Affordable child care programs important

Raja Krishnamoorthi's view Aug. 19 on affordable child care is relevant for several reasons.

One, the fact that he is concerned about the issue on a personal and policy level reflects the ongoing change in family structure. No longer just a mother's problem, fathers are concerned as well.

Second, lack of good affordable child care affects family income. One parent, generally the mother, gives up her ability to use her skills and earn additional income, in order to provide child care because the cost is prohibitive.

Third, children without good care suffer by not having early learning and preschool opportunities. As a country, we ignore the proven benefits of Head Start and similar programs when we allow national and state budgets to eliminate or greatly reduce these opportunities.

In Illinois, prior requirements for a working family of two to receive child care assistance was $2,400 monthly. But under the proposed Illinois budget, the revised income requirements for new applicants in a two-person working family is a maximum of $664 a month to qualify.

Those of us who raised families many years ago, in different economic times, now need to advocate for those who are raising children in single-parent families and limited-income two-parent families.

Safe, inclusive early child care programs are economically and ethically worth fighting for.

Julie Sass

Elk Grove Village