Many low-income working parents rely on subsidized child care. The Illinois Child Care Assistance Program supports qualifying families to work or attend school, many of whom may be unable to afford market-rate child care. Examining parents' income and employment patterns can guide policymakers to optimally structure subsidized child care to support sustained employment and improve program engagement. This brief series focuses on the work, school, and child care engagement of Illinois families enrolled in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). This brief examines parent employment, earnings, and school attendance when their family initiated participation in subsidized child care.