CCRS

10/13/2026

Some helpful opportunities coming up in Vermilion County!
To register for the employer workshop: https://members.vermilionadvantage.com/eventcalendar/Details/beyond-the-benefits-package-childcare-solutions-for-employers-1930378?sourceTypeId=Hub
To register for the parent workshop:
https://members.vermilionadvantage.com/eventcalendar/Details/child-care-101-finding-and-affording-care-in-vermilion-county-1930386?sourceTypeId=Hub

10/05/2026

CCRS has 4 job openings. You can apply until October 20th. The website to apply is https://humanresources.illinois.edu/job-seekers/.

Join the over 31,000 faculty and staff along with the 56,000 students that make up the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign!

10/02/2026

Great news! The Grant funding opportunities are now available. This is for CCRS counties including Champaign, Douglas, Iroquois, Macon, Piatt, and Vermilion. You can find the grant fund documents on our website at https://ccrs.illinois.edu/for-providers/quality-funding-opportunities/.

If you have been paid in the past and filled out the vendor information form over a year ago, please email [email protected] (attention Brenda) to get your vendor form updated. This will make your payments quicker when you submit a grant reimbursement form.

Grants include:
*FA/CPR at 100% reimbursement
*Health & Safety Improvement Funds for license-exempt providers to use for materials and equipment needed.
*Quality Improvement Funds
*Individual Professional Development Funds for trainings, travel, and lodging fees. These are at 80% reimbursement.
*Child Care Start-Up Grants for home and center providers who are in the process of becoming licensed.

If you have questions, please let us know.

10/02/2026

A great training opportunity at Richland!

09/24/2026

09/23/2026

IDEC is looking for parents and caregivers in Douglas Co for a community conversation to share feedback on Family Engagement Framework.

09/17/2026

09/15/2026

IN-PERSON TRAININGS FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS

Below are the trainings that we are offering in-person in September and October:

Emergency Preparedness

Thursday, September 24, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Rantoul Public Library, 106 W. Flessner Ave., Rantoul, 2.0 Training Hours FREE

Presenter: Christina Reifsteck, Deputy Chief of Administration, Rantoul Police Department

Scripted Stories: Pyramid Model Targeted Social-Emotional Supports

Tuesday, October 20, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Happi Time Day Care, 1010 Stratford Dr., Champaign, 2.0 Training Hours FREE

Presenter: Kari Britton, Director, Happi Time Day Care

Join us as we learn to use scripted stories to teach problem solving with child-centered solutions and calm down techniques focused on developing deep breathing strategies.

Scripted Stories: Pyramid Model Targeted Social-Emotional Supports Scripted Stories

Thursday, October 22, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Rantoul Public Library, 106 W. Flessner Ave., Rantoul2.0 Training Hours FREE

Presenter: Kari Britton, Director, Happi Time Daycare

Join us as we learn to use scripted stories to teach problem solving with child-centered solutions and calm down techniques focused on developing deep breathing strategies.

Contact Jenny Garinger at [email protected] to register.

09/15/2026

ZOOM CLASSES BEING OFFERED
Below are the trainings that we are offering through Zoom in October:

Put the Pencil Down and Play: The Importance of Play Over Worksheets in Early Childhood

Thursday, October 8, from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, 2 Training Hours FREE

Presenter: Christina Nojd, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Owner of Reflections in Bloom

In early childhood education, play is not just a break from learning it is the learning. This training challenges the overuse of worksheets in early childhood classrooms and highlights the critical role of hands-on, play-based experiences in promoting development. Participants will explore how play supports cognitive, social-emotional, and physical growth, and learn how to align playful activities with early learning standards and developmental goals. The session includes practical strategies for replacing pencil-and-paper tasks with meaningful, engaging play that honors how young children learn best.

NapChat: TAP Tuesday: What is Autism?

Tuesday, October 13, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 1 Training Hour FREE

Presenters: Adrienne Shockley and Cassie Alpers, Assistant Directors, The Autism Program

In the first of a three-part training series, this training titled, “What is Autism?” will provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (autism spectrum condition). Facilitators will discuss the diagnostic criteria for autism, what autism can look like across the lifespan, and the prevalence of autism diagnoses in the United States.

Contact Jenny Garinger at [email protected] to register.

If you prefer to do trainings on your own schedule, remember the Gateways i-learning website is always available: https://courses.inccrra.org. These trainings are Gateways Registry-approved and cover a variety of child development and early childhood education topics. Trainings automatically appear on your Gateways Registry Professional Development Record (PDR), and they are FREE. Be sure to have your Gateways Registry online username and password to login.