Why list your program with 4-C?
Listing your program in our child care database opens opportunities for referrals and supports for your program at no cost to you! Find out more below.
By listing your program in our database our Referral Specialist will begin referring families to your early childhood program. Families will be referred only to programs listed in the database that fit their indicated needs. Programs eligible to be listed on the database are:
- Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes/Group Homes licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services
- Head Start and Early Head Start Programs.
- Preschool For All programs funded by the Illinois State Board of Education.
- License exempt centers and family child care homes.
How to list your program on our database:
- Complete an intake with one of our team members. Call us at (815) 758-8149 ext.230 or (815) 344-5510 ext.130
- We will verify the DCFS licensing, if applicable.
- License exempt child care homes and centers must complete a series of steps that includes training, CPR/ First Aid Certification, Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) clearances and relevant paperwork.
- Our team will reach out yearly, at minimum, to programs for a complete program update to ensure our database is accurate and up to date.
What to expect once added to our database
- Recruitment and Retention Coordinators will reach out to schedule a Welcome Visit. During Welcome Visits our staff will bring you resources regarding the services open and available to you and your staff through 4-C.
- Information will be provided to you regularly through phone calls, emails, mailings, and social media regarding program supports, funding opportunities, and training options.
- Our team may reach out throughout the year to ensure we have accurate and up to date information in our database regarding your program. You may also contact us at any time to update your program info.
- When providing referral to families, 4-C: Community Coordinated Child Care does not endorse or recommend any program or type of care over another. We provide referrals based on input from the family so providers can expect calls from a wide range of family types with a variety of needs.
- In certain instances, our staff provide Enhance Referrals to families and may contact programs directly looking for current availability.
- The referral database is just one way families can find providers. Our Recruitment and Retention Coordinators can help providers with free or low-cost marketing ideas, offering suggestions and feedback we have received from families searching for care.
- Accepting payments through the Child Care Assistance Program may also attract families to your child care program. Visit the Illinois Department of Human Services Child Care Assistance Program website to learn more about serving families participating in this program.
The policies summarized below apply to programs listed in our referral database.
Data Base Policy
The primary purpose of the database is to provide families with referrals. 4-C staff will not provide information about child care programs in the database to vendors and/or others who may profit or solicit from this information. This includes, but is not limited to, business, private individuals and/or agency personal.
Complaint Policy
The complaint policy gives families the opportunity to report concerns regarding a child care program listed in the CCR&R database. Families are informed of the complaint policy during the referral process.
4-C does not investigate child care programs. When a complaint has been made to 4-C, we determine its nature. Complaints that may be licensing violations or suspected child abuse and neglect are referred to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for investigation. Pending the outcome of the investigation 4-C places the program in temporary “no-referral” status. The provider is informed of the complaint within 10 business days. All complaints are documented. A complaint committee reviews all complaints. It is the responsibility of the program to submit the requested paperwork and/or training/consultation verification to remove their program from “no-referral” status.