Tuition & Assistance
CCAP Daycare Hawthorn Woods IL: A Lake County Parent's Guide
Quality, licensed child care in Hawthorn Woods — with room for families using CCAP.
Quick answer
Yes — families approved for Illinois' Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) can use it toward tuition at Kiddy Garden's Hawthorn Woods preschool and daycare. CCAP helps eligible Lake County families who are working or in school pay for licensed child care for children from infancy up to age 13. Below, we cover who qualifies, how to apply, and how to use your assistance at our Hawthorn Woods center.
For many Hawthorn Woods and Lake County families, the biggest question about child care isn't whether they want a warm, high-quality program — it's how to afford it. Illinois' Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) exists to help eligible working and studying families cover the cost, and it can be used at licensed centers like Kiddy Garden. If you've been searching for CCAP daycare Hawthorn Woods IL families can actually use, here's the plain-English version: how the program works, who qualifies, and how to apply locally.
What is CCAP?
The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) — sometimes called a child care subsidy — is a State of Illinois program that helps eligible families pay for child care while parents work or attend school or training. It is administered through the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), which became the state's lead early-childhood agency on July 1, 2026. The program was previously run through the Illinois Department of Human Services, so if you saved a link or a form in 2024 or 2025, check it against the current one.
That same transition moved child care licensing to IDEC as well. Centers you see described as "DCFS licensed" aren't unlicensed — the agency name simply changed.
CCAP can be used at licensed child care centers — like Kiddy Garden — as well as in approved home-based settings. It covers children from infancy up to age 13, and up to age 19 for children with documented special needs. Rather than covering the full cost, CCAP is a cost-share: approved families pay a monthly copayment set on a sliding scale based on household size and income, and the program helps cover the rest.
CCAP daycare Hawthorn Woods IL: who qualifies?
Eligibility is a state-level question, so the rules are the same in Hawthorn Woods as anywhere in Illinois. In general, to qualify a family must:
- Live in Illinois
- Have a parent (or parents) who is working and/or attending an eligible educational or training activity — such as high school, a GED program, trade school, or college
- Have one or more children under age 13 who need care while the parent works or studies (or a child up to 19 with documented special needs)
- Have a household income within the state's income guidelines for its family size — new applications generally require income at or below 225% of the Federal Poverty Level
Teen parents in high school and families receiving TANF may also qualify through specific pathways. Because only your local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency or provider can officially calculate the income used to determine eligibility, the best first step is the state's free online eligibility calculator — it gives you an estimate, including your likely copay, in just a few minutes.
The misconception we hear most
Plenty of families in Lake Zurich, Kildeer, and Wauconda assume CCAP is only for households with little or no income, and never run the numbers. It isn't. The program requires that a parent be working, in school, or in training — working families are exactly who it was built for. Income guidelines are also updated periodically, most recently on July 1, 2026, so a "no" from two years ago isn't necessarily a "no" today.
What happens if your income goes up
This is the part that changes people's minds about applying, and almost nobody knows it.
The income ceiling to keep CCAP at your annual redetermination is higher than the ceiling to get in — roughly 275% of the Federal Poverty Level, against 225% for a new application. Families whose income rises past that redetermination ceiling generally enter a graduated phase-out rather than losing assistance overnight. The design is deliberate: a raise or a promotion shouldn't cost you your child care.
The obligation on your side is simple and strict. Report income changes within 10 days. Reporting late is what creates repayment problems, not earning more. Set a phone reminder for the day a new rate takes effect, and put your redetermination date in the calendar with a six-week warning the day you're approved — renewal paperwork arrives by mail, and mail gets lost.
How to apply for CCAP in Lake County
Applying is more straightforward than many parents expect. Illinois offers a fully digital application you can complete from a phone, tablet, or computer in about 20 minutes. Here's the typical path for Hawthorn Woods and Lake County families:
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Check your estimated eligibility
Use the State of Illinois eligibility calculator to see whether your family income and size likely qualify, and to estimate your monthly copay.
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Gather your documents first
Photo ID, your child's birth certificate, recent pay stubs or a tax return, proof of your work or school schedule, and proof of Illinois residence. Photograph each one into a single folder on your phone before you start — this is where most applications stall.
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Identify your provider
The application asks for your provider's details, so choosing a licensed center is part of applying rather than something that happens afterward. Tour while your paperwork is in progress — waiting for an approval letter can cost you the spot.
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Complete the application
Apply online through the state's Digital CCAP Application at getchildcareil.org, or through the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency serving Lake County.
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Confirm your spot with your award letter
Once you're approved, bring or email the award letter to our office. We handle the provider side with the state and walk you through enrollment paperwork.
Not sure which CCR&R agency serves you? Illinois has 16 of them covering all 102 counties. Use the state's CCR&R locator or call 1-877-202-4453 (toll-free) to find your local Lake County office, which can walk you through the process and answer questions specific to your situation — free.
The one question to ask every center
CCAP pays a provider up to a state-set rate. When a center's own tuition is higher than that state rate, some providers bill the family for the difference and some don't. This is the single largest variable in what a CCAP family actually pays each month, and it almost never appears on a website.
So ask it directly, of us and of everyone else: "If I'm approved for CCAP, what is my total monthly out-of-pocket — copayment plus anything else you bill me?" A good answer is a specific dollar figure. A vague answer is information in itself.
Mandarin immersion — Hawthorn Woods exclusive
Using CCAP at Kiddy Garden Hawthorn Woods
Kiddy Garden is a privately owned, Illinois-licensed preschool and daycare that has served Hawthorn Woods, Lake Zurich, Kildeer, Long Grove, and Wauconda since 1991. Families approved for CCAP are welcome to apply their assistance toward tuition at our Hawthorn Woods center.
Choosing the right program matters just as much as the funding. CCAP families get exactly what every other Kiddy Garden family gets: a warm, play-based curriculum, long-term teachers who know your child by name, and — exclusively at Hawthorn Woods — a Mandarin immersion enrichment program that's rare in Lake County. We care for children from six weeks through Pre-K, so your assistance can help cover everything from infant care to kindergarten readiness. There's no separate track, and nothing about your file is visible to anyone but our office.
If you're using CCAP or in the middle of applying, just let us know. We'll walk you through what's needed on the provider side, help you coordinate with your CCR&R, and get your start date on the calendar.
Families in Cook County can read our companion guide to CCAP at our Schaumburg center, which covers the same program from the Cook County side.
Frequently asked questions
CCAP, eligibility, and enrolling at our Hawthorn Woods preschool & daycare.
Does Kiddy Garden Hawthorn Woods accept CCAP?
Yes. As an Illinois-licensed preschool and daycare, we welcome families who qualify for the Child Care Assistance Program. Let us know when you call or schedule a tour and we'll help you coordinate the details with your Child Care Resource & Referral agency.
Who qualifies for CCAP in Illinois?
In general, families qualify if they live in Illinois, have a parent who is working and/or attending school or training, have a child under age 13 who needs care (or up to 19 with documented special needs), and have a household income within the state's guidelines for their family size. New applications generally require income at or below 225% of the Federal Poverty Level. Use the state's free eligibility calculator to check your estimate.
How much does child care cost with CCAP?
CCAP covers a large share of child care costs, and approved families pay a monthly copayment on a sliding scale based on household size and income. Your exact copay is calculated during the application process by your local CCR&R agency. Ask any center what your total monthly out-of-pocket would be, copay plus anything else they bill.
How do I apply for CCAP in Lake County?
First, check your estimated eligibility with the State of Illinois eligibility calculator. Then apply online through the Digital CCAP Application at getchildcareil.org, or through your local Lake County CCR&R agency. You can find your CCR&R using the state locator or by calling 1-877-202-4453 (toll-free).
Do I need to choose a daycare before I apply for CCAP?
Plan on it. The application asks for your provider's details, so choosing a licensed center is part of applying rather than something that happens afterward. Touring while your paperwork is in progress is the practical approach, particularly for infant and toddler rooms that fill months ahead.
Can I use CCAP for infant or toddler care?
Yes. CCAP can be used for children from infancy up to age 13, so it applies to our infant, toddler, two's, and Pre-K programs.
What happens to my CCAP if I get a raise?
Report income changes within 10 days. You may well still qualify: the income ceiling at your annual redetermination is higher than the one for a new application, and families above that ceiling can enter a graduated phase-out rather than losing assistance immediately. Reporting late is what creates problems, not earning more.
What areas does Kiddy Garden Hawthorn Woods serve?
We serve families across northwestern Lake County, including Hawthorn Woods, Lake Zurich, Kildeer, Long Grove, and Wauconda.
When should I apply for CCAP?
As early as you can. Approval timelines vary, and infant and toddler spots fill quickly, so starting your application while you tour helps ensure a smooth start date.
CCAP eligibility rules, income guidelines, and copay amounts are set by the State of Illinois and may change over time. For the most current details, see the official Illinois Department of Early Childhood CCAP page. This article is general information, not a determination of eligibility — only an eligibility specialist can approve your case.
Ready to visit our Hawthorn Woods center?
Whether you're using CCAP or paying privately, we'd love to show you around. Infant and toddler spots fill quickly — schedule your tour today.
