Chicago · Licensed center

The Children's Center Inc

Large center, licensed for 161 children.

What these mean, and where they come from

Large means the biggest quarter of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 119 to 487 children. Small is 8 to 48; medium is 49 to 118.

Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: cost, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, sick and biting policies.

What the state has found

Routine visits: 13 of 16 cited something

Chicago-area centers: the state cites something at about 5 in 6 routine visits.

From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: January 17, 2024
On file: 16 visits since January 2010 — 3 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was June 1, 2022. 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.

Jan 2024 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jun 2023 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

May 2022 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · May 2, 2022

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (8) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(8)

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · Violation corrected

Grouping and Staffing

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

Cited: CCASEC4

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2022 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · April 22, 2022

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Health Requirements for Children

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2022 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

May 2021 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · May 28, 2021

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2019 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · July 19, 2019

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · Violation corrected

Grouping and Staffing

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2018 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · July 25, 2018

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · Violation corrected

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · Violation corrected

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f) · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

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

Cited: FHSEC305

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2017 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · June 30, 2017

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f) · Violation corrected

Cited: FHSEC305

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

Cited: CCASEC4

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2016 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · July 1, 2016

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(b) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2015 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · October 21, 2015

General Requirements for Personnel

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6)

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Aug 2013 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · August 30, 2013

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(k) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2012 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · December 26, 2012

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)

Equipment and Materials

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(a) through (g) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(a) · 407.380(g)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2011 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · June 8, 2011

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) through (f)(19) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · 407.210(f)(19)

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k) · Violation corrected

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190 · Violation corrected on site

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(m) · Violation corrected on site

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Aug 2010 Monitoring visit 9 findings

Monitoring visit · August 18, 2010

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a) · 407.340(a)(5) · 407.340(f)

Outdoor Play Area

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1) through (k) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1) · 407.390(k)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Grouping and Staffing

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2010 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · January 21, 2010

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100 · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270 · Violation corrected

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330 · Violation corrected

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 001036 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

How the comparison is built

Routine visits: across Chicago-area centers, the state cites something at about 5 in 6 routine visits (19,088 visits).

A day here

Hours: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week

Details

7732645171

Website: childrenscenterchicago.org
Address: 12803 S Halsted St
License: pending renewal application (rn)

Do you run The Children's Center Inc? Shortlist has no tuition, ratios or policies for it, because the state does not publish that. Adding it is free and takes about ten minutes.

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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

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

A day here

Hours — Checked August 2026 childrenscenterchicago.org

Details

Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "THE CHILDREN'S CENTER INC" under Provider Name and 60628 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 001036).
Website — Checked July 2026 childrenscenterchicago.org