Illinois proposes financial relief for parents with young children through diaper relief bill
SPRINGFIELD (25News Now) - To alleviate some of the financial burdens on families with young children, Illinois lawmakers are taking steps intended to provide relief for those struggling with the high cost of diapers.
Some parents report expenses of up to $250 per month on diapers.
The proposed legislation seeks to allocate funds to daycare providers, which would have them buy some diapers for children in their care. This initiative targets the issue of diaper insecurity, which has been shown to have big impacts on families across the state.
Gov. JB Pritzker emphasized the importance of investing in early childhood needs during his budget address, focusing on ensuring that new mothers and their babies have access to clean diapers.
Many daycare centers require parents to provide their own diapers. However, the financial strain of this requirement can be overwhelming for some families.
Eric Mayo, public policy manager at Brightpoint, speaks about the problems of diaper insecurity, “One in four families experiencing diaper insecurity report missing work or school, averaging five lost days per month,” said Mayo. This not only affects the family’s financial stability but also the child’s consistent access to childcare.
A study last year by the National Diaper Bank Network revealed that half of the families surveyed could not afford an adequate supply of diapers, with some even foregoing meals to meet this essential need. In response to a query on diaper expenses, readers shared that they spend between $100 and $250 monthly, underscoring the financial challenge many face.
During his State of the State budget address, Governor Pritzker announced a $1 million pilot program aimed at tackling this issue head-on. The program’s goal is to prevent any child from missing daycare due to a lack of diapers, ensuring parents can continue to work or attend school without interruption.
Daycare providers would report the number of children under three in their care, using this information to receive additional funding for diaper purchases. This approach aims to support families directly affected by diaper insecurity, enabling their children to benefit from early childhood programs without the barrier of diaper affordability.
If the bill become law, it would lead to the creation of an add-on rate for childcare providers within the state’s childcare assistance program. This would allow them to purchase diapers for children under their care, addressing a critical need for many families.
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