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Working Families to Gov. Rauner: Save Illinois’ Child Care Program!

(TAKE ACTION NOW – send a letter to your state legislator to save our child care program!)

Susan and Jason McWhirter are hard working parents of two children, ages 1 and 6, who live in Peoria. Susan is a certified nursing assistant who works 18-25 hours a week providing home care. She also attends school to become a medical assistant in hopes of advancing her career.

Jason also works 18-25 hours a week at a fast food restaurant and makes minimum wage. The family struggles to make ends meet as they have little to nothing left over after paying for utilities, food and other necessities.

The McWhirters use the Child Care Assistance Program because it allows them affordable, dependable and safe options for child care. The oldest child is bussed to child care when the school day ends. The parents arrive after 5 p.m. to pick both children up. The family says the quality of the child care has been very good in the development of the youngest child.

If the family loses child care assistance, Jason will have to quit his job and stay home with the 1 year old. That would allow Susan to get her medical assistant license when she graduates in May. She feels it’s important for her to finish school. Her ultimate goal is to become a registered nurse and continue to help people in need.

Meanwhile, if forced to, she will attempt to work a second job and finish studies.

“We’re very concerned about losing child care assistance,” Mrs. McWhirter said. “’My husband and I both work and I go to school so I can get a better job. Many families have no options but to leave their children in the care of others while they make a living for their family. The child care program gives me and my family options for child care that we can trust.”

SEIU HCII Press Release

Contact: James Muhammad, James.Muhammad@seiuhcil.org

 New TV Ad Calls on Gov. Rauner to Protect Working Parents

Substantial Television Ad Campaign Increases Pressure on Governor Rauner to Protect Child Care Funding

(Feb. 11, 2015, Chicago)–SEIU Healthcare Illinois launched a television ad campaign today calling on Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly to protect funding for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

The Department of Human Services announced a $300 million budget shortfall last month that will leave 160,000 thousand children in low-wage households without safe, reliable child care services.

The ad is one part of an aggressive campaign being led by early childhood education advocates, parents, childcare providers and children’s organizations throughout Illinois to restore funding for the child care program. It will be shown in all major media markets in the state including: Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Quad-Cities and Champaign.  The ad will air Feb. 11 through Feb. 18.

Susan and Jason McWhirter and their two children are featured in the ad. The Peoria family relies on the child care program to go to work.

“We’re very concerned about losing child care assistance,” Mrs. McWhirter said. “’My husband and I both work and I go to school so I can get a better job. Many families have no options but to leave their children in the care of others while they make a living for their family. The child care program gives me and my family options for child care that we can trust.”

The ad comes the week before Gov. Rauner is set to unveil his budget proposal on Feb. 18. The Chicago Tribune called the shortfall an “immediate test” for the governor.  Working parents and children’s advocates across the state have been very vocal about the crisis and the devastating impact of not fully funding the program.

Parents and advocates have flooded calls into the governor’s office and the offices of state legislators calling for immediate action. Rallies and press conferences also have been held in cities across the state.

“We have to take the governor at his word that the future of our state’s children is his first priority,” said Faith Arnold, a child care provider. “I want to believe him. Our children and the parents who desperately need the program want to believe him. It’s in his court now to do the right thing.”

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