IRS: Tips to protect yourself from scammers

Esenciales de Noticias Noticias en Español Consejos Tributarios del Cuidado de Salud Oficina de Prensa Fraudes Tributarios Alrededor de la Nación Temas de Interés IRS.gov/Español   Consejos Tributarios Centro Multimediático Hojas de Datos Recursos del IRS Medios Sociales y el IRS Contacto de Mi Oficina Local Formularios y Publicaciones Defensor del Contribuyente Los Derechos del Contribuyente

Special Edition IRS tax advice 2015-18SP In this edition IRS urges the public to be alert for fraudulent calls The IRS continues to warn consumers to protect themselves against fraudulent phone calls of thieves trying to steal their money or identity. Imposters posing as the IRS to trick victims and get your money or personal information. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of these scams: The scammers make unexpected calls. Thieves call taxpayers and tell them to be IRS officials. They require that the victim pay a bill of false tax. They defraud the victim demanding to send them cash, usually through a prepaid debit card or bank transfer. They also leave "urgent" messages returned the phone call through "robo-calls" (prerecorded voices), or through emails called phishing. Thieves callers try to scare their victims. Many phone scams use threats to intimidate and harass a victim to pay. They may even threaten to arrest, deport or revoke the license of their victims if they don´t receive the money. Scammers use a fake ID calls. Scammers often alter the caller ID to make it look as if the IRS or other agency is calling. Callers use titles IRS and false identification numbers that look legitimate. They can use the name, address and other personal information of the victim to the call ring official. The scammers always use new tricks. Some schemes provide an actual IRS address where they say the victim to mail a receipt of payment made. Others use emails containing a false document with the IRS phone number or email address to respond. These scams often use letterhead with the IRS logo in emails or mail they send to their victims. They use these strategies to look official. The scams have cost to the victims more than $ 23 million. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or (TIGTA for its acronym in English), has received reports of about 736,000 contact scam since October 2013. Nearly 4,550 victims have altogether paid more than $ 23 million as a result of fraud.  The IRS does not: Will call and demand an immediate payment. The IRS will not call if you owe taxes without having sent an invoice by mail. Will require that you pay taxes without allow ask or appeal the amount due. Will required to pay their taxes in a certain way. For example, telling you pay with a debit card pre-paid. Will ask your credit card number or debit card through the phone Threatening to report you to the police or other agencies in order to arrest you for failure to pay.  If you don´t owe taxes or have no reason to think that:  Do not give any information. Hang up immediately. Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA, for its acronym in English). Use the IRS website Impersonation Scam Reporting. You can also call the 800-366-4484. Report also the Federal Trade Commission about the incident. Use the Wizard option FTC Complaint in FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the report comments.  If you know that you owe money, or think it:  Call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS representatives can help you.  The scammers phone calls first tried to defraud the elderly, new immigrants to the US and those who speak English as a second language. Now the thieves trying to scam everyone. They have defrauded people in every state in the nation.  Be alert to scams that use the IRS as a hook. Tax frauds can happen at any time of year, not only in the tax season. For more information, visit Tax Fraud / Problems Alert on IRS.gov.  Each and every one of the contributors have a set of fundamental rights that should know when dealing with the IRS. These are the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Explore your rights and our obligations to protect on IRS.gov.  IRS YouTube Videos: • Tax Scams - Spanish | English | ESL IRS podcasts: ·         • Tax Scams - Spanish | English

DCFS informations

Eva Camacho asked us that we send this information:

 

• If you are sending your package to request a new license, send it to the office of Waukegan, 500 N Green Bay Rd, Waukegan IL 60085. Then, to renew, making changes, additional paperwork, send all to your office Elgin 595 S State St, Elgin IL 60123. Ph 847-888-7620. Fax 847-888-5583.

• If you receive a visit that will live for a while at home, tell DCFS that there is another person in your house, and you should take phishing, and fingerprints. If he are 18 years or older, you should use the green form.

• Have an assistant is optional. The assistant can take and collect children from school if he have a valid license and the car qualifies.

• The assistant must have updated CPR and First Aid.

• If a child under 18 years is helping you, you can never be left alone with children. For example,you cannot leave him in the yard with the kids while you're cooking at home. He has to be where you can see and hear them.

• The license form Child Support Certification only must be signed by the applicant and spouse, not children or assistant.

• In the green form of physical, DCFS only asks you tuberculosis test in the initial license. Therefore it is not necessary for DCFS, but the doctor may ask for it.

• People in the house who are 17 years or less do not present the green form, but the phishing when they go to school.

• The children phishing is valid for 2 years, the providers and members of the house phishing for 3.

• If your crib is before April 2011 you can only have it if the manufacturer has a certificate that meets current safety standards. Check safety standards https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx to see if your crib is considered safe.

• Keep next to the phone and in the medicine cabinet a list of emergency phone: Abuse number: 1-800-252-2873 or 1-800-25.  Local police and fire telephone: 911. And the telephone numbers of parents .

• Immediately notify all changes and renovations in your home to DCFS.

• Put the radon test results with his license.

• Gurnee: there are areas where it is not allowed babysitting. Check with city codes before buying a home child care. If you are already caring, stay quiet, and  not ask.

• Keep your contract, the fire plan and safety plan. You can get it at http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/ blog but you need to adapt it.

• The contract must have the discipline policy, the emergency plan, including where to leave children, and consequences for being late.

• Each year you must renew your Gateways card.

• To renew it, don’t send copies of certificates of training, print the list of workouts, and send. However you need to keep a copy of the training that has not been given by INCCRRA.

If you need help with Gateways, call 309-557-1818 English, 309-834-1230 Leticia, in Spanish. Or go with Belem Estrada 847-263-8324; she will charge you $ 25 per hour that occupy.

DCFS form for children day care

En esta página le ofrecemos los enlaces a los formularios de DCFS publicados en este blog

On this page we link to DCFS forms published in this blog

1.    Formulario para iniciar el proceso de renovación de la licencia

Form needed to begin your renewal process

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/a.html

2.    Solicitud para guardería en el hogar

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/formulario-dcfs-de-solicitud-para.html

3.    Background check roster

Registro de verificación de antecedentes

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/background-check-roster-registro-de.html

4.    Certificación de inspección para productos peligrosos para niños

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/certificacion-de-inspeccion-para.html

5.    Medical report on an adult in a child care facilty

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/medical-report-on-adult-in-child-care.html

6. Certificate oh child health examination

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/certificate-of-child-health-examanation.html

6.    Certificación como delator bajo mandato de la ley

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/certificacion-como-delator-bajo-mandato.html

7.    Authorization for background check for child care.

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/authorization-for-background-check-for.html

8.    Autorización para verificaciónde antecedents para cuidados de menores de edad.

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/autorizacion-para-verificacion-de.html

9.    Acknowledgement of mandated reporter status

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/acknowledgement-of-mandated-reporter.html

10. Certificación de sustento a un niño

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/certificacion-de-sustento-un-nino.html

11. Home day care fire safety checklist.

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/2015/09/home-day-care-fire-safety-checklist.html

TRADUCTIONS OF TITLES

TRADUCTIONS OF TITLES

I'm Fernando, the translator of this blog. Angel, the creator of the blog, and I want the information on these pages can reach all those who need to know something about the problems and possibilities of the child care business. So, all articles are published in English and Spanish. My job is to make these translations both from English to Spanish and Spanish to English.

I am Spanish; I am graduated in Sciences of the Information, with the title of English-Spanish translator. Years ago I'm living in Latin America, so I strive to provide easy to understand translation of all Spanish speakers countries. You are those who can judge whether my work is good.

I also offer another service: to help those who need to legalize or authenticate academic degrees, diplomas and certificates of qualifications in order to be recognized in the United States. For this, a recognized and legalized translation, with as similar as possible to the original format, including original signatures and photos, are needed. This is what we offer, so that your degree or diploma, gained through work and effort, helps you to have a good job in the United States.

If you are interested, please contact Angel angel1492@comcast.net, 847-494-1668, which is responsible for sending me the translations, review and certify it when I'm done. The price that we ask is only $ 15 a page of the document. Not much, and worth. Latinos in the United States must assert ourselves and show that we have our studies and we are qualified professionals.

I add finally that also speak the French language, and I can also to make translations from French.

I encourage you to not let your title grow old; please contact us to now begin the process to obtain the recognition.

Fernando Olmedo, focalerta@yahoo.es 

About legal issues

Questions and Answers About Legal Issues

By Tom Copeland. Posted with permission

Here's a short quiz about legal issues:

1) Can a family child care provider refuse to offer care to a family if the child has epilepsy because the provider doesn't believe she is qualified to provide adequate care?   

        a. Yes

        b. Yes, but only if the provider has a "reasonable belief" that she isn't qualified

        c. No

Answer

2) A provider cares for a married couple's child. One day the mother calls and asks the provider not to allow the father to pick up the child anymore because they have begun divorce proceedings. She is afraid the father will take the child and prevent her from ever seeing the child again. You should tell the mother:

        a. "I cannot refuse to give your child to the father unless you show me a court order that says he can't pick up the child."

        b. "I will not allow the father to pick up your child."

        c. "I will not allow the father to pick up the child, but only if you give me a signed statements saying why you don't want him to pick up your child."

Answer

3) If a day care parent falls on the front steps of your home while dropping off her child, your homeowner's insurance will likely cover a small amount of any medical expenses.

        a. True

        b. False

Answer

4) A parent signs a contract that reads, in part, "Parent agrees not to hold provider liable for injuries suffered by her child while in the care of the provider." If the child is later injured, will this liability waiver protect the provider?

        a. Yes

        b. Yes, but only if the injury is minor

        c. No

        d. No, but only if the injury is minor

Answer

5) All providers should incorporate their business to eliminate their personal liability if a child is injured in their program

        a. True    

        b. True, but only if a provider incorporates as a Limited Liability Company (LLC)

        c. False

Answer

Answer #1

The correct answer is C.

It is illegal for family child care providers to discriminate against children or parents who have a disability. Providers must do what is reasonable to offer care to a child with a disability. A belief that you are not qualified is not a sufficient reason to deny care.

Ask for help from a parent or doctor or professional organization. If it is reasonable, from a professional point of view, to provide care to a child with epilepsy then you must do it.

If the only way to provide care is a "significant difficulty" or a "significant expense" you don't have to provide care.

Answer # 2

The correct answer is A.

Biological parents have rights to their children that can only be taken away by a court. Therefore, one parent cannot restrict access to their child by another parent. If the mother says she does have a court order restricting the rights of the father, ask for a copy of such a court order and follow what it says.

Answer # 3

The correct answer is B.

Homeowner's insurance is personal, not business insurance. It will probably not cover you in this situation. You need professional business liability insurance to cover you for medical expenses and lawsuits resulting from your business activities

Answer #4

The correct answer is C.
Liability waivers are not enforceable in court because the parent (or child) cannot give up their right to sue the provider. Providers can protect themselves by purchasing professional business liability insurance. See my insurance directory for the names of companies that offer this insurance.

Answer #5

The correct answer is C.

Most providers do not incorporate their business. There are many complicated consequences to incorporating (legal fees, more record keeping, loss of house deductions, and more). Even if you did incorporate your business there is no guarantee that your personal assets would be protected in the event of a lawsuit. Purchasing the highest possible amount of professional business liability insurance you can afford is your best protection against a lawsuit.

How well did you do?

Tom Copeland - www.tomcopelandblog.com

This article was previously posted on the First Children's Finance website.

Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/

For more information, see my book Family Child Care Legal & Insurance Guide.

When the parents are late to pick un their children

What to Do When Parents Are Late to Pick up Their Children

Condensed by Fernando Olmedo, focalerta@yahoo.es 

It is a common problem for many family child care providers: Your pick-up time is 6pm and a parent shows up late several times a month. Another parent always arrives before 6pm, but often doesn't leave your home until 6:20pm.

You work long hours caring for children: an average of eleven hours a day, according to several national surveys. It can be frustrating to deal with parents who want even more of your time.

What can you do to address this issue?

First, make sure your written contract states the specific times when parents are expected to drop off and pick up their children. The pick-up time can be different from one family to the next.

Second, state the consequences if a parent doesn't pick up her child on time. Most providers charge a late fee. Here are some examples:

* Parents who notifies provider at least 2 hours before pick-up time that they will be late will not be charged a late fee.

* Parents who are late picking up their children once or twice in a month will not be charged a late fee. Parents will pay a late fee if they are late more often than this.

* Parents are given a fifteen minute grace period and then are charged $.50/$1.00 per minute. (You could charge $.50 or $1 a minute for early drop offs.)

* Parents are charged $1 a minute late fee if they pick up after the scheduled pick up time.

In a workshop of mine a provider once said, "My contract states that if you are ever late picking up your child, you will be immediately terminated." That's strict! It worked for her, but I wouldn't recommend this rule to anyone else.

Time versus Money

Before deciding on your late pick up rule, consider this question: What is more important to you - your time or the parent's money?

If your time is more important, this means you don't want to work after your scheduled pickup time of 6pm. It doesn't matter how much money parents might pay you to be late, because you want to do other things with your time. Therefore, set a high late fee to ensure parents won't be late.

At one workshop a provider said she charged $50 a half hour late fee. However, her complaint was that one parent kept paying it! Since this fee wasn't deterring the parent from being late, I told her to raise her late fee for this parent. You can have different late fees for different parents.

If the parent's money is more important to you, this means you wouldn't mind working after 6pm if you were paid enough. If parents paid you $1 a minute late fee, you could earn $30 for a half hour of work. This is a lot more than you are making per hour before 6pm.

However, most providers tell me that parents aren't consistently late if they have to pay $1 a minute late fee. Therefore, you might want to set a lower late fee to make it more affordable! If you charged $.50 a minute you would be earning $15 a half hour which is still a good wage. At the lower rate, more parents might not mind paying it, and you can earn some extra money.

One provider came up with a perfect solution in dealing with late fees. She said that late fees created tension and stress between her and her parents because they were associated with guilt and blame.

 Since she was willing to work a half hour after her pick up time of 6pm, she announced to her parents that if they picked up between 6pm and 6:30pm they would be charged an "evening rate" of $1 a minute. No more late fees, because parents aren't late. No more stress because parents didn't have to rush to her home. It worked for the provider as well because she didn't mind working an extra half hour and being well paid for her time.

In the end, it's up to you to set your rules regarding late pick ups and enforce them. You can ask the parent to pay the late fee at the time they are late, by the next morning, or add the fees onto their next regular payment.

How do you handle late pick ups?

DCFS FORM.

LATE PICK-UP AGREEMENT

The following agreement is made between ______________________and_________________________

Parents/Guardians                                                      Provider

____________for the pick-up of their child/children ___________________, ______________________

Name                                                                              name           name

____________________, __________________, _ _______________ from the day care — home/group.

                  Name                                                           name                                                           name

I/we agree to pick up the above named child/children before ____________ he/she/they are in child care o'clock p.m. every day

If I/we fail to pick up my/our child/children by the appointed time, I/we understand that a late fee of ___________ per quarter hour (or portion thereof) will begin to accrue after the above stated pickup time.

If I/we fail, without notice, to pick up my/our child/children at the above stated time, or arrange for someone else to pick them up, the provider will make 3 attempts to contact me/us. If the provider is unable to contact me/us, the provider should contact the emergency person listed on the Application/Record of Child Information sheet, or person on the contingency list, to advise them my/our child/children are still in their care without notice from me/us. If, for any reason, there is no telephone service the provider will contact police to request assistance in contacting me/us or my/our emergency persons.

Provider agrees to keep my/our child/children for 1 hour after the above stated pick-up time, with late fees accruing, before contacting the local police and/or the Child Abuse Hotline if contact cannot be made with parents/guardians or emergency persons.

Provider will continue normal responsibilities for the child's protection and well being and agrees not to discuss your tardiness in arriving with your child/children beyond reassuring them you or someone known to them will be there soon to pick them up.

Parents/Guardians agree to advise provider immediately of any changes regarding their personal contact information, including addresses and phone numbers for home and work and cell phone numbers. Parents/Guardians also agree to provide immediate notice to the provider of any changes for their emergency contact or contingency persons.

______________________________________                           ______________________________________

Parent/Guardian                                                                                                                                  Provider A

______________________________________                           ______________________________________

Patent/Guardian                                                                                                                                  Provider B

______________________________________                           ______________________________________

Date signed                                                                                                                                             Date signed

This form meets the requirements of Rule 406.12(h), Rule 407.260(f) and Rule 408.60(j)

Who Decides Who Can Pick Up A Child?

By Tom Copeland. Posted with permission.

What do you do when the father wants someone else to be permitted to pick up her child at your family child care home but the mother disagrees?

You should never let someone pick up a child unless both parents give written permission for this to happen.

You do not want to be in the middle of a parent dispute. If you decide to let someone pick up the child when the mother has objected, you could open yourself up to a lawsuit. The mother may sue you if her child is injured while being transported by this person.

Biological parents have the right to pick up their children, unless a court order (divorce decree, restraining order, custody agreement) limits this right. This means a mother cannot prevent a father from picking up their child, even though they are in the middle of a bitter divorce battle.

This is true even if the father is not on the authorized pick up list. Because he is the biological father, he can pick up the child. If the mother objects, tell her to give you a copy of a court order that says he can't pick up the child. Otherwise, he gets the child. Keep a copy of any court order and follow what it says.

Both parents can also jointly give permission for others to pick up their child. 

When parents have joint custody, each parent may have a designated day when they can pick up the child. Either parent could grant the other parent the right to pick up the child on their day. But if Monday is mother's day and she wants the father to pick up that day, get this in writing and signed by the mother.

If parents are fighting about who can pick up their child, don't take sides. Tell the parents they both must agree on who can be on your authorized pick up list. Let them sort it out. 

Information to star the process of licensing

Here is the information that you need to start the process of licensing:

You can start with reading the Rule (Part) 406.   Here is the website address that you can go to:  http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/policy/index.shtml

On this all the Rules of the Department are there.  You have to go to Rule 406  (double click the ‘Rules’ hyperlink, which is on right hand side top and then go to Rule 406 – called as “Part 406”).  This will provide all the information needed. 

For Group Day Care homes you can refer to Rule (Part) 408 and for Day Care Centers, you can refer to Rule (Part) 407.

The membership for Illinois Gateway to Opportunity Registry and securing mandated training (Section 406. 4.b.2) along with proof of 15 hours of pre-service training is required to submit a day care home application.  You have to submit results of Radon Testing along with the application.

Here is the Rule with regard to Application:

Section 406.4 Application for License

a)    A complete application shall be filed with the Department of Children and Family Services by the supervising agency on forms prescribed and provided by the Department.

b)  

  Contents of Application

    1)    A complete application shall include:

A)  a completed, signed and dated Application for Home License;

B) a list of persons who will be working in the day care home, including any substitutes and assistants, and members of the household age 13 and over;

C)    completed, signed and dated authorizations to conduct the background check for the applicants, each employee or person used to replace or supplement staff, and each member of the household age 13 and over;

D)   a completed, signed and dated Child Support Certification form;

E)   the names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least 3 adults not related to the applicants, nor living in the household, who can attest to their character and suitability to provide child care;

F)    a written hazard protection plan identifying potential hazards within the home and outdoor area accessible to the children in care.  The written plan shall address the specific hazards and the adult supervision and physical means required to minimize the risks to children.  Conditions to be addressed include, but are not limited to, traffic construction, bodies of water accessible to the children, open stairwells, and neighborhood dogs;

G)   a copy of high school diploma or equivalent certificate; and

H)   for applications submitted on or after September 1, 2012, proof of membership in the Gateways to Opportunity Registry by the primary caregiver and assistants in the home with all educational credentials and pre-service training entered into the registry.

   2)  For initial applications submitted after January 1, 2011, the applicant, who shall be the primary caretaker, shall have completed, not more than one year prior to the application date, at least 15 hours of pre-service training listed in Appendix D, which shall include the following topics:

A)        Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS);

B)        Shaken Baby Syndrome; and

C)        Department approved Mandated Reporter training.

You can contact Eva Camacho for this (if you want to have the Orientation in Spanish) at 847-888-7620.  If you want to attend an English Speaking Orientation, it is scheduled on July 23, 2014, at our office from 10 AM – 1 PM.  You can contact Robert Stevenson for this at 847-249-7840 or Patricia Sandraco (licensing Office Associate) at 847-249-6927.  The attendance to ANY orientations is NOT mandatory (optional) but we recommend it.  You can take online orientation as a part to satisfy your 15 hours of training required to submit an application. 

Resources:

•DCFS website: www.state.il.us/dcfs

•Day Care Information Line: 1-877-746-0829

•Fingerprint search website: https://fingerprintsearch.dcfs.illinois.gov/

•INCCRRA: www.inccrra.org

•Gateways to Opportunity: www.ilgateways.com

•Fingerprint Vendor: www.accuratebiometrics.com

•NAEYC: www.naeyc.org

•SIDS of Illinois: www.sidsillinois.org

•Consumer Product Safety Commission: www.cpsc.gov

Here is information about Radon testing:  http://www.lungchicago.org/radon/   Refer to the attachment for more information.

Here is the complete step-by-step process for licensing (along with useful instructions):

Step one:  Complete application includes the following:                                                                  

       CFS 597-DCI (Initial) or DCR (Renewal) Application for Day Care/Group Day Care Home License;

       Authorization for Background Check forms (CFS 718) for all who live and or work in the home  ages 13 and over.

       In-service training is required in order to enter your application. The training must include the following: SIDS, Shaken Baby, DCFS Mandated reporter training. CPR/First (recommended) along with DCFS online orientation (optional). 15 hours total is required.

       Day care Orientation can be found athttps://www.dcfstraining.org/vtc/home/home.action

       DCFS Mandated reporter training, updated standards and DCFS forms can be found at: http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/index.shtml

       Child Support Affidavit (Must be signed and returned even if you do not owe child support, just check the appropriate box). This is for Licensee only.

       CFS-718-3 Background Check Roster (the Licensee and all members who live and or work in the home 13 and over)

       A Written Hazard Plan (hazardous materials are stored; gates and barriers; latches on cabinets, etc.). A written fire emergency plan and a written Tornado emergency plan. A copy of the Diagram of your home layout highlighting the escape routes.

       Copy of GED and/or Diploma (for new applicants only).  If you have a title not USA, you should do evaluating, you can do with https://ece.org/ . If you need to translate the title to English to evaluate, contact 773-867-7387 with Angel Olmedo, 1105 Greenwood Ave, Waukegan IL 60087. Evaluation cost start at $ 85, title translations from $ 12

       Medical Report for the primary caregiver and all household members on the CFS 602 form. School age children medicals on file with the school. Adults must use the appropriate form. All of which can be found on the DCFS day care website.

       Acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter Status (Cants 22 form).

       Copies of certifications in First Aid and CPR that are up to date.

       Proof of membership to Illinois Gateway to Opportunity (Licensees only).

       Results of radon Testing.

Step 2:  Required information to schedule a Licensing Study (once the application is accepted):

       Copies of health certificates for dogs, (Rabies).

       Well water clearance, if private well.

       Copy of the auto insurance card; (and Liability insurance for Group Day Care homes)

       Statement that the fireplace is not used during day care hours.

       Please review 408.60 j) 1) A) B) C) 2,3,4. and develop a contract. Copy of a Contract.

       Licensing Representative will make a referral to the State Fire Marshal for a clearance if needed.

       Finger printing shall be completed to all the subjects living or frequenting (paramour) the home, who are aged 18 and over (call your licensing representative to give you an authorization paper).

       Copy of a Menu, Copy of a schedule, ensure children’s records are complete.

Here are some important websites (resources):

https://hdl.dcfstraining.org/jsp/index.jsp;jsessionid=1F9B2342CFE1C380B4C6E0E682750581

https://registry.ilgateways.com/

http://www.carecourses.com/PublicPages/Home.aspx

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/089/08900406sections.html

http://thechildcarenetworkoflakecounty.blogspot.com/ (English)

http://cuidadoinfantillakecounty.blogspot.com/ (Español)

Keep copies of all materials submitted to DCFS for your files.

Medical reports must be based upon a physical examination that occurred no more than six months prior to the date of application.

The background clearances for all household members age 13 and over are updated at each renewal. New members of the household or those who have turned 18 must be fingerprinted. Contact your Licensing Representative for assistance. Finger printing cannot occur until I receive the CFS-718 Authorization for background check forms completely filled out by you with the exception of section 4; Which I will fill out return the CFS-718 and a finger print search form; both of which needs to go when you get finger printed. Here is the website for finger print locations: 

http://www.accuratebiometrics.com/index.asp

If you use well water, you must contact the applicable County Department of Public Health to request a reading of your well water. If you tell them it is for DCFS licensing, you may receive faster service.

If you are having trouble locating a certified (by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association) First Aid or CPR class, contact your day care association, your local Fire Station or Park District or the Child Care Resource and Referral for assistance in locating a resource for this training. It must be hands on training (no internet training only is acceptable).

You can receive additional trainings from www.carecourses.com