Child Care Assistance
The Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) makes it possible for qualifying families to receive financial support to help pay for the cost of childcare. All families pay a portion of the cost of childcare as a co-payment. The amount of the family’s co-payment is based on income and family size and is determined by IDHS.
Eligibility for CCAP is determined by income categories per family size. Additionally, students with no income pursing a 4-year college degree are also eligible.
How to Apply
An eligibility calculator & the full application can be found on the Illinois Action for Children website: https://www.actforchildren.org/devsite/child-care/pay-child-care
At the time of enrollment, the UIC Children’s Center will give families the completed provider portion of the CCAP application (pages 11-13).
Completed application forms can be submitted through the Action for Children document submission portal -See above website for full details.
Questions: Contact Illinois Action for Children 312.823.1100 Mon-Friday 8:30-4:30 or CCAPQuestions@actforchildren.org
Initial Deposit
To secure enrollment, families are responsible to pay an initial deposit amount of one week of tuition (based on the Center’s sliding scale) and a $100 registration fee. This full deposit is non-refundable. The tuition portion of the deposit will be applied toward the CCAP assigned monthly co-payment. Please note that there is also a material fee due upon enrollment. CCAP does not cover administrative fees such as the registration or material fees, this is the responsibility of the family.
When can my child start?
Option #1
- Wait until you have received your CCAP approval letter and determined monthly co-payment.
Option #2
- While CCAP application is being processed the Children’s Center will accept 50% of the assigned weekly tuition for a period of 4 weeks starting with the first day of enrollment. If written confirmation of approval is not received within this time, the full rate of tuition will be owed beginning with the first day of enrollment. Full tuition will be due for all weeks that care was provided before the approved effective date. In this case, families may meet with the director to establish a plan for the owed tuition amount. Enrollment will be terminated if owed tuition is not paid based on the established plan.
CCAP Application
Little Sparks Tuition Assistance Program Heading link
University of Illinois Chicago is a proud recipient of the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant which is a federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Little Sparks Tuition Assistance Program will use grant funds to support student-parents as they complete education by providing childcare funding and wrap-around support.
The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program, established under the Higher Education Act and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, assists low-income parents in pursuing postsecondary education by offering access to licensed, nationally accredited childcare services on campus or in the community for children aged 6 weeks to 12 years. The Little Sparks Child Care Subsidy is for child care for ages 0 – 5 years old.