Illinois' Child Care Assistance Program budget for the 2015 fiscal year is underfunded by almost $300 million. 

This means that the state will essentially run out of money to pay child care providers as early as February. 

Child care assistance is critical for working families and their children. In the northern suburbs alone there are more than 1,200 children who access child care assistance.  

By petitioning with us today, you're telling your elected officials that affordable, quality early education for children and families is a must-have for those children and families. 

We believe ...

- Quality child care is essential to the future success our children. 

- Child care is critical for families to achieve economic stability.

- When parents have stable child care, it means Illinois businesses can continue to be the economic engines of our state.

- Child care can be the difference between having or keeping a job, stable housing, continuing education and more. 

- Child care is not a nice-to-have, it is a must-have

Please be a voice for our families today as we tell our elected officials to put our children and families first.