US DEPT of HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES Afterschool Report for Illinois

State Profile | Illinois IL Profile in PDF Format

The Afterschool Investments project has developed profiles for each state and territory to provide a snapshot of the "state of afterschool," as well as an opportunity to compare afterschool activities across the country. This profile provides key data and descriptions of the afterschool landscape, which includes a range of out-of-school time programming that can occur before and after school, on weekends, and during summer months. It is designed to serve as a resource for policymakers, administrators, and providers. Quick Facts Key School-Age Activities Supported with CCDF Funds Statewide Initiatives Notable Local Initiatives Statewide Organizations Additional Resources Notes and Sources Quick Facts Demographics Total population, 2009: 12,910,409 Number of children ages 5-12, 2009: 1,390,453 Percent of population, 2009: 10.8% Percent of school-age children (ages 5-17) below 185% poverty/eligible for free and reduced-price lunch:2008: 33.2% Number of children, ages 6-12, in low-income working families, 2008: 267,000 For more demographic information, visit http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/statepro/index.html Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) CCDF Administrative Overview Administering agency: Illinois Department of Human Services, Human Capital Development Services Total FFY10 federal and state CCDF funds: $334,260,804 FFY10 total federal share: $205,937,379 FFY10 state MOE plus match: $128,323,425 FFY10 School Age & Resource and Referral Targeted Funds: $655,416 FFY10 Tribal CCDF Allocation: $0 FFY08 Total Quality Expenditures: $43,514,083 FFY08 Percent of children receiving CCDF subsidies who are ages 5-12: 50.0% Settings Where CCDF-Subsidy school age-children are served: In a center based setting 24% By group homes 1% By family homes 47% In home 28% Provider Reimbursement Rates Maximum rate for center-based school-age category: $14.25/day Notes: Rates vary by groups of counties. Rates for Group IA (Cook, DuPage, Kendall, Lake, and McHenry counties) are given. Maximum rate for family child care school-age category: $12.00/day Maximum rate for license exempt school-age category: $12.75/day Are separate subsidy rates established for different age ranges? No Tiered Reimbursement Rate System: The state will implement a voluntary quality rating and tiered reimbursement system in 2008. Eligible child care programs will be licensed and licensed exempt family child care homes that receive reimbursement from the subsidy program. The system will be multi-tiered and providers will need to demonstrate or meet specific indicators of quality at one of the progressive levels. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Care FFY08 state TANF transfer to CCDF: $0 FFY08 TANF direct spending on child care: $168,034,659 Program Licensing Policies Are there separate licensing standards governing the care of school-age children? No Are there specialized requirements for center-based care for school-age children? Yes Ratio of children to adults in school-age centers: 20:1 Systems/Quality Supports Which of the following quality supports are in place for school-age practitioners? Credentials No Core Competencies No Program Standards No Does the state have a Trainer/Training Registry? Yes Has a statewide quality rating system been developed? No Is there a statewide afterschool network in place? Yes; Illinois After-school Partnership; http://www.illinoisafterschool.net 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) FY09 state formula grant amount: $43,572,569 Most recent competition: July 2009 Applications funded: 68 Total first year grant awards: $23,980,880 Fiscal agent type: 38% school district 62% other Licensing required? No Return to top Key School-Age Activities Supported with CCDF Funds Quality Improvement Systems: Funds support the work of Making the Most of Out-of-School Time (MOST) and the Illinois AfterSchool Network (IAN). MOST and IAN support school-age care by expanding the amount of care available, and improving its quality through consumer education and technical assistance to parents, providers and communities. Professional Development and Workforce: Professional development activities, including conferences, are also made available to providers. Health and Safety:Equipment/Facility Improvement Grants to child care programs through a competitive RFP process. Awards vary from $100 to $12,000 depending on provider type and program capacity. These grants may be used for materials, equipment and/or facility improvements. Child care centers and family child care homes serving school-age children are eligible to apply for these grants. Return to top Statewide Initiatives Illinois Afterschool Youth Development Program Act. The Illinois General Assembly passed the Illinois Afterschool Youth Development Program Act, which will create a framework for coordinating and strengthening afterschool services in Illinois. The legislation will also establish the Illinois Youth Development Council, which would be the mechanism to create accountability for afterschool programs. Additionally, the Council would develop standard measurable indicators of program quality and successful outcomes, collect and analyze data on the effectiveness of state and locally supported programs, increase program participation and quality by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and program evaluation and monitoring, and identify and address gaps in service. The Act will implement a three-year Afterschool Demonstration Program that will evaluate the impact, outcomes, and cost of quality afterschool programs, while simultaneously strengthening participating programs. ACT Now! – (Afterschool For Children and Teens). ACT Now is a campaign to give all young people in Illinois access to quality afterschool programs. It is supported by Illinois families, educators, business leaders, community advocates, youth organizations, and government. The goal of the campaign is to increase the public commitment to young people beyond the traditional school day in order to encourage their growth into productive, health adults. The ACT Now! campaign drafted and lead the way for passage of the Illinois Afterschool Youth Development Program Act. For more information on ACT Now! please visit the following website: http://actnowillinois.org/ After-school Funding Policy Task Force. In 2007, the Illinois General Assembly established, through House Resolution 384, an After-School Funding Policy Task Force. The Task Force was charged to develop policy recommendations for the afterschool, mentoring, and student support line item in the State Board of Education’s budget and to ensure adequate support for the administering agency to fund program monitoring, data collection, and accountability. The Illinois After-School Funding Policy Task Force was convened in February 2008 by the Illinois After-School Partnership and issued its report in August of 2008. The Task Force recommended that children, youth and families would be best served in the future by an expanded, permanent line item for afterschool program funding to address the unmet need for afterschool services and to develop a stable, coordinated funding system for all afterschool programs. In the short term, the recommendations that were developed provide a structure of support, sustainability and accountability for afterschool programs supported with funding in the current system. These recommendations provide a framework for quality and accountability that can be used across funding streams. Recommendations were made in the following areas: Structure of Programming Outcomes Qualifying Services Administration of Funds Staff and volunteer qualifications Accountability Funding Rulemaking Read the Illinois After-school Task Force report at http://www.illinoisafterschool.net/taskforce.asp. For more information on the After-school Funding Policy Task Force, contact Wendy Chill at 312-986-9200 ext. 229 or wchill@icvp.org. Illinois After-School Partnership. In 2003, the Mott Foundation awarded a grant to the Illinois Center for Violence Prevention to establish and sustain a statewide network to support afterschool programs in Illinois. Co-chaired by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois After-School Partnership is a statewide coalition of public and private entities with a vested interest in afterschool. The Partnership is working to implement the recommendations of the Illinois Afterschool Initiative Task Force. Workgroups have been established for professional development, policy, inter-agency collaboration, and outcome and evaluation. These workgroups have gathered data and are developing tools to enhance the professional development system in Illinois, to build the capacity of programs to measure their outcomes, to increase coordination across state agencies, and to document the need for increased funding for afterschool. For more information, see http://www.illinoisafterschool.net. Teen REACH. The Department of Human Services administers and funds the Teen REACH program. In FY 2010, Teen REACH was appropriated $15.7 million. Teen REACH provides structured activities for teens during non-school hours to prevent their involvement in gangs, alcohol and drug use, sexual activity, teen pregnancy, and other problems. The program was originally funded with federal TANF funds and is currently operating with state general funds. Teen REACH targets youth ages 6 to 17 that live in Illinois’ most needy communities and come from families receiving public assistance. For more information, see http://www.cprd.uiuc.edu/teenreach Bridges for Learning. The Illinois State Board of Education administers the Summer Bridges program, an extended learning program designed to improve the reading, writing, and mathematics skills of students from pre-kindergarten through grade 6 in districts where a significant number of students do not meet state learning standards. The bulk of the program’s funding, $20.7 million in FY 2010, is from state funds, and the remainder, is federal funding. Districts provide a local contribution and agree to integrate the summer bridges literacy framework into the regular school year. For more information, see http://www.isbe.state.il.us/sos/htmls/summerbridges.htm School Age and Youth Credential. The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, through the Professional Development Advisory Council (PDAC), continues to support the development of the School Age and Youth Development credential. School-age and youth (SAY) development practitioners, higher education faculty and state agency and program representatives through the leadership team and PDAC committee structure have driven the development work to date, including: A final draft of content areas that indicates the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to work in this field. Preliminary drafts of curriculum for the Level 1 School Age and Youth Development Credential. This credential is intended to be at an awareness level and introduce key concepts of family and community relationships, programming and professional development to those interested or currently in the field. Each element of the Credential development and access to resources has been embedded in to Gateways to Opportunity, Illinois Professional Development System. Key components of the professional development system include Quality Assurance, Access and Outreach, Core Knowledge, Qualifications and Credentials, and Financial Support. This project is supported in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Bureau of Child Care and Development. SAY members continue their involvement with the Career Pathways Project, a national group reviewing the development of career pathways for youth workers hosted through the National Collaboration for Youth and the National Institute on Out-of-School-Time. Return to top Notable Local Initiatives In Chicago, approximately 400,000 youth participate in out-of-school time activities administered by several city departments, ranging from the Chicago Park District to the Chicago Department of Human Services. The city is also spearheading an effort to improve the quality of activities for youth and track the programs available in the city’s neighborhoods. The Wallace Foundation awarded an infrastructure building grant to Chicago. Received and lauded by the mayor, the three year grant of $8 million was used to fund a support, tracking, and evaluation system for Chicago’s continuing programs oriented towards teenagers. In 2000, Chicago’s First Lady brought together representatives from the Chicago Public Schools, the Park District, and the Public Library to create After School Matters (ASM), provides youth ages 14 to 21 with more than 600 programs that develop authentic workplace skills and help them explore careers. The city’s parks, libraries, family and support services and cultural affairs departments join more than 100 community organizations and 63 schools in partnering with ASM to create 30,000 program slots for youth throughout the city. Either directly or in partnership with other agencies and community groups, ASM runs programs primarily at local parks, libraries and schools, with support from a blend of city and private funding. The Lake County Afterschool Coalition is a coalition of community leaders dedicated to increasing access to quality afterschool and youth development programs based on each community’s needs and resources. Members of the Coalition include elected officials, police chiefs, park district directors, community organizations, and educators. The Coalition is working to draw awareness to the need for programs, improve coordination and efficient use of existing resources, and promote programs to fill gaps where needs are not being met. This effort has been spearheaded by a state Representative and Chief of Police, and its initial development was supported by staff from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois and the Illinois Afterschool Alliance at the Illinois Center for Violence Prevention. Return to top Statewide Organizations National AfterSchool Association Affiliate: Illinois Afterschool Network. 901 South Ninth Street Springfield, IL 62703 Phone: 217-953-4265 Toll Free: 866-369-0236 Web: http://www.ianetwork.org Statewide Child Care Resource & Referral Network: INCCRRA, Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies 1226 Towanda Plaza Bloomington, IL 61701-3424 Phone: 309-829-5327 Toll Free: 800-649-1884 Fax: 309-828-1808 Web: http://www.inccrra.org/ Statewide Afterschool Network: Illinois After-school Partnership 70 East Lake Street, Suite 720 Chicago, IL 60601 Phone: 312-986-9200 Web: http://www.illinoisafterschool.net Return to top Additional Resources State Child Care Administrators: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccdf State TANF Contacts: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/states/tanf-dr.htm 21st Century Community Learning Centers Contacts: http://www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/contacts.html Return to top Notes and Sources Demographics Total population, 2009: Annual Estimates of the Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009, U.S. Census Bureau. Number of children ages 5-12, 2009: Estimates of the Resident Population by Single-Year of Age and Sex for the United States and States: July 1, 2007, U.S. Census Bureau. Percent of school-age children (ages 5-17) below 185% poverty/ eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, 2008: POV46. Poverty Status by State Table: 2008, Current Population Survey, 2009 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, U.S. Census Bureau. Number of children, ages 6-12, in low-income working families, 2008: Children in low-income working families by age group (Number) - 2008, National KIDS COUNT Program, Data Source: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. Child Care and Development Fund The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is the largest federal funding source for child care. States, tribes and territories receive a funding allocation determined by formula and have broad flexibility to design programs that provide child care subsidies for low-income children under the age of 13 and to enhance the quality of child care for all children. Federal CCDF funding consists of mandatory, matching, and discretionary funds. Federal law requires that states spend at least 4 percent of their CCDF funds as well as additional targeted funds on activities to improve the quality and availability of child care. CCDF administrative data in this and the following sections is from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care, as reported by states, tribes and territories, unless otherwise noted. FFY10 CCDF Allocation: Funding allocations are based on appropriation and do not reflect any reallotted or redistributed funds that may occur at a later date. FFY10 state MOE plus match: In order to receive Federal matching funds, a state must expend Maintenance of Effort funds. Note that this does not capture actual expenditures, only the minimum required to draw down all available federal funds. FFY10 Tribal CCDF Allocation: Federal CCDF Funds are awarded directly to Federally-recognized Indian Tribes. FFY08 total quality expenditures: This data includes FY08 and prior year funds expended for quality from each of the CCDF funding streams (mandatory, matching, and discretionary) and expenditures under targeted funds for infant and toddler, school-age care and resource and referral. This figure provides information obtained from state financial reports submitted for FY08. Maximum rates for school-age category: Rates are listed for center-based care, family child care, and license exempt programs; where rates vary by region or county, the rate for the most populated urban area is given. Standardized monthly school-age rate: Monthly rate for a child, age 8, in care after school during the school year at a center in the most costly district for four hours per day, 20 days per month. Calculated (in the lowest tier of a tiered system) using information from the FY2010-2011 State CCDF Plan, including rate structures, as submitted to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Separate subsidy rates for different age ranges and Tiered Reimbursement Rate Systems: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Child Care. Report of State Plans FY2010-2011. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Care In addition to spending TANF funds directly on child care, a state may transfer up to 30 percent of its TANF grant to CCDF. Expenditures represent TANF funds spent in FY09 that were awarded in FY09 and prior years. Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/data/2009/table_a1_2009.html. Program Licensing Policies States with separate school-age licensing standards and states with specialized requirements for child care centers serving school-age children: National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC) and National Association for Regulatory Administration, 2007 Child Care Licensing Study, see: http://www.naralicensing.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=160. Ratio of children to adults in school-age centers: Data from NCCIC, available at: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov. Types of school-age programs and exemptions from licensing standards: Research conducted by Afterschool Investments, March 2008. Systems/Quality Supports Quality supports for school-age practitioners: Research by Afterschool Investments, 2010. Statewide quality rating system: NCCIC, Quality Rating Systems: Definitions and Statewide Systems, see: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/qrs-defsystems.html. Statewide afterschool network: National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks, see: http://www.statewideafterschoolnetworks.net/. 21st Century Community Learning Centers The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program is a state formula grant. Funds flow to states based on their share of Title I, Part A funds. Data from the U.S. Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers Office and the 21st CCLC Profile and Performance Information Collection System as of October 2010, see: http://ppics.learningpt.org/ppics/public.asp. Return to top The Office of Child Care awarded a technical assistance contract to ICF International, in partnership with The Finance Project, for the Afterschool Investments project (AIP). The goals of AIP include: Identifying ways that states, territories, tribes and communities are using Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subsidy and quality dollars to support school-age programs, and sharing these practices and approaches; Identifying administrative and implementation issues related to CCDF investments in school-age programs, and providing information and context (about barriers, problems, opportunities) as well as practical tools that will help CCDF administrators make decisions; and Identifying other major programs and sectors that are potential partners for CCDF in supporting school-age programs, and providing models, strategies and tools for coordination with other programs and sectors. Contact Us: Email: afterschool@financeproject.org Web: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/afterschool/ ICF International Inc. 9300 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22031 Phone: 703-934-3000 Web: www.icfi.com The Finance Project 1401 New York Avenue, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-587-1000 Web: www.financeproject.org The Afterschool Investments project’s State and Territory Profiles are designed to provide a comprehensive overview of noteworthy State/Territory and local initiatives across the country. Inclusion of an initiative in the Profiles does not represent an endorsement of a particular policy or practice.