Carolyn Smith, a licensed child care provider in Champaign, Illinois, invited State Representative Carol Ammons (D-103^rddistrict) to attend a “walk-a-day” on July 24^th to see firsthand the hard work and the essential value of her early learning program.

Representative Ammons led a game of educational BINGO, engaged children during play time, and served lunch to the kids ranging in age from one to eleven years old. Throughout the visit, Rep. Ammons heard about the uncertainty and hardship that Ms. Smith and the parents she serves are currently experiencing because of Gov. Rauner’s rule changes to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and payment delays from Rauner’s government shutdown.

“Slashing our state’s child care program will create a domino effect across our communities. Denying child care assistance to low-income parents leaves them with few options: either quit your job, or leave your children home alone. No parent should face that. And for myself, I don’t know when I will receive my next paycheck at this point, I can only keep the doors open for so long like this,” said Carolyn Smith.

Ms. Smith shared a story of one family she serves who started off at her day care three years ago. “They were homeless when the kids first started coming here, but thanks to the Child Care Assistance Program, that mom went back to school, got her education, and now has a job she’s supporting her family on. Examples like that are why we must protect these critical services,” said Smith.

“The Child Care Assistance Program plays a vital role in our communities,” Representative Ammons said. “It allows parents to continue to work and support their families, while simultaneously ensuring that their children receive safe, quality care.”

According to research from Illinois Action for Children, “On July 1, 2015, Governor Rauner made harmful changes to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) that will hurt thousands of families and young children. These changes are not connected to the state budget. The biggest change is that new applications for child care assistance will be denied for 90% of the population. Only families that fall within one of the four priority populations may receive Child Care Assistance: 1) families on TANF; 2) having a child with special needs; 3) earning below 50% of the federal poverty level, or 4) a teen parent.” Low-income families currently utilizing CCAP will also face increases in co-payments that will place greater economic hardships on already struggling parents.

Each day Gov. Rauner’s government shutdown continues, tens of thousands of child care providers worry when they will receive their next paycheck, heightening economic insecurity for these low-wage workers. Since July 1st, it’s estimated that more than 2,500 families have already been denied access to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Those parents now face the difficult decision of going to work and leaving their children at home, or quitting their jobs to stay home and look after their kids.

Studies have shown that parents receiving Child Care Assistance Program subsidies are more likely to choose a higher quality child care setting, and have more stable child care that results in fewer job-related problems. Child care has a stronger economic multiplier than many other industries. For every $100 spending in child care in Illinois, there is an estimated $213 in regional economic impact.
Child care providers and community leaders say they will continue to call on state lawmakers to end the government shutdown and pass a state budget that protects critical programs like child care assistance. Rep. Carol Ammons pledged her support to protecting the Child Care Assistance Program, and called on Republican State Representative Chad Hays (R-104^th District) to stand with working families and kids by doing the same.

“Without these essential programs, parents would be forced into the unemployment line or even worse, the well-being of children would be endangered,” Ammons said. “I urge my colleagues in the General Assembly to join me in calling on Gov. Rauner for a restoration of funding to these vital state functions that help protect our state’s future leaders.”