Ccdf-2026 - child care and development fund mandatory & matching

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Illinois Department of Human Services $164.934 million on October 1, 2025, under the Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund program (CFDA 93.596). The award funds child care assistance for low-income families and quality improvements across Illinois child care services through September 30, 2028.

Illinois Department of Human Services serves as lead agency administering the mandatory and matching formula allocation across the state. The recipient passes funds to sub-recipients including Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (quality improvement services and professional development for child care providers), Sal Family and Community Services (early childhood education and family support), National Louis University (teacher training and educational research), Illinois Action for Children (Head Start and subsidized childcare), Community Coordinated Child Care (direct child care and meal services), YWCA Northwestern Illinois (child care and early childhood home visiting), West Central Child Care Connection (provider training and quality rating support), University of Illinois (research and education), Illinois Afterschool Network (professional development for afterschool program staff), multiple county health departments (McLean, Will, Stephenson, Adams, DuPage, Tazewell, Wabash), Eastern Illinois University and Rend Lake College (child care support and workforce training), Metropolitan Family Services (family support services), Everychild (family advocacy services), John A. Logan College (vocational training), Youth Crossroads Inc. (social services), and Child Care Resource and Referral Network (resource and referral services).

CCDF mandatory and matching funds operate as entitlement grants under section 418 of the Social Security Act, not subject to annual appropriations. Recipients must submit three-year CCDF plans with certifications and assurances of compliance with the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, hold public hearings with at least 20 days of advance notice, and establish sliding fee scales. Lead agencies and sub-recipients must retain CCDF records for three years from financial report submission; records for construction or renovation projects must be retained per specified timelines under 45 CFR 98.90 and 2 CFR 200.334–200.338.