Walsh Helps Ensures Child Care for Working Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., D-Elwood, co-sponsored legislation that will protect working class families from being unnecessarily removed from the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

“As a proud father of three, I want to make sure the children of hard working folks in Illinois have proper access to child care,” Walsh said. “Many working-class families rely on CCAP so that they can go to work or school, and without access, it forces many parents to make a difficult decision on what’s best for the future of their family.”

CCAP is a Department of Human Services (DHS) program that provides child care to low income and working families. In July 2015, cuts to the CCAP resulted in 30,000 hard working families being turned away by program. House Bill 5599 establishes the income level to qualify for CCAP. This does not change any of the costs to the DHS, as House Bill 5599 matches the current eligibility requirements, but putting this income level into Illinois Law prevents the DHS from changing the eligibility requirements and cutting families from the program.

“Proper child care programs, such as the CCAP, are an investment into our children and Illinois,” Walsh said. “We need to make sure all Illinois families who need this help are able to get it.”