THERAPEUTIC CHILD CARE CENTER, NFP
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHEN WILL YOU OPEN?
We are currently in our Capital Campaign to raise enough funds to rent/purchase a building and begin construction. Once we have a facility, we will begin the process of obtaining DCFS licensing, which can take 12-18 months in Illinois. Realistically, we are probably looking at opening doors for children in 2025. Here's to hoping it's much earlier!
CAN MY CHILD RECEIVE THERAPY HERE?
We do not provide one-on-one services; therefore, enrollment in our daycare center does NOT replace individualized therapies. Each child’s therapists are welcome to conduct their one-on-one sessions at our center, either in the classroom or pulled out to one of our therapy rooms. Our goal is to be a “bridge” between daycare and therapy, striving to communicate with each child’s team so we can keep individual goals at the forefront of all we do. Think of us as a traditional daycare but with more teachers who can spend a lot of time practicing the skills the children learn in therapy.
WHO TEACHES THE CHILDREN?
Our classes are taught by teachers, who are coached by the therapist on site, and the curriculum is developed in collaboration with therapists. Our Advisory Board consists of parents and specialists from each profession to address all areas of development. The onsite pediatric occupational therapist will provide ongoing training to the teachers and ensure communication with each child's therapeutic team.
HOW MUCH IS TUITION?
We have taken the average of tuition rates at other local daycares to provide a cost that is comparable to any traditional child care center. We don’t want cost to be a factor when families are deciding whether their child can have a supportive environment. However, to fund the therapeutic equipment and required supports, and to obtain the necessary low student-to-teacher ratios, we will rely on fundraising to make up the gap.
WILL YOU ENROLL CHILDREN WITHOUT DISABILITIES?
Inclusion is at the forefront of our minds as we plan our curriculum and classroom setup. We believe that ALL kids benefit from being in a classroom with a variety of needs. However, due to the nature of the start-up phase, we may start with enrollment for children with disabilities ONLY, and eventually work toward becoming a center for all children. Stay tuned as we fine tune our final plans.
