Administration
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS The Director of Operations provides oversight and management to fiscal and human resources in CCRS. Additional responsibilities include grant writing; funds approval; collaboration with local programs to coordinate services and outreach; participation in regional and state committees to identify policy and procedural changes; oversight of all budgetary contract compliances; and supervision of all professional, technical, and clerical staff.
FACULTY DIRECTOR The Faculty Director is the primary CCRS program/research liaison between the university and external units such as INCCRRA, DHS, federal partners, etc. They provide mentoring and supervision for the Director of Operations as well as other CCRS staff. Our agency's mission and vision is guided by the Faculty Director.
Core Services
TRAINING COORDINATOR AND SPECIALISTS Training Specialists offer Excelerate and statewide affiliate trainings as well as activity-based trainings for providers looking for a more interactive experience. Training Specialists also manage provider database information; create a monthly newsletter and training calendar; and counsel parents on referrals for child care.
QUALITY COORDINATOR AND SPECIALISTS Quality Specialists act as a resource to connect providers or programs to information and opportunities related to the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), ExceleRate Illinois, and the Environment Rating Scales (ERS); consult with programs/providers to help with understanding the current ExceleRate standards; Quality Improvement Cohorts; and counsel parents on referrals for child care.
HEALTH & SAFETY COACHES
The Health and Safety Coaches help providers obtain, navigate, and complete specific child development, health, and safety trainings, including current CPR/First Aid certification in order to continue receiving CCAP funds.
INFANT/TODDLER SPECIALIST
Infant Toddler Care Specialists can work with and support programs through environmental design for infants, toddlers, and twos enhancing the quality of licensed centers and homes; and counsel parents on referrals for child care.
OUTREACH SPECIALISTS Outreach specialists are responsible for supporting community agencies and making efforts to make CCRS more accessible to those in need. Additionally they manage the vacancies for our local programs; maintain accuracy of provider databases; and counsel parents on referrals for child care.
HIGHER EDUCATION NAVIGATORS Navigators are responsible for recruiting early childhood care and education workforce members with appropriate Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs at 2- and 4-year institutions to obtain additional degrees, licenses, and credentials and to connect them with ECE Scholarship Opportunities.
Child Care Assistance Program
CCAP COORDINATOR
The CCAP Program Manager is the office authority on CCAP policies and procedures and coordinate help desk issues. They train all new CCAP staff, monitor the quantity and quality of processing metrics, facilitate CCAP trainings, and supervise CCAP staff.
AUDIT MANAGERS Because of our attachment to the University, our program is very closely monitored for consistency and accuracy. The Audit Managers are responsible for reviewing each case prior to completion and finding any possible financial errors. CCAP Specialists submit their cases to the managers and receive monthly reports based on their accuracy and any problem areas that might arise.
CCAP SPECIALISTS CCAP Specialists manage and evaluate eligibility of parents to participate in the IDHS Child Care Assistance Program, ensuring accurate calculation of income based on IDHS state databases. Incoming families and child care providers will be evaluated and tracked by specialists through state databases, including CCMS and Bluezone. Additionally, they provide support to clients and providers through customer service done via walk-in or telephone.