Though care in your own home is not regulated by the Department, it works well for many families. These questions are answered in this brochure. Standards in Illinois Illinois has specific licensing standards for home and center child care to protect children. They set basic health and safety procedures and standards for program and staff, and they require each home and center to have enough capable adults to give children the attention and care you, as a parent, want them to have. They also set requirements for age-appropriate activities, nutrition, discipline, space, equipment, supplies, policies and records.
Licensed providers know what they have to do to comply with the law.
As a parent, you will want to ask questions about how your child will be cared for. One of your first questions should be whether that facility is licensed. Although not all facilities are required to be licensed, you will want to look at every facility for the minimum health, safety, Caregiver and program standards covered by licensing. Family Child Care Home Family child care is care for your child in a caregiver's home. Some family child care homes require a license, others don't.