Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Open 24/7
always available
Advocating for Quality Child Care in Illinois
Since 1969, Action For Children has been a leading advocate for child care providers, families, and children across Illinois. Our mission centers on creating safe, healthy, and sustainable environments for early childhood development through comprehensive programs, research-driven advocacy, and community engagement. With decades of experience, we provide professional development opportunities, funding resources, and quality improvement initiatives to support child care providers and educators.Our expertise in early childhood systems, policy guidance, and direct service delivery has positioned us as a trusted authority in advancing equitable access to high-quality child care and education. Committed to transparency and client-centric solutions, we collaborate with communities, policymakers, and stakeholders to ensure every child receives the foundational support needed to thrive.
Services
Child Care Assistance
Professional Development
Mental Health Consultation
Quality Improvement Funding
Healthy Food Program
Advocacy & Policy Guidance
Research & Data Analysis
Parent Education
Accreditation Support
Community Partnerships
Details
- Year established: 1969
Highlights and features
- We have over 50 years of experience advocating for child care equity.
- Our programs support 200,000+ children and families annually.
- We provide research-driven policy guidance to state leaders.
- Our team includes certified early childhood specialists and consultants.
- We offer free mental health and quality improvement services to providers.
Services
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Our free mental health consultation services provide child care providers with expert guidance to address behavioral challenges and improve classroom environments. Consultants offer training, resource materials, and individualized strategies to support children aged birth to five. This service helps reduce stress for educators while promoting emotional well-being for young children in care settings.
Professional Development Training
We offer comprehensive training programs for early childhood educators, including health and safety certifications, accreditation preparation, and leadership development. Our courses help providers meet licensing requirements while enhancing their skills in child development and classroom management. Training stipends and funding assistance are available to support professional growth.
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
As the largest CCAP administrator in Cook County, we help low-income families access affordable child care through state-funded subsidies. Our program connects families with licensed providers and assists providers with application processes, funding access, and compliance support to ensure quality care for eligible children.
Healthy Food Program
This federally funded program reimburses home-based providers for serving nutritious meals to children. Participants receive monthly payments, nutrition education, and sample menus while meeting USDA dietary guidelines. The program promotes healthy eating habits and financial sustainability for providers serving children in their homes.
Quality Improvement Initiatives
Our quality specialists provide free coaching, environmental assessments, and accreditation assistance to help child care centers achieve ExceleRate Illinois standards. Services include training on best practices, documentation reviews, and customized improvement plans to elevate program quality and recognition.
People
Sylvia Cotton
Founder
Sylvia Cotton founded Action For Children in 1969 to address child care inequities. Her vision created lasting systemic changes in early childhood education and advocacy across Illinois.
Deborah Chalmers
Director of Early Childhood Mental Health
Deborah Chalmers leads mental health consultation services, providing expert support to child care providers. With decades of experience, she specializes in improving early childhood mental health outcomes through direct consultation and program development.
Questions
What child care assistance programs do you offer?
We administer the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and provide funding opportunities, accreditation support, and quality improvement resources for providers and families.
How can providers access professional development?
Providers can enroll in our training courses, apply for funding stipends, and access free consultation services to enhance their skills and program quality.
Do you offer mental health support for child care providers?
Yes, our free Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Services help providers address behavioral challenges and improve classroom environments for children birth to five.
What is the Healthy Food Program?
This program reimburses home-based providers for serving nutritious meals to children, offering monthly payments and nutrition education to support healthy eating habits.
How do you advocate for policy changes?
We conduct research, publish policy guides, and collaborate with legislators to drive systemic improvements in Illinois' early childhood care and education systems.
