Just Venting...

[KDC]

In all the posts here about 'licensed' vs. 'unlicensed' this hopefully will not turn into a drama post, just venting.

I live in a big subdivision with about 700 homes. It's a new development with many, many children. I know there could be multiple successful in home daycares, my issue is however that most of them are illegally unlicensed. (In the state of IL, you have to be licensed for anything more than 3 children INCLUDING your own.) I asked my licensor how many were licensed during my renewal this past summer and she identified 1 other home. We have a subdivision Facebook site where people can advertise they businesses, sell items, talk about news from the town. I've counted 6 people in the past month advertising for home daycares. Most of them state in their 'AD' they have two-three children themselves, and have multiple openings. They're advertising through Facebook - with family pictures with multiple kids in their family pic. No mention of licensing what-so-ever.

The icing on the cake, is that 2-3 of them have asked through Facebook messaging, to send them anybody I'm unable to accommodate - using my reputation that I've built over the past 9-10 years to secure new families. I do feel bad for families that I am unable to take-in, but feel weird giving out their information without knowing them to my unlicensed competitors. They are also questioning my pricing - I'm not trying to be a 'B'... but I feel weird giving that information out and not getting anything in return. I do not know these people... if they were looking for a person to help them get licensed and move into this business I'd be more open. The bitter part of me would like to send them a link to the government summary of licensing standards...:: Maybe it's normal, I think it's a little nervy.

[Unregistered]

I am in Illinois too and there are so many unlicensed providers in my area as well.
I am licensed and it irks me that so many are not and they watch more kids than licensing allows, but no one monitors this!!!

Sometimes I wonder why I even play the rules when no one else does and they never get reprimanded for it!

[Shell]

I would send them the information from your state regarding how to get licensed, along with a link to your state's website. That should stop them from bothering you about rates, etc. It sounds like you could have a booming business with all the kids in your area, and it's great that you are following all the laws, even when those around you aren't.

[daycarediva]

1. It's actually against the law to talk rates with your direct competition.

2. I would not refer them, but instead, refer families that you cannot accommodate to the local resource and referral office.

3. I would report them if they were operating illegally unlicensed.

[Familycare71]

I would send them the information from your state regarding how to get licensed, along with a link to your state's website. That should stop them from bothering you about rates, etc. It sounds like you could have a booming business with all the kids in your area, and it's great that you are following all the laws, even when those around you aren't.

[Sugar Magnolia]

In my county, there are over 300 licensed child care homes and centers. There are two licensing reps. When I asked mine about cracking down on illegal providers (not unlicensed, ILLEGAL) she just hung her head and said they are way to overloaded to deal with them effectively. It's a shame. Unless someone reports suspected abuse at an illegal provider, nothing gets done about it. What a crock! No funding, no staff = no enforcement.

[melilley]

It stinks, it happens here ALL the time. We can't take care of even 1 unrelated child in our home without a license for more than 4 weeks in a year. I don't know why you can do it for 4 weeks without a license, but that's what licensing says.?

I would send them the info and also tell them that sorry, morally you can't send other families if they aren't licensed.

It's so tough when there aren't enough funds to monitor these illegal homes. One lady here offers full time care for $75 a week and I cannot compete with that. I also think that many people may be unaware of what the licensing standards/laws are. And there are some that just don't care.

[snbauser]

I can totally sympathize with you. There are so many illegally operated daycares here. I would not refer to an unlicensed provider because that is your reputation. I would tell the providers that you can't in good conscience put your reputation on the line for someone who isn't following the law and then send them the link with the rules and regs. And I would never share my rates with them. Even when I do refer to other licensed programs, I always tell them the extent to which I am familiar with the provider/program. I know many providers from being involved in our local child care association but I will tell parents I know them from the regular meetings but have never seen their actual program.

I just had something similar happen yesterday. Went to get my mail and in my newspaper bin there was a flyer for someone advertising for in home childcare with 13 years experience in my neighborhood. We live in a fairly small neighborhood (about 220 houses on aobut 5 streets) and those that have lived here for any amount of time know me and know my business is licensed so I'm guessing this is someone new in the neighborhood. I checked licensings website and she is not licensed.

[My3cents]

If this is truly an issue, you should climb the ladder until something gets done about it. Report anyone you feel could be doing this and let them go figure it out. Ask your reps for better quality care for the children in your state. Make whoever is in charge of this department accountable, once you have exhausted all avenues rest and know you have done all that you could to make a difference.

Best-

IT does stink when you do everything the way that you should and no one else is following the rules-

[spinnymarie]

Just a note In IL you can watch children from a single household and be legally unlicensed as well, making it slightly harder to tell without specific information, legal vs illegal.