SAL Child Care Connection of Central Illinois - Peoria, Illinois

Melissa S.

I understand being under staffed, but to continue to tell businesses and parents "wait another week", "we are on this week it'll be a while" is simply ridiculous. I am seeing parents daily aggravated needing the help and services being pushed back causing some to lose jobs. You all need to do better or simply tell them you don't have it. No reason people should be waiting a YEAR PLUS for assistance. No reason to give parents the run around !! Where is Debbie & Lynn they stayed on top of things.

Palissa W.

This location is by far the worst. On November 1, 2024, I went into the office again to pick up my childcare certificate, of which I had already stated to them my certificates are not being mailed to me. The guy at the desk named Duate or something like that told me my certificate would be mailed out by November, and I stated I never received it and that is my reason for coming into the office. So I was about to leave but I asked another young woman was she dropping off her October certificate and she said yes. So I went back in and asked to speak to a supervisor who refused to talk to me. However, they printed out my certificate, and he was upset at the fact I caught him in a lie. Today is November 16, and my pay is just sitting there and has not been released. I called Illinois Comptroller, and they stated this particular office has problems with their system, but how if my pay was entered on November 8th. This office is racist and should be closed down or replaced with New Management that has values, integrity and a commitment to serve the providers and families.

Deja E.

Childcare connections resisted the way my employer verifies information through Equifax. My job refused to verify any other way being they are contract with the employment verifier. Due to resistance to change and having to wait I am not even at work. I'm at home with my child because private pay is too expensive. I also tried to get assistance for a family friend to watch my children after school. I filled out the application with her June 2nd and I have been requested more information over three months by the time September came, my provider no longer communicates with me and I have to make other arrangements for childcare. After the last time I filled out information I was sent a redetermination. Why do I need to do a redetermination if I just returned the information that was last requested. It has made my childcare experience unreliable and I'm pretty sure I'm fired by now. Please do better.

Mikki S.

Whenever I call the local office I am on hold for at least 15 minutes waiting for Julie to pick up I have to stay on the phone because once you are on hold you cannot opt to leave a message. I have requested sleep time since August of this year and have yet to receive any sleep time. When I went to third shift the SAL office staff suggested that I request sleep time which I did request and have yet to receive. Why would staff suggest and then give me the run around.

Then when they answer they only give me general information instead of looking into my issue. I have received child care assistance once before and the experience was nothing like it is now.

Nia S.

I was doing home daycare and I made sure all the paperwork was turned in I even spoke with someone on the phone who confirmed that all my papers were received. I got a letter saying I was denied because my w9 was not returned How can I prove I turned in my paperwork when you don't give receipts stating what forms were received? I was in the office several times and 3 different ladies took my paperwork and now the w9 is lost so I can't get paid. This is poor customer service.

Shannon L.

I was sent a paper asking for more information. The paper was dated the 5th(please see attached photos of said documents). I did not receive the paper until the 11th. I dropped off the paper work requested on the 11th. Had to take off work to do so.

After 15 minutes on hold I am still being canceled because they are not responsible for how long it takes the mail to reach my house. The post office must really be bad if this agency sent out the letter on the 5th and it was not post marked until the 10th.

So I can not work at all next week and quite possibly the following week, due to waiting the 5 to 10 day processing it takes them. Not to mention it will take 5 or 6 days to get there letter due to the post office. I have always returned documents promptly and have been pleasant with the case workers. This is nothing against them, they are doing their job. This is due to the poor policies and practices on this lovely state. I work every week (until now) to support my children as a single parent, with a little assistance due to the costs of child care. This program set me up for failure. How about saving a tree and some money by offering the possibility of doing this all electronically.

Stephanie L.

They approve you FIRST based on the WEEKEND DAYS you work and then week days. So they give you days you can't use and barely give you ones for when you work. So if you work 20 hours a week and 10 of it is done on weekends, you get a full day on the weekend and only get half a day for the week (M-F) period. I've used them for years before covid and NEVER had this issue. Why would I need days approved on the weekend (that is included in the copay) for a daycare that is closed on the weekend. So you pay for days you can't ever use. IL gov program at its finest.

Jessica M.

Since when did people have to turn in 30 days worth of pay stubs. All the two and a half years that i had to turn in paper work for redeterminations ive only had to turn in my last two pay stubs. I give ya three and thats still not enough now im left without child care even though i had already spoke with someone had all the correct information. And confirmee it was going to get processed just horrible