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- About IAFC
For Providers & Educators
Find funding, training, and support for early childhood providers and educators in Chicago and across the state of Illinois.
Access Resources, Training, and Funding in Illinois.
Early childhood providers and educators need access to training, funding, and resources in order to grow, thrive, and succeed. Find professional support and assistance suited to your needs. We are committed to supporting you and Illinois’ providers and educators in accessing support and resources.
Explore our services and programs tailored for early childhood professionals.
Do You Have Lead in Your Water?
LeadCare Cook County provides both licensed and license-exempt child cares in suburban Cook County with free lead service line replacement. Getting started is simple: just fill out the enrollment form. A LeadCare Specialist will then visit your child care facility to inspect your water service line. If it’s made of lead, we’ll schedule a date for a licensed plumber to replace it at no cost to you. Don’t wait—ensure safe drinking water for the children in your care.
Emerging Leaders Fellowship
At the MWLI, we believe that every early childhood professional has the potential to be a leader and advocate for positive change.
The Emerging Leaders Fellowship is a nine-month program offering comprehensive professional development, leadership training, networking opportunities, and more to early childhood professionals in Illinois. The program provides diverse, mid-level teachers and providers with the opportunity to enhance and refine their skills and become powerful advocates.
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
CCAP Support and Resources
Families you serve may be eligible for child care assistance in Illinois. Help parents and guardians navigate the Child Care Assistance Program.
Discover support and resources to assist families with child care costs and payments. Learn more about eligibility requirements, the application process, and checking payment statuses.
Important IDHS Information
Need assistance with your CCAP case? Explore our CCAP Provider Help Page.
CCAP Forms
Access CCAP forms online or via phone.
School Services and Consultations
Consultation Services for Providers & Educators
Illinois Action for Children’s Consultation Services engages early childhood program leaders to provide support to teachers through coaching, mentoring, professional development, training, and technical assistance.
Quality improvement consultations
Need help navigating Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and ExceleRate Illinois?
Our Quality Specialists work one-on-one with Illinois programs and providers to offer training, consultation, on-site or visual visits, and resources.
Illinois Action for Children’s Quality Specialists are free to you through our partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services
Creating a better early childhood and education system in Illinois
At Illinois Action for Children, we do more than provide resources and support to providers and educators. Our research supports the early childhood field, and we use our research to advocate for policies that best serve children, families, and providers.
Advocacy & Policy
We are deeply rooted in advocacy that lifts community voices and drives policy change to benefit under-represented children and families, caregivers, educators and communities across Illinois.
Research
Our team researches the challenges that affect children and families today, driving better policies for the future.
