FAQ - Crawford County Child Care Support Efforts
The effort to support child care in Crawford County is a Whole Community Approach with support from business, education, and civic leaders.
Our beginning is focused on ensuring our existing child care providers are recognized and resourced while being intentional about adding capacity to meet the diverse and changing needs of our community. This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is intended to help answer questions about the program.
If you have additional questions or inquiries, feel free to reach out to info@crawfordkids.org
1. Why is a community child care project needed in Crawford County?
Answer: Crawford County has less than 300 child care spaces in our community. This doesn't currently meet the existing needs of children and families. With continued growth of area businesses and our community, we need to support sustainability of our existing child care businesses and grow care options for families that can’t find a match for their family’s needs.
2. What will this project accomplish for child care?
Answer: We will accomplish our desired outcomes by providing support resources and grant funding to existing child care businesses. Our work is also focused on supporting development of new child care options to address unmet needs in our community such as 2nd shift care and availability of care in communities around our county.
3. How will this effort address the long-term needs of child care expansion in areas such as staffing?
Answer: Educational pathways are being created within our local high schools as well as with Lincoln Trail College. This will create a meaningful pathway of growth, and development for those starting or growing their early education careers. This will also help support talent sourcing and long-term organic growth of dedicated early education professionals in our area.
4. Where will the new project be located?
Answer: This effort is designed to increase available care throughout the county. There are efforts in Robinson as well as start-up grant support for new family child care businesses throughout the county. The new effort in Robinson, IL, is focused on a new child care center that will primarily offer 2nd shift care with potential for micro-need focused care during the day. One example might be additional infant spaces.
5. Will any of the new child care being proposed have enrollment restrictions or limitations?
Answer: This program will be available for market-rate enrollment for all children and families on a first come, first serve basis.
6. Will the new project compete with existing child care businesses?
Answer: The goal of the program is to support all aspects of child care in our community. This includes support of new child care spaces to meet the growing needs of our community. We have created opportunities for existing providers to evaluate their businesses and ensure they are set up for success towards their own personal goals. This includes support for child care centers in competitive staffing and setting personal goals for family child care business owners.
7. How will this effort continue to support increases in quality of early childhood education for all children?
Answer: This program is designed to help foster an environment that supports continued pursuit of quality early education options. Crawford County has only one Illinois ExceleRate quality-rated program currently. This effort will further help existing providers illustrate their existing and growing quality practices through formal recognition.
8. What will the role of the new 501c3 be in our community?
Answer: The new 501c3 will act as the steward of child care resources and support in the Crawford County community.
This includes activities such as:
1. Continued advocacy for available resources for our existing child care providers,
2. Garnering ongoing local support for training and support resources,
3. Helping coordinate promotion and development of new child care as needs are identified in our local area.
9. Can a non-profit grant money to a for-profit business?
Answer: The short answer is that 501(c)(3) organizations can make grants to individuals and to businesses if such grants are made in furtherance of their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt purposes and are not expended in a manner inconsistent with the 501(c)(3).
10. What kind of support is being offered to existing child care providers in our community?
Answer: The community is committed to recognizing and supporting existing child care businesses. There is a current support program that all family child care and child center businesses are eligible for. Click here to learn more!
11. I heard there were incentives to start a new child care business, where can I find information about that?
Answer: There are multiple efforts to create new child care that meets current unmet needs and future community growth needs. Learn more by visiting our page for those interested in starting new. Click here
Anyone interested in starting a child care business can reach out to info@crawfordkids.org to learn more.