Advocates for children are pushing for expansion of a child care program for lower income families that was cut by former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration.
The Child Care Assistance Program was cut severely in 2015 so that 90 percent of the participants lost services. The eligibility limits have increased since then.
Legislation under consideration would further increase the number eligible families by making the income limit higher.
“By increasing income eligibility, we can ensure that families are getting raises can accept that raise, and they can continue to work and know that they will have stable child care,” said Samir Tanna with the advocacy group Illinois Action for Children.
He said the cuts made parents and child care providers lose faith in the program, and that stable funding would rebuild that trust.
Ireta Gasner, a vice president at Ounce of Prevention, agreed.
“The numbers are still not rebounding,” she said. “ And so we continue to think about how can we can improve, get out the news about this ability that returned to the program so that we can have a family see this is the kind of work support that and investment in their children that we want to it be.”
