Chicago · Licensed center

Joyful Steps Learning Center

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 7 of its 9 licensing inspections since May 2018.

Of the 122 Chicago-area centers with 9 licensing inspections, 20% had rules cited at 7 of them, as this center did. 34% had rules cited at all 9.

Licensing inspections

Sep 9, 2026No rules cited
Jul 30, 2025No rules cited
Jan 29, 202511 citations

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)

  • Personnel Records

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

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(1)

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(2)

7 more from this inspection

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(f)(2)

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)

  • 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)

  • Background Checks for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(f)(1)

Jan 3, 202311 citations

  • Diapering and Toileting Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(4)

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2)

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)

  • Health Requirements for Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)

7 more from this inspection

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)

  • Organization and Administration

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)

  • General Requirements for Personnel

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

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

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

Jan 4, 20221 citation

  • Qualifications for Child Care Director

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(a)

Jan 25, 202120 citations

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(4)

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(5)

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(c)

  • General Requirements for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7)

16 more from this inspection

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)(1)

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(1)

  • Organization and Administration

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)(3)

  • Organization and Administration

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)(6)

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3)

  • General Requirements for Personnel

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

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(b)

  • Special Requirements for School-Age Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.220(b)

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)(2)

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)(3)

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)(4)

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(2)

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(f)

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(2)

Jan 15, 202016 citations

  • General Requirements for Personnel

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

  • General Requirements for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7)

  • General Requirements for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)

12 more from this inspection

  • Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(b)

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2)

  • Guidance and Discipline

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)

  • Health Requirements for Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)

  • Nutrition and Meal Service

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(l)(1)

  • Background Checks for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

  • Personnel Records

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)

  • General Requirements for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8)

  • General Requirements for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(h)

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)

  • Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f)

  • Personnel Records

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

Jan 8, 201910 citations

  • Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)

  • Health Requirements for Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1)

  • Health Requirements for Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4)

6 more from this inspection

  • General Requirements for Personnel

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

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)

  • Health Requirements for Children

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

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3)

  • Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f)

  • Guidance and Discipline

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)

May 9, 20181 citation

  • Diapering and Toileting Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(1)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit
September 9, 2026
On file
9 visits since May 2018 — 2 cited nothing
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was February 28, 2025. 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.

Sep 2026 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited
Jul 2025 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited
Jan 2025 Monitoring visit 11 findings

Monitoring visit · January 29, 2025

Personnel Records

10 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) through (f)(2) · Violation substantiated

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 560098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2023 Monitoring visit 11 findings

Monitoring visit · January 3, 2023

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

4 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)(2) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)

Personnel Records

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

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

Organization and Administration

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

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(4) · Violation corrected

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 560098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2022 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · January 4, 2022

Qualifications for Child Care Director

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 560098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2021 Monitoring visit 20 findings

Monitoring visit · January 25, 2021

Grouping and Staffing

7 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) through (d)(4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · 407.190(b) · 407.190(c) · 407.190(d)(1) · 407.190(d)(2) · 407.190(d)(3) · 407.190(d)(4)

Staffing Structure

6 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(1) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(1) · 407.90(a)(2) · 407.90(a)(3) · 407.90(a)(4) · 407.90(a)(5) · 407.90(f)

Organization and Administration

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)(3) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)(3) · 407.70(k)(6)

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2) through (7) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2) · 407.100(c)(7)

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(2) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for School-Age Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.220(b) · 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 560098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2020 Monitoring visit 16 findings

Monitoring visit · January 15, 2020

General Requirements for Personnel

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

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(c)(8) · 407.100(f) · 407.100(h)

Personnel Records

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

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2) through (4)(a) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

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

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(l)(1) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 560098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2019 Monitoring visit 10 findings

Monitoring visit · January 8, 2019

Health Requirements for Children

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1) through (6) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1) · 407.310(a)(4) · 407.310(a)(6)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) through (i)(4)(a) · Violation substantiated

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

Staffing Structure

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) · Violation substantiated

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation substantiated

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f) · 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 560098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

May 2018 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · May 9, 2018

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(1) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 560098 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

7732646000

Address
7 E 119th St
License
license issued (il)

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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.

All checked July 2026.

State record

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

Details

  • Phone, Address, License sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "JOYFUL STEPS LEARNING CENTER" under Provider Name and 60628 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 560098).

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