What is quality Child Care?
Quality Child Care provides safe, healthy, and nurturing care for children that meets their physical, educational, social and emotional needs. 4-C Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) parent services specialists will assist parents in the search for quality child care.

“Choosing Child Care, A Parent’s Guide to Quality Child Care” is a booklet made available by the 4-C Child Care Resource & Referral Department. It contains tips for parents, questions to ask child care providers, and a quick checklist of quality indicators. Click here for a printer friendly copy.

A Few Quality Indicators to Consider

• Adult to Child Ratio: The fewer children for each adult, the better. Babies need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult for four infants), while four-year-olds can do well with a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for ten children).
  
  
• Group Size: The smaller the group, the better. Imagine a group of 25 two-year olds with five adults, compared to a group of 10 with two adults.
  
  
• Caregiver Qualifications: Caregivers with early childhood education and on-going training are better able to help children learn.
  
  
• Turnover: It's best if children stay with the same nurturing caregiver for at least a year. Getting used to new caregivers takes time and energy that could be spent on learning new things.
  
  
• Accreditation: Programs that are accredited have met voluntary standards for child care that exceed most state licensing requirements.
  
  
• Health & Safety: Trained caregivers are likely to be better equipped to create a healthy and safe environment for children. Health and Safety measures to look for include: emergency plans that are regularly reviewed and updated; monthly fire drills; accurate and up-to-date contact information and immunization records for all children; regular safety inspections of the indoor and outdoor environment; adequate supervision at all times; hand washing, diapering and sanitizing procedures in place; and nutritious meals served family style.
  
  
• Family Involvement: In quality programs all children and their families are welcomed and respected. There is regular communication with parents about the children's activities and achievements. Families receive information through many different avenues, and there are opportunities to visit and observe in the program.

The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies has a checklist of indicators of high-quality child care. Visit their website to view and print a copy of the checklist http://www.naccrra.org/
parent/quality_indicators.php

Child Care Licensing is regulated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). A child care setting that is licensed has been determined to meet DCFS licensing standards. 

For a summary of standards, www.state.il.us/dcfs/daycare/
index.shtml. Licensing does not ensure quality child care.

To obtain information about a provider’s licensing compliance history, call the DCFS Day Care Information Line at 877-746-0829.

Useful Information
for Parents
can be obtained by visiting the following websites: Illinois Early Learning Project at www.Illinoisearlylearning.org and www.civitas.org.