Federal Grant Award Summary

The Illinois Department of Human Services received a $59.72 million formula grant award from the Office of Child Care under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Mandatory & Matching Funds program (CFDA 93.596), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. This three-year award supports the state's provision of child care subsidies and services to low-income families, enabling parents to access affordable, quality child care while working or pursuing education and training. As the designated lead agency for Illinois, IDHS administers the CCDF program in compliance with the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, developing comprehensive state plans that outline the allocation and delivery of funds to eligible families and child care providers.

The Mandatory and Matching Funds component of CCDF provides formula-based federal resources to support child care affordability and quality improvement initiatives across the state. IDHS, working in coordination with local governments, non-profit organizations, and community partners, uses these funds to implement sliding fee scales for child care costs, improve service quality standards, and promote early childhood development. The award requires IDHS to maintain comprehensive CCDF plans subject to federal approval, conduct public hearings for program input, and ensure compliance with federal regulations governing financial management, record retention, and audit requirements.