CareersEarly care and education and school-age and youth development practitioners work in a variety of programs and settings in Illinois. Some typical settings, programs, and roles are listed below. Links to information about employment opportunities and salary levels are provided in some of the descriptions. National statistics and information are available at the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site. We work hard to keep the following information up to date, but the early care and education landscape in Illinois is constantly changing. If you notice an error or omission, please let us know. Child Care CentersDescription: Child care centers provide care and education for groups of children in a range of settings outside the home. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) licenses most child care programs to insure that health, safety, space, and staffing requirements are met. Child care center programs typically offer full-day and part-day programs. Some child care centers, including those affiliated with churches, public schools, hospitals, and universities, are not required to be licensed by IDCFS. More information on state licensing regulations for child care centers can be found in Part 407 of the Illinois Administrative Code. Roles: Director, Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Teacher Aide, Education Coordinator Child Care Resource & ReferralDescription: Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies are community organizations supported by local and state funds that provide child care referrals, offer consumer education to parents regarding high-quality child care, administer child care subsidies for eligible families, track child care supply and demand, provide training and technical assistance to early childhood practitioners, work with communities to assess community child care needs, and recruit new child care providers. More information on CCR&R Services can be found in the Child Care Programs section of the Illinois Quality Counts Web site. Roles: Parent Counselor, Subsidy Specialist, Training Coordinator, Child Care Nurse Consultant, Infant Toddler Specialist Early Childhood Higher EducationDescription: Accredited colleges and universities offer coursework and degree programs in early childhood fields of study. For more information on early childhood higher education, visit the Higher Education Institution Directory on this Web site. Roles: Professor, Adjunct Professor, Instructor Early Childhood Special EducationDescription: Early childhood special education services are provided in the range of settings listed under Child Care Center and Family Child Care above. Illinois provides pre-kindergarten programs for At Risk children and families as well as pre-kindergarten programs funded by Preschool for All that serve families with children who do not have disabilities. In all states, educating 3- to 5-year-old children with disabilities is the responsibility of the state education agency and the local schools. At the infant toddler level, the lead agency for early intervention is selected by the governor. In Illinois, the lead agency for the infant toddler program is the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Child Care and Development, with participation from other state agencies, including the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Roles: Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Parent Educator, Principal, Superintendent, Director Early InterventionDescription: Early Intervention is a family-centered statewide program of services and supports for infants and toddlers under 3 years of age who have disabilities or developmental delays, or who are at risk for developmental delays. Early Intervention services are provided to assist eligible children in the development of basic developmental skills. Early-childhood-related practitioners in this program include developmental therapists and parent liaisons. Provider Connections at Western Illinois University offers information about qualifications. Roles: Developmental Therapist, Parent Liaison, Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Infant Mental Health Specialist Family Child CareDescription: Family child care is provided in a home other than the child’s own home. The three types of family child care programs in Illinois are license-exempt homes, licensed homes, and group homes. The number and ages of children cared for as well as staffing and space requirements vary with each type. For more information on family child care regulations, visit the rules page of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Roles: Teacher, Assistant, Group Home Provider Head Start and Early Head StartDescription: Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded, comprehensive child development programs. Head Start serves children from ages 3–5, and their families, while Early Head Start serves pregnant women, children from birth to age 3, as well as their families. Head Start programs have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families Web site provides more information on employment opportunities and qualifications for employment in Head Start and Early Head Start. Roles: Director, Teacher, Head Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Home Visitor, Family Support (or Service) Specialist, Family Resource Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Infant Specialist Healthy Families Illinois and Parents Too SoonDescription: Healthy Families Illinois and Parents Too Soon programs serve new and expectant teen parents to help them develop nurturing relationships with their children, reduce the rate of subsequent pregnancies, improve the health and emotional development of the teen, enhance self-sufficiency, and promote healthy growth and development of the children of teen parents. For more information on these services, which are provided through community-based sites around the state, go to Healthy Families Illinois and Parents too Soon. Roles: Director, Home Visitor, Family Support Worker/Specialist, Program Manager, Supervisor, Child Development Specialist, Group Services Coordinator Hospitals and Other Health Care SettingsDescription: Hospitals and other health care settings, including pediatric physician and dental offices, outpatient clinics, counseling clinics, and other environments that include a pediatric population, often employ child life specialists to help children and their families understand and manage challenging life events and stressful health care experiences. According to an American Academy of Pediatrics Child Care policy statement, the credentials of a certified child life specialist include at least a bachelor's degree in child development and the completion of a child life internship. Child life specialists often develop specific areas of expertise related to the patient population (e.g., infants, oncology patients, and critically ill children) that they serve. Information about the child life profession and certification of child life specialists is available from the Child Life Council, Inc. Information about child life specialist salaries in Illinois is also available. Roles: Child Life Specialist Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS)Description: The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) provides a range of child welfare services in Illinois. IDCFS is responsible for setting standards and licensing day care centers, homes, group homes, and day care agencies in the state. The Department also purchases day care services for individual children. IDCFS provides Protective Service Day Care to children with "indicated" reports of child abuse or neglect and Family Maintenance Day Care services to high-risk families whose children are in open IDCFS cases. Maintenance Day Care services are used to prevent and reduce parental stress that may lead to child abuse or neglect. For more information view the Child Welfare Employment Opportunities brochure from IDCFS. Roles: Day Care Licensing Representative, Program Coordinator, Early Childhood Consultant, Policy Specialist, Program Specialist, Licensing Administrator Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)Description: The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) serves Illinois citizens through seven categories of programs: (1) alcoholism and substance abuse treatment and prevention services; (2) developmental disabilities services; (3) health services for pregnant women and mothers, infants, children, and adolescents; (4) prevention services for domestic violence and at-risk youth; (5) mental health services; (6) rehabilitation services; and (7) welfare programs, including Child Care, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Food Stamps. For more information, visit the Illinois Department of Human Services Web site. Roles: Program Coordinator, Early Care and Education Consultant, Policy Specialist, Program Specialist Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)Description: The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provides leadership, advocacy, and support for the work of school districts, policy makers, and citizens in Illinois. The Early Childhood Education Division of ISBE provides support for programs that focus on children from birth through 8 years old, including the Prevention Initiative/Parent Training, Preschool for All, early intervention for at-risk students, early literacy, and partnerships among schools, communities, and service providers. The Early Childhood Education Division develops and provides support for the Illinois Early Learning Standards and their use in early childhood programs. The Special Education Department of ISBE provides programs and services for students with specialized educational needs. View the Illinois Teacher Salary Study for relevant salary information. Roles: Program Coordinator, Early Childhood Education Consultant, Policy Specialist, Program Specialist In-Home Child CareDescription: Care is provided in the child’s own home, and is not regulated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS). Roles: Nanny, Au Pair Kindergarten–Grade 3Description: Those who wish to teach in Illinois public schools must have a valid teaching certificate from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). More than 50 Illinois colleges and universities prepare teachers and administrators. Comparable teaching certificates from other states may be submitted for a provisional Illinois teaching certificate. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a recognized teacher education institution may also qualify for a substitute-teaching certificate. Roles: Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Parent Educator, Principal, Superintendent, Director Pre-kindergarten at RiskDescription: These state-funded programs provide preschool education programs specifically meant to serve children identified as being at risk for academic failure. State-funded pre-kindergarten programs are typically found in public school settings but can also be housed in Head Start agencies and other child care community-based programs. For more information, go to www.isbe.net/earlychi/default.htm. Roles: Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Parent Educator, Principal, Superintendent, Director, Coordinator Preschool for AllDescription: Illinois Preschool for All funding provides preschool education programs for families with children ages 3–5. These pre-kindergarten programs are located in public school settings, community-based programs (including local, licensed child care centers), as well as Head Start agencies. Roles: Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Parent Educator, Principal, Superintendent, Director, Coordinator Prevention Initiative/Parent TrainingDescription: The Prevention Initiative serves families with children birth to age 3, and the Model Early Childhood Parental Training Initiative serves families with children birth to age 5. These initiatives are part of the state’s Early Childhood Block Grant program targeting children who are at risk for school failure. For more information, go to www.illinois.gov/gov/elc/programs.cfm. Roles: Family Service Worker, Family Resource Coordinator, Case Manager, Parent Educator, Program Coordinator School-Age ProgramsDescription: School-age programs serve children ages 5–12 before or after school and on full days during vacations or summer break. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) licenses most school-age care programs to insure that health, safety, space, and staffing requirements are met. School-age program staff members support children by establishing a safe environment for building relationships and participating in a variety of learning experiences. They may be housed in school-based or center-based settings, such as park district buildings, YMCAs/YWCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other community facilities. The Illinois Afterschool Network can provide additional information regarding school-age opportunities in Illinois. Roles: Director, Recreation Leader, Group Worker, Teacher, Site Coordinator Youth Development ProgramsDescription: Youth development programs allow practitioners to work with or on behalf of youth to facilitate personal, social, and educational development and enable youth to gain influence, a voice, and a place in society as they make the transition from dependence to independence. For more information visit the Illinois Afterschool Network. Roles: Director, Youth Development Practitioner, Youth Leader, Youth Worker |
