Pike County Child Care Task Force

Pike County Child Care Task Force Collaborating to improve child care access in Pike County, IL. Supporting families, providers, and our community through action and advocacy.

Come Join Us!Providing child care can sometimes feel like work we do within our own programs, but there is a lot we can ...
08/20/2026

Come Join Us!

Providing child care can sometimes feel like work we do within our own programs, but there is a lot we can gain when we have opportunities to connect with others who understand the joys, challenges, and importance of this work.

Pike Provider Connect is a new opportunity for Pike County providers to come together, build relationships, exchange ideas, discover resources, and help create a stronger local community of support.

📣 We want to hear from you!Have you ever considered opening a child care program in Pike County? What kind of support wo...
08/20/2026

📣 We want to hear from you!

Have you ever considered opening a child care program in Pike County? What kind of support would make it easier for you to take that next step?

Vote using the reactions below:

👍 Help understanding licensng
❤️ Access to startup funding
😮 Help finding an appropriate location
💬 Something else? Tell us in the comments!

Your feedback can help the Pike County Child Care Task Force better understand the barriers prospective providers face and identify the resources our community needs.

Please share this post with someone who may be interested in starting a child care program!

08/18/2026

We are looking for subs...

Get Paid for Serving Healthy Meals 🍓🍞🍗Do you provide child care in your home? You may be eligible for reimbursement when...
08/18/2026

Get Paid for Serving Healthy Meals 🍓🍞🍗

Do you provide child care in your home? You may be eligible for reimbursement when you serve nutritious meals and snacks through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, commonly called CACFP.

Eligible providers may include:

• Licensed family child care homes• Licensed group child care homes• License-exempt providers who receive Child Care Assistance Program payments and provide care in their own home

To participate, a provider must enroll through an approved CACFP sponsoring organization.

For information about participating in Pike County, contact:

Better Child Care217-245-0949 www.betterchildcareil.org

A sponsor will explain eligibility, provide training, review required records, and help determine whether a provider qualifies for Tier I or Tier II reimbursement.

Reimbursement rates are updated annually. Contact Better Child Care for the current rates and enrollment requirements.

For statewide assistance, contact the Illinois State Board of Education CACFP office at 217-782-2491 or 800-545-7892.

These are great ideas for fun indoor activities.
08/16/2026

These are great ideas for fun indoor activities.

🎒 Welcome to a new school year!The Pike County Child Care Task Force sends our best wishes to all the children beginning...
08/14/2026

🎒 Welcome to a new school year!

The Pike County Child Care Task Force sends our best wishes to all the children beginning new adventures, the teachers and school personnel preparing to welcome them, and the families supporting them every step of the way.

May this year be filled with learning, friendship, growth, and many reasons to smile. Thank you to everyone throughout Pike County who works each day to help our children feel safe, supported, and ready to succeed.

Here’s to a wonderful school year! ✏️🍎

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood is now officially launched, and the state is continuing to hold transition up...
08/12/2026

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood is now officially launched, and the state is continuing to hold transition updates to help families, providers, and community partners understand what this new system will mean in practice.

The next IDEC Transition Update is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, from 5:00–6:00 p.m.https://idec.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idec/documents/unsorted-documents/workforce-listening-session-flyer-sept2025.pdf

For Pike County, these updates are especially important as we continue working together to understand child care needs, support current providers, and identify opportunities to strengthen local access.

We encourage child care providers, families, community partners, and anyone interested in early childhood services to watch for these updates and stay informed as Illinois’ new early childhood system continues to take shape.

Pike County’s child care needs were recently highlighted in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, and the article points to ...
08/10/2026

Pike County’s child care needs were recently highlighted in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, and the article points to something many local families, providers, and employers already know: child care access is a community-wide issue.

The article shared that Pike County currently has 14 licensed child care providers and no operating child care center. For families trying to work, employers trying to hire, and communities trying to grow, that gap matters.

The Pike County Child Care Task Force is working to strengthen local child care access by:

• Supporting current providers• Encouraging and assisting new providers• Developing startup resources• Building partnerships across the county• Raising awareness that child care is part of our local workforce infrastructure

We are grateful to see this issue receiving regional attention. The more our community understands the need, the better positioned we are to support solutions that help children, families, providers, and employers across Pike County.

Read the article here: https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/pike-county-child-care-shortage-22375858.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com

🌱 This is encouraging news for current and future child care providers in Pike County!Governor Pritzker has signed the B...
08/09/2026

🌱 This is encouraging news for current and future child care providers in Pike County!

Governor Pritzker has signed the Background Check Transition Bill, beginning the process of transferring fingerprint-based background check responsibilities for child care providers to the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).

For people considering child care as a business, licensing and background-check requirements can sometimes feel overwhelming. This transition offers hope that these processes may become more coordinated, consistent, and easier for providers to navigate under the new department.

The change will not happen immediately. Illinois must first receive FBI approval for IDEC to assume this responsibility, and that process could take up to a year. Still, this is an important step toward creating a more manageable system for the people who care for Illinois children.

If you have ever considered opening a child care program, do not let stories about the licensing process stop you from exploring the possibility. Guidance and support are available, and positive changes are underway.

Thank you to State Senator Julie Morrison and State Representative Joyce Mason for sponsoring this legislation and supporting Illinois’ early childhood workforce.

🎒 August is here, and a new school year is just around the corner!Starting school-year routines now can make the transit...
08/07/2026

🎒 August is here, and a new school year is just around the corner!
Starting school-year routines now can make the transition easier for the whole family. If possible, begin adjusting your child’s schedule one to two weeks before school or child care begins.
Try these simple steps:
🌙 Move bedtime and wake-up time earlier by 15 minutes every two or three days.
⏰ Keep bedtime and wake-up times as consistent as possible, including on weekends.
📖 Create a calming bedtime routine, such as taking a bath, putting on pajamas, brushing teeth, reading together, and turning out the lights.
Small, gradual changes give children’s bodies time to adjust and can help make those first school mornings a little less stressful. Remember, it may take time for children to settle into a new routine. Stay patient, calm, and consistent as they adjust.
What helps your family get back into a school-year routine?

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39637 260th Avenue
Pittsfield, IL
62363

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+12176414528

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