Find Child Care

Finding Child Care

Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions a family makes. You want your child in a safe, caring environment where your child will be engaged in learning and embraced as the individual he or she is. We can help you to locate care that will meet the unique needs of your family. 

How Do I Start?

As part of a free statewide network with the Illinois Department of Human Services, we can help you make an informed child care decision. When you call, our Parent Referral Specialist will talk with you about your family’s needs and the child care providers that are most likely to meet those needs. The Specialist will suggest questions to ask when you interview a provider, what to look for to determine the quality of the care provided, and the differences between family child care and a child care center. The Specialist will also send you more information about quality child care and other helpful resources you may find helpful.

All referrals are based on information we receive from the child care providers and should not be viewed as recommendations; we do not monitor the programs and we cannot ensure the quality of any program in our database. We encourage you to evaluate and screen each program, ask questions and make the decision that best meets the needs of your family. We also recommend that you visit at least three centers or homes so you have a good understanding of how each program compares for quality.

To begin working with our Parent Referral Specialist, contact our office at (309) 205-3070 Option 3.

Online Child Care Search

You can also start your child care search online through the Illinois Cares for Kids Online Child Care Search. This tool will provide you with options for care that meet the search terms you use, but you will need to visit the centers or homes you are interested in to determine which will best fit your family’s needs.