Child care providers and thousands of families in southern Illinois are pleased lawmakers are working to take money from other parts of the state budget to avoid interruptions in child care.
Illinois is on the verge of halting payments to government-subsidized child care programs. Nina Wargel with the John A. Logan College Child Care Resource and Referral Center says the program serves about 3,000 families in the southern 15 counties of Illinois. Wargel says she believes lawmakers want to help working families, but she also understands they need to be careful where the money is coming from in the budget. She says her office has received many calls from parents who are worried they may have to quit their jobs to stay home with their children if the state halts payments for the program. Wargel was part of the Illinois Action for Children's Rally Day at the state capitol on Wednesday.
The legislation passed the House and is headed to the Senate for consideration.
