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General Questions
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What is CCAP?
CCAP stands for Child Care Assistance Program. It's a government program funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to help low-income families pay for child care. Examples of child care include daycare centers, afterschool programming, or care from a friend or family member.
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What is a CCR&R?
CCR&R stands for Child Care Resource & Referral Agency. CCR&Rs are community-based organizations that administer the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and process applications. They can help you with completing your application, choosing a child care provider, and connecting to other programs and services.
In Illinois, there are 16 CCR&Rs serving all 102 counties. Find the CCR&R serving your zip code.
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What is a child care provider?
A child care provider is any person, relative, friend, neighbor, or daycare center that provides care for your child.
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Do I qualify for CCAP?
To qualify for CCAP, we consider: parent activities, the age of children, and the family income.
1. Activities
To be eligible for Child Care Assistance, you must be unable to take care of your child because you are doing one of the following activities:
- Working
- Enrolling in school or training
- Experiencing homelessness
- Deployed in the military
- Participating in certain DCFS family support programs (not including Foster Care)
- Caring for a foster child or a child that has recently been in foster care
- When you are working or going to school and the other parent living in the home is getting treatment for medical, physical, or mental health
2. Age of children
The age of the children who need care must be 13 years old or younger. Special needs children may be eligible until they turn 19.
3. Family income
Family income must be below the program limits (this is as of July 1, 2024):
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Can I apply if I am a foster parent or enrolled in the Intact Family Services Program?
DCFS assists foster parents to pay for child care expenses. Ask your foster care caseworker how to apply.
If you are a foster parent or are enrolled in Intact Family Services, Extended Family Support, or Parenting Youth in Care programs, contact your Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) caseworker to apply for Child Care Assistance with no co-payment. You can also call 866-368-5204 (Foster Care) or 312-814-6800 (Intact Family Services).
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Do I have to be a U.S. resident/citizen to apply?
No, you do not need to have U.S. citizenship to apply and receive Child Care Assistance in Illinois.
Applying for or receiving Child Care Assistance will not affect immigration status. Your child does not need citizenship to get benefits.
On the application, you will be asked about the citizenship status of your children enrolled in child care. This is to figure out the correct funding and is not considered for CCAP eligibility.
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Do I have to be working to get help paying for child care?
No, you do not need to be working right now to be eligible for CCAP, but you must be unable to take care of your child for one of the following reasons:
- Enrolling in school or training
- Experiencing homelessness
- Deployed in the military
- Participating in certain DCFS family support programs (not including Foster Care)
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Will my child care be free if I'm approved for CCAP?
It depends on your family size, income, and living situation. Child care is free for families experiencing homelessness or in active military duty, DCFS's Extended Family Support Program, or DCFS Youth in Care.
Most families approved for CCAP pay a small monthly copayment to their child care provider. The copayment amount is based on their family size and non-exempt income.
- You can use the eligibility calculator to check your estimated copayment.
- Please keep in mind, in addition to your CCAP copay, there may be extra costs charged by your chosen provider. Make sure to ask them about this.
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How do I know if the child care provider I want to use will accept CCAP funds?
You should ask your provider directly. Not all child care providers accept CCAP or are qualified to accept CCAP.
Child care providers that can accept CCAP:
- Can be licensed or license-exempt
- Can be a child care center or a home
- Can be a relative, friend, or neighbor
- Must be at least 18 years old
- May not be the parent or stepparent of the children
- May not be on the same TANF cash assistance grant as you and your children if you are receiving these benefits
- Must authorize and submit to all required background checks
- Must complete all required health and safety trainings
- Must be visited to ensure they are meeting health and safety standards
If you have a friend, relative, or neighbor taking care of your child, they can apply to become an eligible CCAP provider on this website.
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How can I find a child care provider near me that accepts CCAP?
If you are looking for a child care provider, you can visit IllinoisCaresforKids or contact your local CCR&R to find programs close to you that accept CCAP. Once you find a provider you like, reach out to them directly to see if they have space for your child.
If you have a friend, relative, or neighbor taking care of your child, they can apply to become an eligible CCAP provider on this website.
Questions about Online Application
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Who can use the online application?
Currently, this site is available for families applying in 19 counties:
- Carroll County
- Clay County
- Cook County
- Crawford County
- DeKalb County
- Edwards County
- Effingham County
- Fayette County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence County
- Lee County
- Marion County
- McHenry County
- Ogle County
- Richland County
- Wabash County
- Wayne County
- Whiteside County
The online application will be available for more families and providers through 2025.
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I need help with child care now. What can I do?
Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency or (CCR&R) directly. This is the agency that will process your Child Care Assistance application.
Find your local agency's phone number: on this website.
Explain your situation and ask to have your application processed faster. The request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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I found a problem with the website. How can I report it?
Send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to report any problems you have with the website.
Include details in your email that can help us find and fix the problem. It's helpful to include information about:
- The device (ex: iPhone 12)
- The browser you were using to access the website (ex: Chrome)
- The specific screen or part of the website where you experienced the problem (ex: The screen asking about child care hours)
- Any steps you took before you encountered the problem (ex: "I tapped this button and it led me here")
Questions about Child Care
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Do I need to choose a child care provider before I apply?
We highly recommend that you reach out to the child care provider you want to apply with before you begin the application. Most providers require a meet-and-greet with you to learn more about your child and the hours you are looking for. This step increases the chances that your application will be accepted.
If you use this online application right now, you will be asked to choose a child care provider before completing your application. In the future, this online application (GetChildCareIL.org) will work with more child care providers, and allow families to apply for CCAP without a selected child care provider.
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Can I use a friend, family member, or neighbor as my child care provider?
Yes, your provider can be a relative, friend, or neighbor and be paid CCAP funds for the care they provide. If they aren't registered for CCAP right now, they can register on this website.
- The parent or step-parent of your children can not be paid CCAP funds.
- Parent's sibling (brother or sister) can not receive CCAP funds if they are living in the same household as the children requesting care.
Questions about the Process
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What is the status of my application?
To check the status of your application, reach out to your local CCR&R. You can find the CCR&R for your area and their contact information on this website.
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How do I submit verification documents?
At the end of your online application, you will have the option to submit verification documents. Please gather your documents before you start the online application.
If an application is submitted without the required documentation, we will send you a letter in the mail that will request additional information.
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What verification documents do I need to submit?
The most commonly requested documents verify your income, job, or school enrollment. Examples include: Paystubs, W2, tax returns, or a class schedule. The specific documents you need to submit depends on your situation.
Typical situations and documents:
You or your partner are working and receive payroll check stubs or cash Pay stubs - 2 most recent pay stubs OR Wage or income verification form or an employment letter if you're not employed long enough to have 2 stubs You or your partner are self-employed Self-Employment Record Your most recent federal income tax return along with all applicable schedules and attachments You're in school School schedule OR School letter of enrollment You're experiencing homelessness Certification of Temporary Living Arrangement Questionnaire (CTLAQ) - this can be submitted after you apply, and isn't required for your initial application to get approved. Other situations and documents:
Your situation Document needed You or your partner are disabled, or participating in a rehabilitation program A copy of the official documentation about the disability from a medical provider; or Rehabilitation program; or Responsibility and Service Plan (RSP) You want to communicate with DHS by email Email agreement form You or your partner are active duty military Military documents You're getting out of DCFS Intact Family Services Intact Family Services - Child Care Services Referral form You're currently receiving cash assistance (TANF) and enrolled in the Employment and Job Training Program Responsibility and Service Plan (RSP) -
How do I submit verification documents if I've already submitted my online application?
Submit additional documents to your local CCR&R by mail, fax, email, or in-person.
You can find and contact your local CCR&R by using this website. -
How do I maintain benefits?
Child care cases are approved for 12 months at a time. Your approval letter will list the start and end dates of eligibility.
About 6 weeks before your child care program term ends, a renewal form (also called a "redetermination" form) will be sent to you in the mail to see if you're eligible for more financial assistance for child care.
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After I apply, how long will it take to get Child Care Assistance?
You should get an application response within 45 calendar days. This is counted from the date your completed application was received by your CCR&R.
Questions about being a Child Care Provider
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Can I have other jobs in addition to providing child care?
You can have other jobs, but the work hours can't overlap. To qualify as a CCAP child care provider, you can't work another job while you are taking care of children.
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How do CCAP payments work?
Child care providers can be paid by paper check, direct deposit, or debit card. To find out which payment methods you can use, call the CCAP office at (309) 205-3070 Option 2.
For more information about CCAP payments, visit this website.