Winnetka · Licensed center

Harkness House For Children

At a glance

Medium center, licensed for 103 children.
Run by a nonprofit. A board oversees it, and there are no owners taking profit.

What to know

License: 6 weeks to 6 years (state).

The license is the range the state allows. It does not say which ages have openings.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 9 of its 12 licensing inspections since February 2010.

See each inspection

Licensing inspections

Mar 11, 2025Nothing cited
Feb 11, 20251 citation
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Mar 14, 202312 citations
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(3)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3)
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i)
- Guidance and Discipline
  Guidance and Discipline
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(d)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(l)
- Background Checks for Personnel
  Background Checks for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
- Equipment and Materials
  Equipment and Materials
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Nov 9, 2018Nothing cited
Mar 26, 20182 citations
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
Feb 27, 20171 citation
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Aug 12, 2015Nothing cited
Nov 13, 20146 citations
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(2)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(3)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
Nov 5, 20132 citations
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Mar 8, 20123 citations
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Apr 26, 201117 citations
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1)
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(2)
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(3)
- Staffing Structure
  Staffing Structure
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(e)(1)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
- Guidance and Discipline
  Guidance and Discipline
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
  Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(3)
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(d)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
- Staffing Structure
  Staffing Structure
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1)
- Grouping and Staffing
  Grouping and Staffing
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(e)(1)
- Transportation
  Transportation
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.280(t)(3)
- Staffing Structure
  Staffing Structure
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3)
- A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, 38540H.
  A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, 38540H.
Feb 19, 201014 citations
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
- Special Requirements for School-Age Children
  Special Requirements for School-Age Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.220(c)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3)
- Nutrition and Meal Service
  Nutrition and Meal Service
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(f)
- Nutrition and Meal Service
  Nutrition and Meal Service
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)
- Nutrition and Meal Service
  Nutrition and Meal Service
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(p)(1)
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures
  Diapering and Toileting Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(5)

The state cited rules at 9 of this center's 12 inspections. Most Chicago-area centers inspected 10 or more times had rules cited at some but not all of theirs, as this center did: 78% of 868.

How all 868 Chicago-area centers inspected 10 or more times compare

Of the 868 Chicago-area centers the state inspected 10 or more times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:

Some78%This center
All22%

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: March 11, 2025
On file: 12 visits since February 2010 — 3 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was March 11, 2025. Illinois DCFS does not publish whether it was made.
Most serious: Illinois DCFS does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.

Illinois DCFS cites each subsection of a rule separately, so one audit of a filing cabinet can produce ten citations. It publishes the rule’s title and a correction deadline, but no description of what was observed.

Mar 2025 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Feb 2025 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · February 11, 2025

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2023 Monitoring visit 12 findings

Monitoring visit · March 14, 2023

Health Requirements for Children

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3) through (l) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3) · 407.310(d) · 407.310(l)

Organization and Administration

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(3) through (i) · Violation corrected on site · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(3) · 407.70(i)

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(3)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected on site

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a) · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected on site

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5) · Violation corrected on site

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2018 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Mar 2018 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · March 26, 2018

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2017 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · February 27, 2017

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Aug 2015 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Nov 2014 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · November 13, 2014

Organization and Administration

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) through (3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) · 407.70(e)(2) · 407.70(e)(3)

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(6)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2013 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · November 5, 2013

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(f)

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2012 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · March 8, 2012

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2) through (d) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2) · 407.100(d)

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2011 Monitoring visit 17 findings

Monitoring visit · April 26, 2011

Organization and Administration

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) through (3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) · 407.70(e)(2) · 407.70(e)(3)

Staffing Structure

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) through (e)(1) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) · 407.90(d)(1) · 407.90(e)(1)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(3) through (4)(a) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(3) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d) · Violation corrected

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · Violation corrected

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(e)(1) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected

Transportation

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.280(t)(3) · Violation corrected

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(d) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · Violation corrected

A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, 38540H.

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2010 Monitoring visit 14 findings

Monitoring visit · February 19, 2010

Health Requirements for Children

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) through (5) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · 407.310(a)(3) · 407.310(a)(5)

Nutrition and Meal Service

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(f) through (p)(1) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(f) · 407.330(j) · 407.330(p)(1)

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(4)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) through (h) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(1)(h)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for School-Age Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.220(c) · Violation corrected

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(5) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 381995 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Details

Phone: (847) 501-2549
Address: 630 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, 60093

We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, and sick and biting policies. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.

Run Harkness House For Children? Correct or add anything here, free.

Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

State record

From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked November 8, 2026.

Details

Phone, Address — Checked August 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "HARKNESS HOUSE FOR CHILDREN" under Provider Name and 60093 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 381995).
License — Checked October 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "HARKNESS HOUSE FOR CHILDREN" under Provider Name and 60093 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 381995).
Ages on the license — Checked November 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "HARKNESS HOUSE FOR CHILDREN" under Provider Name and 60093 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 381995).
Who runs it — Checked November 2026 projects.propublica.org

Medium means the middle half of Chicago-area’s 1,948 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 49 to 118 children. Small is 8 to 48; large is 119 to 487.

The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.