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Cook County Health is offering walk-in availability and appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. To make an appointment, visit vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or call 833-308-1988 between 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs. Updates to the guidance emphasize the importance of universal masking for everyone ages 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, this guidance provides more information on screening testing and updated guidance for fully vaccinated staff. Click here to learn more!

The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC). As a result, most families, even those with little to-no income, can receive the full amount. That amount is now $300 per month per child under age 6, and $250 for each child age 6 to 17. You can now receive half of the total credit amount in advance monthly payments through December 2021. You can claim the other half when you file your 2021 income tax return.

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The State of Illinois’ moratorium on COVID-related evictions ended October 3 but renters still have options. For anyone worried about remaining in their home because of an inability to pay rent, the City of Chicago is reminding renters there are resources available to help them stay safely housed.

Financial assistance is still available and tenants may qualify for up to 15 months of rent payments, in addition to utility payment assistance. Residents can visit chicago.gov/renthelp to apply, and check the status of an application for rental assistance submitted in the summer.

Through a partnership with the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, renters can receive free legal and mitigation assistance to prevent being evicted. The hotline, Rentervention, is free and confidential, and tenants can call 312-347-7600, visit rentervention.com or text “hi” to 866-7RENTER (866-773-6837) to start a conversation with Renny, Rentervention’s bot.

The Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) offers free legal help, mediation, and connections to other resources including rental assistance. To learn more, call 855-956-5763 or visit https://cookcountylegalaid.org.

Under the COVID-19 Evictions Protection Ordinance, landlords filing evictions due to nonpayment of rent against tenants who have coronavirus-related financial hardships, must wait for a seven-day “cooling-off” period in addition to the regular five-day notice period. After the “cooling-off” period, landlords must show the court that they have engaged in good faith efforts to reach a reasonable alternative to eviction, including mediation, payment plans or other options before an eviction can proceed.

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Illinois has been awarded $331 million in financial aid to support child care through the latest federal relief package passed by the US Congress. Unlike the Child Care Restoration Grants (CCRG) in 2020, these funds will flow directly through the Illinois Department of Human Services. We know our state’s recovery relies on the economic survival of our child care system. The continuation of the Child Care Restoration Grants is designed to help sustain child care as the economy continues to reopen. Click here for more information.

• Grant applications and renewal opt-ins will open on Monday, October 18, 2021, and close on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

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Beginning October 1, 2021, parents who are unemployed and actively seeking employment will be eligible for three months of Child Care Assistance, provided they meet the standard CCAP eligibility requirements. If parents become employed or enroll in an education program before the end of the three-month period and meet all other CCAP eligibility requirements, their eligibility will continue for 12 months in total.

Families interested in applying for support through the Child Care Assistance Program, can contact their local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (CCR&R) which can be found online at https://www.inccrra.org/about/sdasearch or by calling 1-877-202-4453 toll-free.

The CSBG Scholarship Program offers financial aid ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for income-eligible residents of the City of Chicago who demonstrate academic achievement, career potential, and educational motivation. Displaced and underemployed workers, high school graduates (or equivalent), and Chicago residents aspiring to obtain higher education and employment are invited to apply. Applications are due August 16, 2021, by 5:00 p.m.

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The Hire Chicago partners, the City of Chicago, World Business Chicago, and The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) are dedicated to creating a one-of-a-kind hiring event that offers unique, industry-specific opportunities for both job seekers and employers as Chicago enters a new, post-pandemic economy.

Investing with Families is a year-long initiative from the Office of Head Start to help move Head Start Forward. It will focus on sharing important American Rescue Plan (ARP) benefits information with Head Start programs, staff, families, and communities.

The ARP delivers critical tax relief for families with children, including families who are not required to file taxes. The new Child Tax Credit is the largest child tax credit ever. The ARP also expands the size of the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Help spread the word by sharing this information with staff and families.

Child Tax Credit

The ARP created a monthly child allowance to replace the current Child Tax Credit. Beginning in July 2021, families who qualified for this year’s Child Tax Credit on their tax return will receive monthly payments of $300 per child under age 6 and $250 per child aged 6–17. This is advanced tax relief; normally, tax relief comes the following year when you file your taxes. With the ARP Child Tax Credit, families should start receiving monthly payments in July.

The full payment amount is based on the number of children claimed as dependents on a family’s most recent tax return (2019 or 2020). Individual Taxpayer Income Number (ITIN) holders, including immigrant families with children who have social security numbers, are eligible to receive this credit. This one-year program will end on Dec. 31, 2021.

What can program staff and families do?
If a family filed taxes for 2019 or 2020 or signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, this tax relief will come automatically. There is no action to take.

If a couple makes under $24,800, a head of household makes under $18,650, or a single filer makes under $12,400 and they have not filed their taxes, they can sign up for the Child Tax Credit following these steps:

• Go to Child Tax Credit for Non-filers.
• Be ready with a reliable mailing address, email address, and the ITIN and social security numbers for you and your children.
• Provide bank account information to receive your payment safely and securely by direct deposit.

To ensure families receive monthly payments starting in July, families should file a 2020 tax return as soon as possible. Families will retroactively claim this allowance from January–June 2020 on next year’s tax return.

Child and Dependent Care Credit

Parents are eligible for this tax credit if they needed care for any child under age 13 or a disabled dependent of any age while working or looking for work. This includes any amount paid (full or co-pay) for center-based child care, babysitter care, summer camp, or care by adult relatives outside of the tax household. ITIN holders, including immigrant families with children born in the U.S with a social security number, are eligible to receive this credit.

What can program staff and families do?
Families should keep records of their child care expenses to report on next year’s tax return. Even those who do typically file taxes should file because the credit will be fully refundable and could result in a tax refund.

Related Resources

Explore resources related to this topic:

• The Child Tax Credit
• Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit FAQs
• Building Foundations for Economic Mobility in Head Start

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