Illinois will get $82 million for child care, vaccines

SPRINGFIELD -- The Obama administration says Illinois will get $82 million in federal stimulus money to help children and prevent disease.

The state will receive $73.8 million to fund child care for families who can't afford baby sitters while they work, get job training or look for jobs.

Another $7 million in funding and grants will be available to Illinois for children of low-income families to get the vaccines they need.

A separate vaccine program sponsored by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Chicago will get an additional $1.5 million.

Nationally, $2.3 billion is available for child care and vaccines.

The money comes from the $787 billion economic stimulus program President Barack Obama signed in February.