HR0778

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, It has been proven that quality childcare and 
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early education for children is critical in determining a 
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child's future success in school and life; and
 

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    WHEREAS, There are more than 1.1 million children in 
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Illinois under the age of five and about 60% or 600,000 of 
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these children have working parents and are cared for during 
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the day by another adult; and
 

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    WHEREAS, It is essential that the State of Illinois take a 
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leadership role in improving the childcare and early education 
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options available for Illinois families; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Early childhood workers and home providers play a 
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crucial role in providing high-quality experiences for young 
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children; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Currently over 55,000 childcare and early 
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education workers and home providers in Illinois care for over 
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195,000 low-income children in daycare homes and centers 
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through the Illinois Childcare Assistance Program; and
 

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    WHEREAS, These workers and providers provide quality care 
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to both meet the care and educational needs of young children 
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and make it possible for approximately 97,000 low-income 
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families to go to work; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The average wage for these workers and home 
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providers is between $2 and $8.60 per hour depending on the 
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care setting, and the majority of these childcare workers and 
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home providers live below the poverty line; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The overwhelming majority of workers and home 
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providers do not receive health coverage nor other benefits; 
 


 






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and
 

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    WHEREAS, Turnover rates among these providers and workers 
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range up to 44% due to the low wages and few benefits; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Monthly State reimbursements to childcare 
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providers are frequently delayed by up to four months causing 
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great hardship; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Currently the State provides little or no 
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recognition or reward for training, education, and length of 
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service for these providers; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Home child care providers are not currently 
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permitted to bargain collectively over wages, benefits, and 
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working conditions; therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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will work with the Governor's Office to implement policies 
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which attempt to achieve the following goals: (1) that all 
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families have the right to accessible, affordable, quality 
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childcare; (2) that all children, parents, workers, and 
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providers who receive and provide child care are treated with 
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fairness, dignity, and respect; (3) that all home child care 
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providers and childcare workers have the right to join or form 
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a union in order to bargain collectively; (4) that all home 
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child care providers and childcare workers have the right to 
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earn a living wage and receive benefits such as paid vacation, 
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sick days, and holidays, affordable health insurance, and a 
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secure retirement; and (5) that all providers have the right to 
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be reimbursed by the State in a timely fashion to ensure that 
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children receive the services they need; and be it further
 

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    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to 
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Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois Childcare Assistance 
 


 






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Program.