• Events
  • News
  • Research & Data
  • Contact
  • Who We Are
  • Our Path
  • Our Impact
Illinois Action for Children
Donate Now
  • Families
    • Finding Child Care
      • Child Care Options
      • Quality Child Care Tips and Checklists
      • Policies & Privacy
    • Paying for Child Care
      • CCAP Forms
    • Family Support Services
      • Teen Parent Project
      • Prevention Initiative
      • Family Engagement Training
      • Family & Neighborhood Partnerships
      • Family Supports for Employers
    • Early Learning Programs
    • Contact or Visit Us
    • Schedule a CCAP Appointment
    • Additional Resources
    • Census 2020
  • Providers
    • Child Care Assistance Program
      • Schedule a CCAP Appointment
      • Child Care Payment Updates
    • Opening a Child Care Program
    • Resource and Referral Database
    • Early Care & Learning Program Supports
      • Consultation Services
        • Quality Specialists
        • Infant-Toddler Specialists
        • Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants
        • ExceleRate Illinois | Preparing Children for Success
        • For School Districts
      • Funding Opportunities
        • Community Saturation Parenting RFP
        • Individual Professional Development Funds
        • Quality Improvement Funding
        • Accreditation Assistance
        • Training Stipends
      • Healthy Food Program
        • Forms & Links
        • Updates & Policies
      • Trainings
        • DFSS Training & Technical Assistance Resources for Community Early Learning Organizations
        • Quality Improvement Training Cohort
        • Entrenamiento
    • Community Partners
    • Health and Safety Resources Department
    • Community Systems Statewide Supports
    • Census 2020
  • Advocates
    • What We Champion
    • Take Action
      • 2019 Voter Registration Toolkit
      • Action Alerts
      • Advocacy Resources & Toolkits
        • Community Profiles
          • Illinois House Profiles
          • Illinois Senate Profiles
          • US Districts
        • Find Your Legislator
      • Child Care Works Campaign
        • Child Care Works Campaign Spotlight
      • La Campaña de Proveedores como Fuentes Económicas
    • Advocacy Events & Webinars
      • Past Advocacy Events
      • Past Advocacy Webinars
    • eAdvocate Newsletter Archive
    • Census 2020
    • 2020 Voter Registration Toolkit
  • Donors
    • Donor Central
    • 50 Years in the Making
    • More Ways to Make an Impact
    • Get Involved
    • Associates In Action
    • Annual Report 2018
  • Who We Are
    • Mission & Vision
    • Leadership
      • Maria Whelan’s Life and Legacy
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020
    • Associates In Action
    • Allies
    • Annual Donor Partners
    • Career Opportunities
      • Open Positions
      • Internship Opportunities
      • Benefits
      • Hiring Process
  • Our Path
    • Our History
      • IAFCs 50-Year Anniversary
    • The Problem
    • What We Believe
  • Our Impact
CLOSE
‹ Back to all News

Letter to the Editor: Pritzker’s budget prioritizes early care and education – State Journal Register

2/23/19

In response to the article “Pritzker’s budget: New taxes and revenue, and where spending would rise,” it’s important to note the governor has prioritized early care and education — and the well-being of Illinois’ working families — in his proposed budget.

Under the previous administration, many services children and working families depend on were slashed. The Child Care Assistance Program, which enables low-income working parents to afford child care so they can work, serves 40,000 fewer children today than before the 2015 eligibility restrictions were put into place.

Home visiting programs — which improve the life trajectory of expectant and new families who are at-risk for poor health, educational, economic and social outcomes — are serving only half the children they were in 2015. And Early Intervention serves far fewer children than research shows are eligible.

The governor’s proposed budget is a clear reaction to that, proposing:

* A $100 million increase to the Early Childhood Block Grant, which funds preschool and infant-toddler programs.

* A $30 million increase to CCAP.

* A $7 million increase to funding for Early Intervention.

* Flat funding for home visiting services.

As the governor said, this is just a start. We too would like to see even more robust investments in these research-tested supports for our youngest learners and their families. We look forward to working with his administration to help push Illinois toward being a national leader on the issues and opportunities that impact the lives of children and families.

Maria Whelan

President & CEO Illinois Action for Children

Read the full letter here…

SHARE THIS

Type

  • Action Alerts
  • Info Alerts
  • Media Releases/Alerts
  • Memo
  • News
  • Research Reports/Briefs
  • Statements

Sign up for our weekly newsletter:

sign up for our newsletter
  • Families
  • Providers
  • Advocates
  • Donors
  • Events
  • News
  • Research & Data
  • Contact
  • Who We Are
  • Our Path
  • Our Impact
get involved donate now
Copyright 2021 Illinois Action for Children
  • Board Login
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy