Governor Pritzker Announces New Investments in Child Care

Published: November 14, 2022

8-12 children of both genders (ages 4-5) in a standing circle in a classroom doing an activity or dance with arms in the air.

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Early Childhood (DEC) have announced new investments to support child care providers and working families of young children in Illinois.

These new investments are:

• Extending and expanding the Strengthen and Grow Child Care (SGCC) grant program through July 2023. These grants provide funding for eligible child care centers and homes.

• Extending Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) eligibility for job seekers through June 2023.

• Reclassifying some earned income as unearned income when determining CCAP eligibility. This will enable more families to access CCAP benefits.

Applications for the next round of SGCC funding will open on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. Funding will be released in February 2023 and run through April 2023. Details on eligibility requirements and access to applications can be found on the Gateways Director Portal.