SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — Following the announcement that Building Blocks Daycare is closing, NewsChannel 20 is investigating whether Springfield is experiencing a daycare desert.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said its data shows Springfield is not a child care desert, but I’ve called several day care centers and that doesn’t seem to be the case.

I spent the day calling several daycares, and they all told me they were full and there was a waiting list. First Impressions Daycare said it was only allowed to accommodate 74 children, but all available places would be allocated to parents affected by the closure of Building Blocks Daycare.

More than 100 families are looking for a new caregiver after Building Blocks announced it would close at the end of the year.

Parents like Julie Denno said she only received waitlist responses when searching for child care providers. Katrina Pocius emailed me directly to tell me how difficult it is to find child care and the worries that come with making sure your child gets the right care.

But IDCFS said as part of the Smart Start Illinois initiative, workforce grants support child care centers to keep doors open and support children in the classroom.

Parents looking for child care in the Springfield area should visit the Illinois Cares for Kids website. Parents and guardians added by IDCFS can also contact their local child care and referral agency.