Sign-On Bonus

Earn Up to $3,000 in the Adams County, IL Child Care Sector

Embark on a rewarding career in child care with financial incentives in Adams County! By working full-time at a child care center or starting an in-home child care business, you may qualify for up to $3,000 in bonuses through the Adams County CAREs Recruitment Program.

Bonus Structure:

$500 Sign-On Bonus: Awarded upon first-time hiring or starting a new in-home child care center.
$500 at Six Months: Rewarded after consistent care providing.
$1,000 at One Year: Celebrate your first-year milestone.
$1,000 at Two Years: Mark your two-year anniversary with an additional bonus.

Eligibility requires participants to be new to the child care field as of Feb. 1, 2025, employment of at least 15 hours per week, teacher qualification or active pursuit of it, and continuous service at the child care center or in-home care business where you begin. Participants must apply within 90 days of hire and submit proof of teacher qualifications along with a completed W-9 form.

Bonuses are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with $150,000 available. Start your child care journey in Adams County today!

To start the process of your Sign-On Bonus, please review and complete our fillable Sign-On Bonus Application below. Once finished, save a copy for your records and email the completed form to Nikki at [email protected].

For questions you may have about the application and the bonus structure, please contact Nikki at [email protected] or see our FAQ below.

Eligibility Checklist

Before submitting the application, I understand that I am eligible for the Sign-On Bonus because I provide child care in Adams County at least 15 hours per week AND one of the following:

I was hired, for the first time, as a teacher at a child care center within the last 90 days (I have never worked in the child care field before being hired)
I have accepted a child care teacher position for the first time in the last 90 days after previously working as a child care teacher assistant
I was hired as a teacher assistant, for the first time, at a child care center within the last 90 days AND am actively pursuing a teacher qualification

Apply Now

Please note the following before submitting your application:

The application must be submitted within 90 days of employment or providing care.
The applicant’s workplace or in-home care facility must be in Adams County, Illinois.
Applicants must work a minimum of 15 hours each week.

Sign-On Bonus Application

Adams County Childcare Advancement & Recruitment Efforts (CAREs) Recruitment Bonus Program

Instagram

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Date of Application(Required)

Employment Start Date(Required)

Which best describes you? Check all that apply:

I provide child care in Adams County at least 15 hours per week

I am teacher-qualified

I am actively pursuing teacher qualification

I was hired as a teacher at a child care center within the last 90 days

I was hired as an assistant at a child care center within the last 90 days

I have not worked in the child care field prior to this hiring

I have worked as an assistant in the child care field and have accepted a teaching position for the first time

I provide child care from my home as a family child care provider

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Applicant's Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Employer

Providing in-home care?

Address of Employer on In-Home Care Center (Must be within Adams County, IL)

Name of the Institution Where You Earned Your Teaching Certificate

What date will you receive your certification? If already received, what date is listed?

Are you new to the position due to the certification?

In-Home Care Providers: Provide the number of children in your care:

File(Required)

Max. file size: 256 MB.

Please upload your certified teacher certification or proof of pursuing a teaching qualification.

Name(Required)

First Last

Applicants who are currently in the child care sector or providing in-home care before February 1, 2025, are not eligible for the CAREs program.

After submitting your application, applicants will need to complete a W-9 form once prompted.

Tax Responsibility: Participating in the Adams County Childcare Advancement & Recruitment Efforts (CAREs) Recruitment Program may lead to a tax liability. In compliance with IRS regulations, the Great River Development Foundation will provide a 1099-G (Certain Government Payments) to all CAREs participants who receive payments. By accepting these payments, participants acknowledge the tax liability linked to the CAREs Recruitment Program. It is advisable for CAREs participants to seek guidance from a tax professional
concerning the tax obligations related to receiving funds from the Great River Development Foundation.

Please contact [email protected] if you have questions about this application.

General Questions

Who is eligible to receive a sign-on bonus?

I am not teacher-qualified but am in the process of becoming teacher-qualified. Can I receive a sign-on bonus?

How much are the sign-on bonuses?

What are the conditions for receiving a sign-on bonus?

What documents do I need to provide to apply for the sign-on bonus?

In addition to the application, you will need to provide:

Proof of new employment or proof that you have established and are caring for children in your home on or after January 1, 2025.
A copy of your certified teacher certification or proof that you are enrolled in a program to pursue teacher qualification.
Once your application is accepted, you will be asked to complete a W-9 form.
To receive subsequent sign-on bonus payments, you will be asked to verify employment.