Child Development Center

Welcome to the SSC Child Development Center. The Center was established to serve students, faculty, and staff in need of child care while participating in college classes and related activities.

The goal of the Center is to provide a safe and enriching environment that will stimulate the development of the "total child". We believe that children learn through play. It is through concrete (hands on) experiences that children gain their knowledge.

It is also important that children feel loved and nurtured in their surroundings and be given the opportunity to "belong". By using this approach, it allows children to develop not only cognitively, but emotionally and socially as well.

The Center is organized in interest areas allowing the children to choose their experiences. This gives them a sense of control over their environment and the security to explore.

Once again, welcome to our Center. We are looking forward to serving you and your child. We hope that your child's experience here is enriching whether he/she is here an hour or the entire day. If you have any questions, please contact us at 708-596-2000 ext. 2210.

Upon the arrival the parent must accompany the child into the Center. The parent must also make sure at least one staff member is aware of your child's presence. Upon departure, it is again the parent's responsibility to make at least one staff member aware that you are taking your child. It is required that you sign-in and sign-out at the reception desk upon arrival and departure. Remember only the people you have authorized in writing to pick up your child may do so. They will have to show identification the first time that they pick up your child. Persons authorized to pick up your child are also required to sign-in and sign-out the child.

The Center closes promptly at 10:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, and 5:00 PM on Friday. Failure to be prompt in picking up your child can result in discontinuation of services. You are considered late if you do not pick up your child after your last scheduled class regardless of the closing time. If you will be late returning from class, call the Center and advise the staff of your location and anticipated time of return.

The Center must be advised of your whereabouts if it differs from the schedule you have provided. Special arrangements must be made when using other campus facilities or when you will be off campus for school activities.

Children ages:

• 2 to 6 Morning Program
• 2 to 12 Evening and Summer Program

Medical Emergencies

In the event of a medical emergency, the Center will contact the Campus Police, who will do two things:

1. Contact the parent/guardian and have you come to the Center
2. Send an officer to the Center.

Parents are responsible for medical coverage of their children.

Other Emergencies

In the case of a building evacuation, the children can be found either on the side of the building near the playground or outside the entrance near the bookstore. Do not take your child before checking with a child care staff member.

In case of a power outage, please promptly return to the Center to retrieve your child. The Center will reopen if the power is turned on within two hours.

The college will temporarily waive the policy of no child in classes due to the emergency conditions. There is no way of contacting the Center during a power outage because the phone lines will be inoperative.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated, as we work to together to ensure the maximum safety of our children.

The primary purpose of the Child Development Center is to meet the needs of the parent who is attending school. By providing child care, parents will be able to reach their educational goals. We reserve the right to limit enrollment during our peak hours to children of the student population. The priority of enrollment is as follows:

• 1st Children of Students
• 2nd Children of Student Workers
• 3rd Children of Staff and Faculty

The fees are as listed and are due at the time of registration:

• $15.00 registration fee
• Activity fee (per child) according to the number of credit hours the parent is enrolled in (min. $30.00)
• Daily fee $3.50 an hour per child

Third Party Payments

The Child Development Center will accept third party payments from third party sources, i.e. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Child Care Initiative, etc. If the reimbursement rate from the third party source does not cover the total amount of your fees and charges, you are responsible for the difference.

Proof of immunization is due upon enrollment. All shots must be up to date. For the protection of all children, your child should be kept at home when ill. We cannot accept your child if any of the following symptoms are present:

• temperature
• diarrhea or vomiting
• rash
• discharging eyes or ears
• a productive cough/constant sneezing

If your child develops any of these symptoms after arrival, you will be contacted and asked to take your child home.

If your child has been exposed to any contagious diseases, such as whooping cough, chicken pox, mumps, measles, etc., please report it immediately, in writing if possible, to a staff member. The Center will notify all parents of any communicable diseases contracted by the children in the Center.

If the child has ringworm, impetigo, or lice, the child can return to the Center only after medical treatment with a doctor's written permission to return.

Children enrolled in another program or school and is not well enough to attend their regular program, will not be admitted the Child Development Center.

We do not administer medications. You may come during class break to do so. We will store the medication for you if refrigeration is necessary.

We are not able to care for sick children at the Center, your cooperation is appreciated.

Please do not let your child bring toys, money, candy, gum, etc. to the Center. These items become a distraction for the child who brings and for the other children in the center.

The Child Development Center is not designed as a full-day program. It's function is to service children on a time-block basis. Parents must take their children out of child care for at least a 45 minute break after 4 1/2 hours of attendance in the program. The only exception is on the day when the parent is participating in an internship program.

The Center provides an a.m. snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, and supper. We participate in the State's food program, therefore, a completion of a food application is required.

Children's birthdays will be gladly celebrated in the Center. Please notify a staff remember of the snack or treat your child would like to bring. All items must be store bought, individually wrapped, and in its original packaging.

Parents must complete a registration and class schedule form at the time of enrollment. This general information will be kept on file as long as the child is in attendance. Each semester a new class schedule must be filled out. A copy of your child's immunization record must be on file at the time of enrollment. All parents of a two year old must present a copy of their child's birth certificate at the time of registration.

Registration Requirements:

1. We accept children ages 2 to 12. A certified copy of child's birth certificate if age 2. All children must be toilet trained.
2. Registration Fee $15.00 per Family (non-refundable, one time fee).
3. An Activity fee of $30.00 for the first child, $25.00 for the second and third child, $20.00 for any additional children is assessed each semester.
4. Child Care fees are $3.50 per hour per child. Fees are to be paid weekly.
5. Copy of your class schedule.
6. Child's completed and up-to-date medical form, with results filled in and dated by the doctor, including lead screening results & TB. Parents need to complete the health history. Physical exam must be done less than six months before enrollment.
7. If your child care is subsidized you must submit a letter of approval or appropriate forms from funding agency.
8. A completed Child and Adult Food Program application packet.

The center currently provides full meal service. No outside food or toys are allowed in the center.

You must return a completed application package prior to your child's enrollment.

Download Child Development Center Application Packet, AND Certificate of Child Health Exam forms.

The Center will discontinue child care services for the following reasons:

• Continual late pick up
• Delinquency of payment
• Misuse of services (i.e. use of service for non-college activities)
• Child not adapting to the program
• Disruptive behavior by an individual child that endangers the orderly operation of the Center or threatens the safety of self or other children
• Leaving the premise for reasons not related to the college while your child is in the center
• Failure to notify the Center of your whereabouts after class
• Failure to provide required documents (i.e. medical records, change of data)

South Suburban College has enacted a policy restricting unsupervised children from the main campus and any classes. We believe in providing the safest environment for your child while you are taking classes, that's why South Suburban College's Child Care Center offers child care services at a very low cost.

Remember: No unattended children are permitted on campus.