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License-Exempt Family Child Care Providers and the Quality Counts QRSFor license-exempt family child care providers, there are three tiers of training to achieve for the Illinois Quality Counts Quality Rating System (QRS). Providers completing Training Tiers receive a QRS Training Tier certificate. Providers caring for Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) children receive a quality bonus of 10%, 15%, or 20% to the standard payment for CCAP children in care. Completing each Training Tier is an accomplishment to share with families served and the community. What does this training consist of? Training at each Tier includes 3 hour modules from the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity ECE Credential Level 1, and covers health, safety, nutrition, child development, and much more. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency offers all the training modules. By completing all 3 QRS Training Tiers, providers are then eligible to apply for the Gateways ECE Credential Level 1. How many training sessions are there to attend? QRS Training Tiers 1 & 2 each have 4 modules, Tier 3 has 8 modules. Each module consists of 3 hours of training. In fiscal year 2012 (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012) training sessions are offered at no cost. When do I apply to the Quality Counts QRS if I am a License-Exempt Family Child Care Provider? You, as the primary caregiver, must attend a free QRS Orientation offered by your local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agency. Please check with your local CCR&R for training times and dates. QRS has three Training Tiers for license-exempt family child care providers to complete. Before a provider can apply for QRS, the first Training Tier must be completed. Eligible providers receive a QRS Training Tier certificate for the Tier achieved. Providers caring for Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) children receive a quality bonus of 10%, 15%, or 20% to the payment rate for CCAP children in care. How do I apply for the Quality Counts QRS? You submit a Quality Counts QRS application to the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (INCCRRA). There is no fee to apply for QRS. Applications may be obtained by downloading the form below or calling 1-866-697-8278. Once your application has been received and documentation approved, you will receive a QRS Training Tier certificate and an add-on bonus for any CCAP children in care. |