Low staffing, insufficient enrollment leads to permanent closing of Illini Child Care Center on Feb. 28

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Challenges in recruiting qualified early learning teachers and other staff, along with the cost of administering and maintaining the center, caused officials at Illini Community Hospital to close its child care center permanently as of Feb. 28.

“The teachers and staff of our center are exceptionally skilled and passionate about educating and caring for children,” said Holly Jones, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, administrator, Illini Community Hospital, in a press release. “However, due to challenges in recruiting additional staff, we have been unable to deliver services to the level for which we strive and have been unable to increase enrollment to the point where the center could break even financially. To break even without an enrollment increase would require a fee increase that would be unsustainable for our families.

“With those factors out of our control, the decision was made to close the center and to continue Illini Community Hospital’s focus on its mission – to improve the health of our communities.”

The closing affects 45 families and 52 children enrolled either full-time, part-time or per diem (as needed). The families are a mix of Illini Community Hospital employees and other community members. Illini has communicated with all families, encouraging them to contact the West Central Illinois Child Care Connection for assistance in identifying other childcare options before the Feb. 28 closing date.

The 12 staff members affected by the closing have been encouraged to consider remaining with the health system and offered help in identifying other job openings at Illini Community Hospital and Blessing Health for which they are qualified.