The YWCA administers the IDHS Child Care Assistance Program to help income-eligible parents pay for child care while they work or go to school.
A family is considered income-eligible when the combined gross monthly income of all family members is at or below the amounts listed below for the corresponding family size. In two-parent families, both incomes must be combined to determine eligibility. Two-parent families include those with 2 or more adults living in the home, such as the applicant and his or her spouse or parents of a common child in the home.
| Maximum Monthly Income (200% FPL) |
Annual Income | |
| FAMILY SIZE 2 | $2,930 | $35,160 |
| FAMILY SIZE 3 | $3,660 | $43,920 |
| FAMILY SIZE 4 | $4,417 | $53,004 |
| FAMILY SIZE 5 | $5,173 | $62,076 |
| FAMILY SIZE 6 | $5,860 | $70,320 |
| FAMILY SIZE 7 | $6,607 | $79,284 |
| FAMILY SIZE 8 | $7,354 | $88,248 |
| FAMILY SIZE 9 | $8,100 | $97,200 |
| FAMILY SIZE 10 | $8,847 | $106,164 |
To qualify for the Illinois Department of Human Services Child Care Assistance program:
- Use the Eligibility Calculator to see if you are eligible for child care assistance.
- Find a child care provider who will be willing to accept the child care assistance funding. If you would like a list of providers in your area please call us at (630)790-6600. When you call, follow the prompts and select Early Childhood Services (Option 3). There will be additional prompts for providers (Option 1) and clients (Option 2).
- Submit a completed Application for Child Care Assistance to our office.
- Allow 10 business days from the day of receipt for your application to be reviewed.
Important Update:
Families and Providers Participating in the IDHS Child Care Assistance Programs;
In December, there was a public announcement that all parent copayments would be reduced to $1.25 for January and February 2021. We are writing to share that providers should only collect $1.25 from families in January and February. However, some approval letters were sent showing a $1.25 copayment for March 2021 in error. Copayments for March 2021 will be based on family size and income, as is typically the case. The March copayment should be the same as the copayments listed on your approval letter for December 2020 and April 2021. If you need a new approval letter with the correct copayment listed, please contact your Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency or Site Administered provider.
As a reminder, reduced copayments will not decrease the amount providers are paid. CCAP will continue to pay the difference between the copayment and the amount charged up to the approved rate. Please contact your Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R), Site Administered provider or email DHS.CCAP.POLICY@illinois.gov if you have any questions.
Where:
DuPage and Kane counties
Who’s Eligible:
Parents must be engaged in a qualifying activity such as work and or school or approved TANF activity.
Costs:
Free
Additional Information:
- English CCAP Application
- Spanish CCAP Application
- CCAP Child Care Rates for Providers
- Tarifas de Pago para Proveedores de Cuidado de Niños
- IDHS Online Applications
- Self-Employment Verification
- Formulario para Verificar Empleo por su Cuenta
- IVR Telephone Billing Agreement
- IDHS Child Care Payment Inquiries
Contact:
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Child Care Assistance Program serves Parents and Providers in the counties of DuPage, Kane and Lake. Our office hours and phone lines open Monday-Thursday 8am-4pm and Friday 8am-1:30pm.
There are three ways to reach our staff:
- Addison: 630-790-6600
- Lake County: 847-662-4247
- Toll Free: 844-221-2227(CCAP)
Parents and Providers may submit documents in a PDF format to our email address at CCAP@ywcachicago.org or by fax. For DuPage and Kane counties, the fax number is 630-629-7801 and for Lake County the fax number is 847-855-0304.