Day Care

Two childcare providers described an industry where good intentions run into real financial and bureaucratic walls. At least for now, some left standing in McLean County seem more interested in propping each other up than fighting over what's left.

According to one study, Illinois is losing $6.2 billion a year from people exiting the workforce due to childcare challenges. Experts say a new statewide department dedicated to early childhood is unlikely to provide immediate relief.

A shortage of child care options has worsened in recent months following the closure of Kidsville, Bright Horizons and one of two Cadence Academy locations.

The Bloomington child care center offers infant and toddler daycare, plus preschool and kindergarten prep. The closure further squeezes parents' child care options in the Twin Cities.

The cost of child care in McLean County is now the fourth highest in the state, according to data compiled by the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council.

As more daycare operators leave the field for better-paying jobs, families have fewer child care options, says the union that represents 15,000 providers.

WGLT talks to a Birth to Five Illinois expert to get some advice on how to find child care center and in-home provider options, what you should expect to pay, and how to evaluate the quality of a provider.

Editor’s note: This is the second story in a three-part series about child care issues in central Illinois. Part 1 focused on the cost of care. Part 3…

Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series about child care issues in central Illinois. You can also read Part 2 (on gaps in care) and Part 3…