Last week, Governor Pritzker announced child care investments to support families and providers in COVID-19 recovery. You can read the full press release here. It describes the investments that have taken place already during the pandemic as well as the new supports that were announced on September 13th, 2021. Here are the key takeaways.
- Getting families back to work. Beginning October 1, 2021, parents who are unemployed and actively seeking employment will be eligible for three months of Child Care Assistance if they meet CCAP eligibility requirements. If parents become employed or enroll in an education program before the end of the three-month period their eligibility will continue for 12 months in total.
- $1,000 Child Care Workforce Bonus. All staff at licensed and license-exempt childcare centers and homes will be eligible to receive up to $1,000 provided they meet all licensing and health and safety requirements. Childcare workers will receive the payment through their employer between October 2021 and March 2022.
- On the horizon for Child Care Providers: The administration will also launch a final round of 2021 Child Care Restoration Grants and later this year will open applications for 2022 Stabilization Grants.
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 at https://www.inccrra.org/about/sdasearch or by calling 1-877-202-4453 toll-free.
Providers can learn more about how to apply for the Child Care Workforce Bonus at: https://www.ilgateways.com/financial-opportunities/child-care-workforce-bonus.