CHICAGO – Essential workers may be eligible to receive child care assistance during the coronavirus pandemic, under an announcement made by Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this week. State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is encouraging people to apply for help.

“It can be hard for workers to provide care for their children when they have to work, and the coronavirus outbreak only increases the difficulty,” Peters said. “These workers are playing an important role in making sure stores, gas stations, medical centers and other essential businesses are staying open. We owe it to them to ensure their children have proper care when they’re on the job.”

The state’s Child Care Assistance Program provides low-income, working families with access to affordable, quality childcare. The expansion of CCAP will allow those deemed as “essential workers” during the COVID-19 outbreak who might not otherwise be eligible to receive the benefits of the program, and applies to those working as nurses and doctors, supporting staff in hospitals, and grocery store clerks, among others.

“Every child deserves quality care, and I’m thankful Gov. Pritzker expanded this program to ensure that not even a pandemic can prevent them from getting it,” Peters said.

More information can be found here.