Understanding Child Care Assistance in Illinois: Who is Enrolled and Where?
What We Did
Child care subsidies help working families afford care, yet not all eligible families enroll in available programs. In Illinois, the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), funded by both state and federal dollars, subsidizes child care to low-income families. Understanding where and why participation varies can help policymakers and administrators strengthen access to child care assistance.
To examine these patterns, Chapin Hall researchers prepared and analyzed CCAP data to calculate the number of child participants. In addition, a new statistical method using multiple Census Bureau datasets—Estimation of Local Populations Eligible for Programs (ELPEP)—was developed to calculate the number of eligible children based in the program’s eligibility rules. From these two numbers, we calculated take-up rates across Illinois counties and Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) regions. This approach enabled us to estimate the proportion of eligible children who receive subsidized care, highlighting geographic patterns and demographic disparities in program participation.
What We Found
- Overall, CCAP take-up rates in 2023 were 42% for children ages 0-2, 48% for ages 3-5, and 22% for ages 6-12.
- Take-up rates varied widely by region. In some areas, fewer than 20% of eligible children were enrolled, while in others, over 50% participated.
- Urban counties had the highest participation rates across all age groups.
- Majority Black non-Hispanic zip codes had the highest CCAP take-up rates, followed by majority Hispanic and racially diverse areas. Majority white non-Hispanic zip codes had the lowest take-up rates.
- Zip codes with lower rates of English proficiency had slightly higher CCAP take-up rates for children under age 6.
- Younger children (ages 0-5) had higher take-up rates than school-age children (ages 6-12) who are likely to be in school.
- Take-up was highest in areas with a greater density of CCAP-eligible families and providers, suggesting that proximity to child care centers accepting subsidies plays a role in access.
What It Means
Child care subsidies are an essential support for working families, but participation is uneven across Illinois. The findings suggest that geographic accessibility, program awareness, and provider availability influence take-up rates. Policymakers and child care administrators can use these insights to:
- Expand outreach in areas with low take-up to increase awareness and enrollment.
- Support providers in under-served regions to enhance child care availability.
- Continue monitoring trends to ensure subsidies are reaching eligible families equitably.
Information of this type can be used by policymakers to make informed decisions around the use of state and federal resources.
Interested in learning more about this work? Contact Jon Korfmacher.
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