The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago announced a collaboration with Instituto del Progreso Latino and members of the Y’s Board of Managers to provide emergency child care services at no cost to essential workers in Pilsen, Little Village, and Brighton Park. The Y began offering emergency child care assistance this Monday out of the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy at 2520 South Western Avenue, located one block north of the Rauner Family YMCA. Parents can drop off their children for the day at the school as early as 6:30 am until 7:30 pm, allowing them to focus on providing critical services to the city as it fights to contain the virus.

The Y’s Emergency Child Care Program can serve a maximum of 50 children from kindergarten through 6th grade in accordance with the State of Illinois’ requirements. Children receive extended hours of care and structured programming, including physical activity, arts and crafts, and homework help, as well as breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a mid-afternoon snack. Services cost $60 per child per day, but essential workers can easily, with staff help, apply for state assistance that will reduce the cost to $20 per child per day. Once accepted for state assistance, the YMCA’s Board of Managers has pledged to pay the remaining $20 not covered by the State. Families can call Member Services at 773-905-5115 (M-F: 8 am -7 pm) to register for child care services and to receive instructions on how to obtain the state subsidy. For more information, visit www.ymcachicago.org.