Chicago · Licensed center

Better Boys Foundation Kidlab

Small center, licensed for 30 children.
Run by a nonprofit. A board oversees it, and there are no owners taking profit.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at all 11 of its licensing inspections since October 2010.

Of the 860 Chicago-area centers with 10 or more licensing inspections, 22% had rules cited at all of them, as this center did.

Licensing inspections

Oct 22, 202422 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Provisions Pertaining to the License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(m)

18 more from this inspection

Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(e)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Application for Renewal of License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(g)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(a)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(q)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)
Application for License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.50(b)(1)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(b)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)

Sep 29, 202311 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(d)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(3)

7 more from this inspection

Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(a)
Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(h)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(b)
Volunteers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(a)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)

Sep 26, 20222 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f)

Oct 7, 20208 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)

4 more from this inspection

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(d)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(3)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)

Oct 4, 20197 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)

3 more from this inspection

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Nov 18, 20166 citations

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)

2 more from this inspection

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a)(1)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14)

Dec 15, 201516 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)

12 more from this inspection

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(2)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(3)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(3)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(f)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(f)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(c)

Oct 29, 20138 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(h)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)

4 more from this inspection

Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)
Volunteers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(b)

Aug 17, 20121 citation

Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)

Sep 30, 201111 citations

Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)

7 more from this inspection

Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(h)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(b)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(6)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)

Oct 27, 201010 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(5)

6 more from this inspection

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(6)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)
Volunteers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(b)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: October 22, 2024
On file: 11 visits since October 2010 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was October 29, 2023. Illinois DCFS does not publish whether it was made.
Most serious: Illinois DCFS does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.

Illinois DCFS cites each subsection of a rule separately, so one audit of a filing cabinet can produce ten citations. It publishes the rule’s title and a correction deadline, but no description of what was observed.

Oct 2024 Monitoring visit 22 findings

Monitoring visit · October 22, 2024

General Requirements for Personnel

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (f) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(d) · 407.100(e) · 407.100(f)

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(b) through (q)(2) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(b) · 407.370(e) · 407.370(e)(3) · 407.370(e)(11) · 407.370(q)(2)

Organization and Administration

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) through (k) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · 407.70(k)

Nutrition and Meal Service

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(a) through (g) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(a) · 407.330(g)

Application for License

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.50(b)(1) · Violation substantiated

Application for Renewal of License

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(g) · Violation substantiated

Provisions Pertaining to the License

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g) · Violation substantiated

Staffing Structure

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a) · Violation substantiated

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation substantiated

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · Violation substantiated

Qualifications for Child Care Director

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(m) · Violation substantiated

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2023 Monitoring visit 11 findings

Monitoring visit · September 29, 2023

Personnel Records

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (e)(3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(d) · 407.120(e)(2) · 407.120(e)(3)

Qualifications for Child Care Director

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(a) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(h) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(b) · Violation corrected

Volunteers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(a) · Violation corrected

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2022 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · September 26, 2022

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · Violation corrected

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2020 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · October 7, 2020

Personnel Records

6 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) through (e)(3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(d) · 407.120(e)(3)

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(2)

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2019 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · October 4, 2019

General Requirements for Personnel

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(f)

Personnel Records

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2016 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · November 18, 2016

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a)(1) through (e)(3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a)(1) · 407.370(e) · 407.370(e)(3)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14) through (d) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14) · 407.250(d)

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2015 Monitoring visit 16 findings

Monitoring visit · December 15, 2015

Personnel Records

6 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(c) through (f)(2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(c) · 407.120(e)(3) · 407.120(e)(4) · 407.120(e)(5) · 407.120(f)(1) · 407.120(f)(2)

Organization and Administration

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) through (3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) · 407.70(e)(2) · 407.70(e)(3)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14) through (i)(4)(a) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14) · 407.250(d) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5) · 407.310(a)(6)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · Violation corrected

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2013 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · October 29, 2013

Organization and Administration

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) through (k) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · 407.70(k)

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) through (h) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · 407.100(h)

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(6)

Volunteers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(b) · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Aug 2012 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · August 17, 2012

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2011 Monitoring visit 11 findings

Monitoring visit · September 30, 2011

Equipment and Materials

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(b) through (j)(6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(b) · 407.380(j)(4) · 407.380(j)(5) · 407.380(j)(6)

Personnel Records

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

Organization and Administration

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) through (k) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · 407.70(k)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(h) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2010 Monitoring visit 10 findings

Monitoring visit · October 27, 2010

Personnel Records

6 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(5) · 407.120(a)(6)

Equipment and Materials

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · 407.380(j)(5) · 407.380(j)(6)

Volunteers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(b) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 016674 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.

Details

7735427300

Website: bbfcenterforthearts.org
Address: 1512 S Pulaski Rd
License: license issued (il)

Run Better Boys Foundation Kidlab? Correct or add anything here, free.

Add what is missing

Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

State record

From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.

Details

Phone, Address — Checked July 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "BETTER BOYS FOUNDATION KIDLAB" under Provider Name and 60623 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 016674).
Website — Checked August 2026 bbfcenterforthearts.org
License — Checked October 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "BETTER BOYS FOUNDATION KIDLAB" under Provider Name and 60623 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 016674).
Who runs it — Checked October 2026 projects.propublica.org

Small means the smallest quarter of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 8 to 48 children. Medium is 49 to 118; large is 119 to 487.