DeKALB | Community Coordinated Child Care 4-C, 155 N. Third St., has been a major asset to families and child care providers throughout DeKalb, Lee, Ogle, McHenry, Carroll and Whiteside counties for over 35 years.

4-C offers services and resources that include child care financial assistance, parent and provider education, nursing, nutrition, social work, mental health and advocacy.

Micki Chulick, executive director of 4-C, has been working at 4-C for 30 years, and the thing that keeps bringing her back is the fact that the agency truly makes a difference.

4-C’s claim to fame is the advocacy it does on behalf of children and families.

“This agency can turn out 1,000 phone calls in about three to four hours to policy-makers if we need to,” Chulick said.

4-C will communicate with legislators on their bills’ effects on their constituents, whether at the local, state or federal level.

With its commitment to advocacy, 4-C also provides several services for its six counties.
4-C offers a program to help those families who provide child care in their homes through a child care food program.

“We go and see them three to four times a year and they turn in their menus to us on a monthly basis, and we are able to reimburse them through a federal program for the cost of food,” Chulick said.

They also will give nutrition, healthy lifestyle and hygiene presentations for child care providers.
4-C’s presence can be felt on campus as well.

NIU’s child development lab, CDL and campus child care center located on the east side of Annie Glidden Road behind Gabel Hall have all of 4-C’s services available to them.

With 4-C’s help, NIU’s centers have earned a three out of four star center rating through Illinois’ Quality Rating System, QRS.

“The QRS in Illinois is one of the best in the nation because it is pretty stringent,” Chulick said.
“There is only one four-star center in Illinois, but my guess is that we’ll have a four-star center in this area soon.”

“The CDL and campus child care center are second to none,” Chulick said. “What’s even better about [NIU] is if you’re in early care and education, you’re studying in the field.”

4-C provides internships and has volunteers come from NIU to work at 4-C, and 4-C representatives come and speak to early education classes.

“We see NIU as an amazing asset,” Chulick said. “It would take a piece of the heart out of this organization if we didn’t have NIU.”

4-C also offers a parent education program for families in DeKalb county.

There is no cost for parenting classes, and they also provide free child care while parents are in classes.

“We do one-on-ones or home visits with parents who either can’t come to classes or they’re just more comfortable on a one-to-one situation,” Chulick said.

For more information on 4-C, visit its Web site at http://www.four-c.org/ or call the DeKalb office at 815-758-8149.

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