CALUMET CITY, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, is calling attention to a recent expansion of Illinois’ Child Care Assistance Program, which will help more families receive safe, affordable daycare.

“Every family deserves access to affordable daycare,” Jones said. “Many working parents, especially single parents, depend on child care professionals to keep their children safe and help them learn. Unfortunately, sometimes that costs way too much money for a low-income family. I encourage every working parent or guardian to look into this new program to see if they are eligible for assistance, because our kids deserve the best.”

Jones is supporting an expansion of Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) program which grants child care assistance money to families making 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or less. This income level is an expansion of 15% from the previous 185% of the FPL. Jones has backed many initiatives like this to ensure that critical services are available for low-income families.

“Child care isn’t a luxury, it’s the first step in a long-term investment in better education, a productive economy and a stronger Illinois,” Jones said. “Kids who get full-time care when they are growing up are much more likely to develop the skills they need to do well in school and eventually get a job as a productive member of society. I will keep working hard to ensure that all working families get the resources they need.”

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.”

CHICAGO – As local families continue to struggle with the overbearing costs of childcare, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation that increases access to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for families who are most in need.

“Last year under the direction of Governor Rauner, access to childcare was dramatically reduced to those who need it most,” Slaughter said.  “That action was reckless, and left thousands of parents in the difficult position of trying to decide whether to go to work or stay home. Childcare assistance is a proven economic generator, and this proposal would reasonably extend it to families who need it.”

Slaughter is cosponsoring House Bill 721, which expands eligibility for CCAP to more low-income families by raising the income threshold from 162 percent of the federal poverty level to the previous state standard of 185 percent. If passed and signed into law, it is expected that up to 30,000 more families will have access to childcare assistance.

“Our most vulnerable children do not have access to the proper assistance needed to ensure their health and safety,” Slaughter said. “It is time to reinstate the previous cap, and allow more Illinois families to receive the assistance needed for their children.”

For more information, please contact Slaughter’s constituent service office at 773-445-9700 slaughterj@ilga.gov.