SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The State of Illinois will begin offering help next month to low-income parents who need help paying for childcare, as well as provide funding to childcare providers and their employees.
Starting Oct. 1, parents who are unemployed and actively seeking employment will be eligible for three months of Child Care Assistance, provided they meet the standard Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) eligibility requirements. If parents become employed or enroll in an education program before the end of the three-month period and meet all other CCAP eligibility requirements, their eligibility will continue for 12 months in total.
Governor Pritzker also announced that the state is going to provide bonuses of up to $1,000 for eligible childcare workers.
"It’s a simple thing that we can do to say, ‘thank you,’ to the people who carry the rest of the working world on their shoulders," Pritzker said.
These bonuses will be followed by two more rounds of childcare restoration grants, plus an additional phase of grants in 2022, with $300 million to be made available to providers across the state.
"Childcare is an essential part of a strong and equitable economy, and I'm proud that Illinois is leading the nation in supporting families and providers," said Governor JB Pritzker, in a statement. "Without safe and affordable childcare, too many caregivers - especially women - can't return to the workforce. We're taking a major step to address this problem in Illinois, and rebuild our childcare ecosystem - and rebuild it better."
This announcement builds on the Pritzker Administration's ongoing commitment to providing affordable, accessible childcare for all Illinois families. Earlier this year, the Governor announced CCAP co-pays would decrease for 80 percent of families who participate in the program. Families who meet certain income eligibility requirements, with income below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level have seen their monthly co-pays reduced to $1.
Since the pandemic began, the state has invested more than $700 million in COVID-19 relief funding in the state's childcare industry. Through the first round of Child Care Restoration Grants, over 5,000 providers have received monetary support, representing 85 percent of eligible childcare centers and 40 percent of licensed family childcare homes. On average, childcare centers have received over $270,000 each and childcare homes have received an average of $13,000.
Families interested in applying for support through the Child Care Assistance Program, can contact their local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (CCR&R) which can be found online https://www.inccrra.org/about/sdasearch or by calling 1-877-202-4453 toll-free.
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