Program Descriptions

Childcare Assistance

The Department of Economic Security provides Child Care Assistance to help eligible families with the cost of child care so that parents (or other relatives who care for children) can go to work or attend school/training, or other approved activities.

If you are eligible for Child Care Assistance, you will have to pay a part of your child care costs based on income. If your child care provider charges more than the State of Arizona can pay, you are responsible for the extra amount. The Child Care Assistance program covers child care costs, if there are any registration fees, you must pay these fees.

There are four different types of child care providers that can be paid by the state. They are: licensed child care centers, licensed group homes and certified family child care homes. You can also use a relative of the child, who must fill out an application, pass an FBI fingerprint test, and be in the US legally to receive payment.

Child Care Assistance can only be used for the hours that you are at work (or in other approved eligible activities), and traveling to and from work or the approved activity. After you apply, it can take up to 30 days to be approved, but if you fill out your application completely and bring all your required verification, you can usually receive a decision sooner.