Our Offices are Now Open to the Public
Child Care Resource Service re-opened to the public on Tuesday, September 6th. Walk-in hours are now as follows:
- Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Tues 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
We ask that all visitors wear a mask when entering the CCRS offices. If you are feeling unwell, please stay home and call us rather than coming in. Phone hours will remain the same.
Walk-in staff will be available to take and print forms and to answer basic case information such as payment entry dates, case approval and information needed. For all other questions, you should continue to call the public phone line (217-333-3252) to talk to a resource specialist. Walk-in staff does not have access to all case information.
If you are only dropping off information, paperwork, billings, etc., we suggest you continue to use the drop box located at the front doors of Bevier Hall.
Welcome back in the office!
Sign Up For Fun Parenting Tips Through Ready4K
Ready4K is a free service that delivers parenting advice through text messages. Each week, Ready4K offers easy, relatable, fun facts and tips to help kids thrive in school and life. Messages can be delivered in different languages. The program is backed by state-led Illinois Cares for Kids. To join Ready4K, text IL4KIDS to 70138 or visit illinoiscaresforkids.org for more information.
We are promoting this service on behalf of ECL@Illinois, a program designed for Illinois professionals to learn how they can impact our community through nonprofit volunteerism. The ECL@Illinois program is supported by the Office of the Chancellor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and United Way of Champaign County.
Strengthen and Grow Child Care Grants
SGCC Round 4 opened on Monday August 29, 2022 for new applications and for eligible programs to submit a budget. The application will close on September 16, 2022. Programs with an eligible application MUST submit a budget by September 16th. Programs that are applying for the first time (or that were found ineligible before) must apply and submit a budget by September 16th. If a budget is not submitted by September 16th the program will not be reviewed for a grant. We encourage programs not to wait until the last day; if they run into issues, they often times can’t resolve them in a day.
Here Are A Couple of Helpful Resources
Steps to submit a budget tip sheet https://www.ilgateways.com/docman-docs/financial-opportunities/covid-19-relief/sgcc-grant/2297-sgcc-steps-to-submit-budget/file
Applying for SGCC webinar slides https://www.ilgateways.com/docman-docs/financial-opportunities/covid-19-relief/sgcc-grant/2224-sgcc-ta-webinar-slides/file
Applying for SGCC webinar recording https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/1677021734396892431
We also added grant timelines and application available dates for Rounds 5 and 6 to the SGCC webpage.
- SGCC Round 5 February – April 2023 (Applications available in December)
- SGCC Round 6 May – July 2023 (Applications available in March)
Reflect On and Prepare Your Classroom / Care Settings
Are your care settings set up to help promote resilience in, and support the social and emotional development of, young children? Here are some checklists to help you take a closer look! Start this new school/program year off in the best way possible.
Reflective Checklists for Infant/Toddler Care Settings –
Reflective Checklists for Preschool Settings –
New Blog Addresses Food Allergies
Food allergies in young children are common in early care and education settings, but providers may not have strategies for supporting children with food allergies in developmentally appropriate ways. Our latest blog, How the “Game Red Light! Green Light!” Can Help Us Talk to Children About Food Allergies, offers some excellent suggestions. Individuals who are interested in this topic can also register for STOP.LOOK.ASK.GO Food Allergy Education for Early Childhood Professionals. This free, online course will result in professional development hours and will be available soon. Join the waitlist to be notified when it is ready.
Join us at the Illinois AEYC Growing Futures Conference! This in-person conference will be held at the Crown Plaza, Springfield on October 13-15. Register here: https://illinoisaeyc.org/conference/.
We can’t wait to see you there!
OneOp Offers Webinar Series On Early Intervention (EI) Transition
On Sept. 14, the OneOp Early Intervention team will present the third webinar in its “Going Virtual” series. The webinar, “Ensuring Smooth EI Transitions,” will highlight tips early intervention service coordinators and service providers can use to facilitate smooth transitions for families when moving from EI to the special education system and when relocating from one EI program to another. The webinar offers EITP and Gateways CE credits for both live attendees and those who view the recording. Live participation is encouraged but not required. A recording will be available on the webinar event page linked above. To register, go to https://oneop.org/event/118083/
Homemade Bird Seed Ornaments
IDPH Health Advisory
Human Monkeypox Virus (MPV)
Interim Guidance for Day Cares/Early Childhood Centers Effective August 16, 2022
MPV is a disease that can cause flu-like symptoms and a rash. Human-to-human transmission of MPV occurs by direct contact with lesions or infected body fluids, or from exposure to respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face close contact. A person is considered to be infectious until there is full healing of the rash with formation of a fresh layer of skin.
Strategies for Preventing MPV Transmission in Day Cares
Day care staff should monitor for MPV among ill staff, volunteers and children, and implement the following strategies to prevent transmission within day care and early childhood settings:
• Monitor staff, volunteers and children for the presence of new, unexplained vesicular or pustular lesions (other than neonatal acne), or any characteristic lesions on palms and instruct them to seek medical evaluation and return with a providers note. (Note: rashes are not uncommon in children due to a variety of causes: See IDPH School Health Listing of Communicable Diseases (illinois.gov.) If a staff member, volunteer or child has a chronic condition that causes rash/skin lesions (such as neonatal acne), it may be helpful to have a provider’s note in their health record.
• Contact your local health department immediately to discuss any suspect or confirmed MPV cases and discuss next steps.
• Encourage staff, volunteers and children to stay home if ill and maintain supportive sick leave protocols to encourage this. In addition to the rash, other symptoms of MPV include fever, headaches, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough). These symptoms can appear one to four days before the onset of the rash.
• Ensure access to handwashing. Soap and water or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol should be available and encouraged/monitored, especially before eating and after using the restroom.
• Limit sharing of personal items. Do not share eating utensils or cups. Do not share bedding, towels, or clothing.
• Clean and disinfect: Clean surfaces at least once a day to reduce the risk of germs spreading by touching surfaces. Additionally, day care settings should follow standard procedures for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection in their setting, such as after diapering, feeding, and exposure to bodily fluids. See Caring for Our Children. Standard sanitizing procedures are acceptable. Toys that are frequently put in mouths should be washed with soap and water rather than U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed disinfectants.
When you are having campfires this fall, try some new recipes for your s’mores.
Live Provider Training Classes Are Back!
We are, once again, offering in-person trainings this fall! Listed below are the trainings being offered for September and October.
Trash to Treasure (In-Person)
Thursday, September 15, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Kids N Fitness, 1020 W. South Side Dr., Decatur, 2.0 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Rhonda Costa, Director, The Caring Place
Turning items headed to the trash into classroom activities, art materials, and objects to keep the children engaged in learning.
Think Outside the Book (In-Person)
Tuesday, September 20, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Carle Conference West B, 810 W. University Ave., Urbana, 2.0 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Kari Britton, Director, Happi Time
Reading is FUN-damental, but so is expanding on a story to encourage active participation and creative thinking! We will look at many ways to enhance your story time, and we will also learn different ways to bring a story out of group time and incorporate it into other areas. Participants will participate in a small make-and-take activity to create something they can use right away in their classroom.
Emergency Preparedness (In-Person)
Thursday, September 22, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Rantoul Public Library, 106 W. Flessner Ave., Rantoul, 2.0 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Justin Bouse, Administrative Lieutenant, Rantoul Police Department
Child Development, Health & Safety Basics (In-Person)
Saturday, September 24, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Bevier Hall, Room 108, 905 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, 4.0 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Newcomb Mowrer, CCRS, ITN Trainer
This training will provide participants an overview of child development, health, and safety issues for children birth through early school-age. Emphasis will be on understanding patterns of development, developmental domains, and the role of nutrition in development. In addition, health and safety issues will address supporting the growth of healthy children – from the basics such as handwashing to more in-depth practices surrounding healthy procedures and disease prevention. Participants will learn more about emergency planning/preparedness and first aid as well as identify tips for maintaining safe indoor/outdoor environments.
Trash to Treasure (In-Person)
Tuesday, October 4, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm,
Carle Conference West B, 810 W. University Ave., Urbana, 2.0 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Rhonda Costa, Director, The Caring Place
Turning items headed to the trash into classroom activities, art materials, and objects to keep the children engaged in learning.
Thinking Outside the Book (In-Person)
Thursday, October 27, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Rantoul Public Library, 106 W. Flessner Ave., Rantoul, 2.0 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Kari Britton, Director, Happi Time
Reading is FUN-damental, but so is expanding on a story to encourage active participation and creative thinking! We will look at many ways to enhance your story time, and we will also learn different ways to bring a story out of group time and incorporate it into other areas. Participants will participate in a small make-and-take activity to create something they can use right away in their classroom.
To register for any of these in-person offerings, contact Jenny Garinger at (217) 333-7816 or by email at garinger@illinois.edu.
New Zoom Training Opportunities for Providers
Building the Road to Resilience (Zoom training)
Thursday, September 29, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, 1.5 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Jill Duden, Prevention Specialist, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois
This training introduces attendees to the concept of resiliency and how to build resiliency in the youth and families they are working with. This training challenges attendees to assess their own resiliency traits and begin exploring how their own traits impact their ability to build resiliency in youth and families. This training will define resiliency, and explore domains, characteristics, and traits that are needed in order to build and strengthen resiliency. This training will also identify strategies to build resiliency in outside supports and inner strengths in youth and families.
Facilitating Play (Zoom training)
Thursday, October 6, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
2.0 Training Hours, FREE
Presenter: Kari Britton, Director, Happi Time
Using video and photo examples of staff facilitating play in the classroom, we will discuss and compare different ideas on what teachers can add to play centers and how to extend communication during free play. We will learn why different play centers are important to a child’s development and how a teacher can expand the materials in centers in order to provide for greater cognitive and social-emotional growth in children.
No More “No Thank You Bite” – Using Responsive Feeding in Childcare (Zoom training)
Thursday, October 13, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, 2.0 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Alexandra Lundquist, Doctor of Nutrition
Honoring children’s hunger and fullness signals, encouraging children to eat, and not using pressure to force children to finish food are all recommended practices for teachers feeding children. These practices refer to the “how” of feeding children – often called responsive feeding. Responsive feeding supports children to become independent eaters with healthy dietary behaviors. Unfortunately, a lot of what we may have been taught about eating such as finishing our plates or taking ‘no thank you’ bites are not responsive feeding practices and may discourage young eaters. In this training, we learn about responsive feeding practices, why they matter, why they might look different in the childcare setting, and how to implement them.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS/SUID/AAP Safe Sleep) (Zoom training)
Tuesday, October 25, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, 1.5 Training Hours FREE
Presenter: Kathy Martin, Infant Toddler Specialist, CCRS
This training discusses Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS/SUID/AAP Safe Sleep), including behaviors that increase the risk of SIDS, safe sleep habits, licensing standards, and resources for further information.
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To register for any of these new Zoom offerings, contact Jenny Garinger at (217) 333-7816 or by email at garinger@illinois.edu.
If you prefer to do trainings on your own schedule, remember the Gateways i-learning website is always available at https://courses.inccrra.org. These trainings are Gateways Registry-approved and cover a variety of child development and early childhood education topics. Trainings automatically appear on your Gateways Registry Professional Development Record (PDR), and they are FREE. Be sure to have your Gateways Registry online username and password to login.