CCRS

09/15/2026

09/15/2026

IN-PERSON TRAININGS FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS

Below are the trainings that we are offering in-person in September and October:

Emergency Preparedness

Thursday, September 24, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Rantoul Public Library, 106 W. Flessner Ave., Rantoul, 2.0 Training Hours FREE

Presenter: Christina Reifsteck, Deputy Chief of Administration, Rantoul Police Department

Scripted Stories: Pyramid Model Targeted Social-Emotional Supports

Tuesday, October 20, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Happi Time Day Care, 1010 Stratford Dr., Champaign, 2.0 Training Hours FREE

Presenter: Kari Britton, Director, Happi Time Day Care

Join us as we learn to use scripted stories to teach problem solving with child-centered solutions and calm down techniques focused on developing deep breathing strategies.

Scripted Stories: Pyramid Model Targeted Social-Emotional Supports Scripted Stories

Thursday, October 22, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Rantoul Public Library, 106 W. Flessner Ave., Rantoul2.0 Training Hours FREE

Presenter: Kari Britton, Director, Happi Time Daycare

Join us as we learn to use scripted stories to teach problem solving with child-centered solutions and calm down techniques focused on developing deep breathing strategies.

Contact Jenny Garinger at [email protected] to register.

09/15/2026

ZOOM CLASSES BEING OFFERED
Below are the trainings that we are offering through Zoom in October:

Put the Pencil Down and Play: The Importance of Play Over Worksheets in Early Childhood

Thursday, October 8, from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, 2 Training Hours FREE

Presenter: Christina Nojd, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Owner of Reflections in Bloom

In early childhood education, play is not just a break from learning it is the learning. This training challenges the overuse of worksheets in early childhood classrooms and highlights the critical role of hands-on, play-based experiences in promoting development. Participants will explore how play supports cognitive, social-emotional, and physical growth, and learn how to align playful activities with early learning standards and developmental goals. The session includes practical strategies for replacing pencil-and-paper tasks with meaningful, engaging play that honors how young children learn best.

NapChat: TAP Tuesday: What is Autism?

Tuesday, October 13, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 1 Training Hour FREE

Presenters: Adrienne Shockley and Cassie Alpers, Assistant Directors, The Autism Program

In the first of a three-part training series, this training titled, “What is Autism?” will provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (autism spectrum condition). Facilitators will discuss the diagnostic criteria for autism, what autism can look like across the lifespan, and the prevalence of autism diagnoses in the United States.

Contact Jenny Garinger at [email protected] to register.

If you prefer to do trainings on your own schedule, remember the Gateways i-learning website is always available: 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.

09/10/2026

Attention providers: please use this link https://forms.gle/KodukzKDArZFXAvo7 or scan the QR code below to provide feedback on possible training topics for our free spring professional development!

09/02/2026

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) is hosting a virtual listening session on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 5 p.m.–6:30 p.m. to gather input on the State Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 budget (July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028).

The purpose of this session is to hear directly from parents, community members, providers, the workforce, and other stakeholders about the priorities you believe should shape the FY 2028 budget.

Please below to register, share what you would like to see prioritized in the FY 2028 budget, and indicate whether you would like to provide public comment.

In order to provide oral public comment during the listening session, you will need to register in advance. Priority for oral public comment will be given to the first 30 people that express interest on the registration form. Speaking time will be limited to 3 minutes per person and we ask that only one person speak on behalf of an organization.

However, anyone can provide written public comment by sharing directly with [email protected] with the subject line, ‘FY28 Budget Listening Session Public Comment’. The deadline for submitting written comments is September 18. All public comment, regardless of the submission format is prioritized and reviewed by IDEC. Thank you for your ongoing engagement and for your dedication to early childhood. Let’s continue working together to strengthen opportunities for children and families across Illinois.

08/12/2026

See below the Research study for Child Care Center Directors and Teachers.

08/10/2026

Educators (Providers, Teachers, Staff), stop by the Idea Store today!

08/07/2026

News from IDEC

We want to provide you with an update with the recent processing of Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) payments. We have confirmed that payments through 8/4 were issued and providers can now view their transaction in the IOC payment portal here.

As a reminder, for those providers with direct deposit it will take extra time to show up in their accounts. For those receiving paper checks, the IOC will process those as usual.

Please note the IOC payment portal linked earlier in this note is syncing the payment information more quickly than WH01 and New SAMS, so we would encourage you to have providers use that portal for the most updated records.

As always please feel free to reach out to this office through: [email protected] if you have any questions.