Vella Pushes for Child Care Expansion Grants

ROCKFORD, Ill. – State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, is supporting legislation that would increase accessibility to affordable child care.

“As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and people start to return to working in-person instead of remotely, it is important that parents have the resources they need to have their children looked after, regardless of their income,” Vella said. “Not only will this legislation take a financial burden off of working families, but also give them the peace of mind that their children are in a positive environment throughout the day.”

Vella is co-sponsoring House Bill 177, which directs the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a 5-year grant program to support daycare centers, community-based organizations, and other entities that provide high-quality child care services for children from birth to 6 years old, regardless of family income. These grants can be used to construct, renovate, and maintain child care facilities, train and pay child care providers and staff, and provide meals to children. These grants will be monitored by DHS and used to create standards for a statewide child care funding program.

“With the many benefits that child care provides for both children and parents, we must allocate additional resources into helping as many families in Illinois have access to these services,” Vella said. “Not only will this legislation directly help many working families but it will also help provide evidence on how to best fund child care services statewide and support working families across the state.”