Governor JB Pritzker announced the administration is directing additional funding to support child care providers that are part of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) which helps low-income working families access high-quality childcare, impacting 100,000 children annually.  The administration will utilize funding allocated to Illinois through the federal CARES Act to cover all eligible days of CCAP payments for December, January, and February regardless of attendance. Earlier this year, the Pritzker administration provided $270 million in relief funding to child care providers across the state as part of Illinois’ Business Interruption Grant Program, the largest business-relief program in the nation. The state is dedicating an additional $20 million in funding from the CARES Act to provide aid to additional providers in Illinois. Support for eligible child care providers include:

• The state will pay for all eligible days of childcare regardless of the child’s attendance. These changes are effective for December, January, and February to help providers maintain financial stability.

• The purchase and distribution of PPE to childcare providers across the state.