HR0778 LRB093 21655 HSS 49247 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, It has been proven that quality childcare and
3 early education for children is critical in determining a
4 child's future success in school and life; and
 
5     WHEREAS, There are more than 1.1 million children in
6 Illinois under the age of five and about 60% or 600,000 of
7 these children have working parents and are cared for during
8 the day by another adult; and
 
9     WHEREAS, It is essential that the State of Illinois take a
10 leadership role in improving the childcare and early education
11 options available for Illinois families; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Early childhood workers and home providers play a
13 crucial role in providing high-quality experiences for young
14 children; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Currently over 55,000 childcare and early
16 education workers and home providers in Illinois care for over
17 195,000 low-income children in daycare homes and centers
18 through the Illinois Childcare Assistance Program; and
 
19     WHEREAS, These workers and providers provide quality care
20 to both meet the care and educational needs of young children
21 and make it possible for approximately 97,000 low-income
22 families to go to work; and
 
23     WHEREAS, The average wage for these workers and home
24 providers is between $2 and $8.60 per hour depending on the
25 care setting, and the majority of these childcare workers and
26 home providers live below the poverty line; and
 
27     WHEREAS, The overwhelming majority of workers and home
28 providers do not receive health coverage nor other benefits;

 

 

HR0778 - 2 - LRB093 21655 HSS 49247 r

1 and
 
2     WHEREAS, Turnover rates among these providers and workers
3 range up to 44% due to the low wages and few benefits; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Monthly State reimbursements to childcare
5 providers are frequently delayed by up to four months causing
6 great hardship; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Currently the State provides little or no
8 recognition or reward for training, education, and length of
9 service for these providers; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Home child care providers are not currently
11 permitted to bargain collectively over wages, benefits, and
12 working conditions; therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15 will work with the Governor's Office to implement policies
16 which attempt to achieve the following goals: (1) that all
17 families have the right to accessible, affordable, quality
18 childcare; (2) that all children, parents, workers, and
19 providers who receive and provide child care are treated with
20 fairness, dignity, and respect; (3) that all home child care
21 providers and childcare workers have the right to join or form
22 a union in order to bargain collectively; (4) that all home
23 child care providers and childcare workers have the right to
24 earn a living wage and receive benefits such as paid vacation,
25 sick days, and holidays, affordable health insurance, and a
26 secure retirement; and (5) that all providers have the right to
27 be reimbursed by the State in a timely fashion to ensure that
28 children receive the services they need; and be it further
 
29     RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to
30 Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois Childcare Assistance

 

 

HR0778 - 3 - LRB093 21655 HSS 49247 r

1 Program.