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Child Care Services

The Kids Can Child Development Center at SRRC provides quality educational play-based child care services to children with and without special needs that are developmentally appropriate to meet each child’s needs. DCFS licensed, services are provided to children ages six weeks to 12 years and beyond in some cases.

We have eight classrooms and are open Monday – Friday, from 6:15 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Before and after school care and summer camp is available for school-aged children with and without special needs.

Staffing

Each classroom is generally staffed by a teacher and either a second teacher or an assistant. In addition, we have floats and, at times, kitchen help in the Center. In the absence of our regular staff, substitute classroom staff, floats or other program personnel may be used. All substitute staff meet any relevant licensing requirements.

We are also privileged to have people who care enough to make a difference as a volunteer. These volunteers are a part of the team that works together with your child to make Kids Can a positive educational experience. Kids Can volunteers are required to adhere to the same standards of confidentiality as our staff. Our regular CDC volunteers are required to have a TB test and to submit to an Illinois State Police Criminal Background Check (if 18 or over).

The Center Director oversees all program operations.

Classrooms

Kids Can CDC has eight classes to serve children of different ages and abilities.

Classroom

Number Of Children

Ratio Adult:Child

Pooh Bears

8

1:4

Tadpoles

8

1:4

Leapfrogs

10

1:5

Busy Bees

12

1:8

Big Birds

12

1:10

Wild Things

20

1:10

Adventurers

20

1:20

Preschool (part-day)

20

1:10

Enrollment

Pre-Registration

Inquiries are accepted over the telephone and in person at Starved Rock Center’s main office at 1013 Adams Street, Ottawa, Illinois. Parents and guardians will be offered an opportunity to tour the building.

Although tours may be conducted anytime that we are open, we recommend that you do not tour between 12:00 and 2:30 as many of our children are either preparing for sleep or sleeping during that time.

We frequently have a waiting list for the CDC. Children on the waiting list are generally prioritized as follows: (a) children with special needs, (b) children with siblings already in the Center, (c) children of staff members, and (d) all other children. At times, we also need to look at age when prioritizing children on the waiting list. Starved Rock Center reserves the right to take other factors into consideration also. When we are notified of an opening, we will contact the next available family on the waiting list. Openings in the Center can be held for no longer than five days after notification of openings. If we do not hear from the family within that time, we will move onto the next family.

Part-Time Care

Priority is given to children attending full-time (five days per week). Slots for part-time care will be filled only if full-time children are not available. Part-time care of less than four days per week is considered temporary and their slot may be replaced by a family requesting full-time care.

In such a case, and if space allows, the part-time family will be allowed to become full-time. If they choose not to do so, we will terminate care after giving at least two weeks’ notice.

Short Term Child Care/Emergency Child Care

Short-term child care services are available with prior approval from the Center Director when appropriate space is available. This service is not available for children who are sick. Nor is it available during days when school is in session for children who are enrolled in school. Payment for short-term day care is due on or before the day of service.

Child Care Assistance Program

Kids Can CDC participates in the State of Illinois’ Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Although Starved Rock Center will fax and/or mail documents upon request, parents and guardians are responsible for applying for CCAP and following all CCAP requirements.

Starved Rock Center staff can assist you by giving you an estimate of what you may owe if you are approved for the Child Care Assistance Program. However, please be aware that this is only an estimate. Your account will be modified based on the final decision made by the State of Illinois.

Families will be charged the full amount of tuition until such time as the State makes a decision on an application. In addition, full tuition will be charged upon termination from CCAP. Once we receive a decision from the State of Illinois, we will credit your account based on the State’s decision. We will charge for co-pay and the difference between what the State pays and what we normally charge.

Preschool

In addition to our child care services, Kids Can Child Development Center also provides a separate part-day preschool program for children ages three to Kindergarten.

The preschool operates September – May from 8:45 – 11:45. Parents have the choice of enrolling their child two, three, or five days a week. Kids Can’s mission is to provide a loving environment for all children that is conducive to good development, exploration, imagination and cooperation.

For more information, please call 815-434-0857 or email info@starvedrockcenter.org.