funding.
***Funding is availalbe for Mini Grants for fiscal year 2009-2010.
Quality counts mini-grants are here!!!
***1st time applicants Must attend one of these workshops or the application will not be accepted.
Once again the State of Illinois has made available, through the Child Care Resource Service, the Quality Counts Mini-Grant to all providers listed on the CCRS referral data base. Join us for discussion of the application process and guidelines specific to this year’s grant.
Call us to register for one of the following "Show Me The Money" Workshops @ 1-800-325-5516 or 217-333-3252 option 2.
The Quality Counts Resource Specialist will visit your home or center providing developmentally appropriate literacy activities including a story and/or a hands-on project. The QC Resource Specialist will also provide technical assistance and resources including professional development opportunities, resource books and free childrens books. Call Kathy, the Quality Counts Resource Specialist today at the number listed below.
The van schedule lists the days the Quality Counts Van will visit an area for providers who need to return materials or check out new resource kits. Please have materials sanitized and ready for pick up on the dates listed in the van schedule.
The Child Care Resource Service has a traveling lending library, the Quality Counts Van, available to the child care providers on our database.
The van is stocked with books, big books, puppets, flannel boards, theme kits, and more to help the children in your care improve their literacy skills and to get them ready for school. All of the books and activities are available to check out for a 6-week period.
If you would like to sign up for the van to visit your home or center, please call CCRS. Visits are limited to available routes. Scheduled visits are done weather permitting.
If you are already part of our Quality Counts Van schedule and you would like to browse our Van Library inventory prior to your visit, use the link below. Send an email to the Quality Counts Specialist to reserve an item for drop off on your next van visit.
Coming soon.....
*** Funding IS available for accreditation for fiscal year 2009-2010.
The national accreditation systems currently approved for support are
The national accreditation systems are designed to help family child care providers and centers set and reach quality improvement goals and to help parents and policymakers identify high quality programs.
The accreditation process typically takes from 9 to 18 months to complete.
Some funds may be available for equipment and supplies if items are needed to complete the accreditation process.
Family child care providers, child care centers, or school-age programs must be listed with the CCRS Provider Database to apply for accreditation grant money.
For more information, contact us at (217) 333-3252 option 2 or (800) 325-5516, option 2.
*** Funding IS available for Professional Development (PI) and Professional Development Funds (PDF) for fiscal year 2009-2010.
To apply, please download the following forms:
Based on available funding, Child Care Resource Service is offering funds to family child care providers, child care center directors and staff, child care programs, and professional child care associations in Champaign, Douglas, Iroquois, Macon, Piatt and Vermilion counties.
The Professional Development / Program Improvement (PD/PIF) Fund is designed to support individual pursuit of professional development in early care and education and is supported through the Federal Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG), administered through the Illinois Department of Human Services.
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