Search: Provider Services Index (Professional Development) > Quality Rating System Specialist Quality Counts Quality Rating System Have you heard about the new statewide Quality Rating System (QRS)? The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) began implementation of this new system as of July 1, 2007 to increase the quality of child care for children and families eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). QRS is available to License-Exempt Family Child Care Providers (LEFCC), Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) Licensed Family/Group Home Child Care Providers and IDCFS Licensed Child Care Centers caring for children eligible for CCAP. To be eligible for QRS a provider must meet specific eligibility requirements based on the type of care they offer. License Exempt Family Child Care Providers need to complete specific training requirements in order to become eligible for a QRS 1 3 Training Tier Levels with add-on rates ranging from 10% to 20%. Licensed Family Child Care Providers, Licensed Group Home Child Care Providers, and Licensed Child Care Centers need to be IDCFS licensed and meet specific indicators of quality based on the following: learning environment, program design/management and provider qualifications/training, to become eligible for a 1- 4 Star Levels with add-on rates ranging from 5% to 20%. Quality Rating System Specialist The Child Care resource + Referral Quality Rating System Specialists will provide child care providers working with families participating in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) with technical assistance, consultation, and education regarding the IDHS Quality Rating System. To assist Licensed Exempt Family Child Care in meeting Training Tiers 1-3 the specialist will provide specialty mailings, phone consultations, conduct welcome visits (by provider invitation only), refer providers to trainings that meet the training tier requirements, as well as training information and/or referral to CPR/First Aid and Developmental Screening. To assist Licensed Family Child Care Homes and Group Homes and Licensed Centers in meeting 1- 4 Star Levels, the specialist will provide phone consultation, mailings and/or trainings to introduce: QRS required trainings (Quality Rating System Orientation, An Introduction to the Environment Rating Scale (ERS), Program Administration Scale (PAS) or the Business Administration Scale (BAS) training opportunities. Great START, Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program, CCR+R professional development funds, and Quality Counts grants. Accreditation. Additional training opportunities to meet additional training requirements. Information on Developmental screening information. And to observe programs (by provider invitation only) to support their use of the required assessment tools. Contact: (800) 467-9200. Michele Denton Ext. 126 Mdenton@childrenshomeandaid.org Janice Moenster Ext. 135 jmoenste@childrenshomeandaid.org Shari Schweppe-Streiler Ext. 124 Sstreile@childrenshomeandaid.org Back to top