DES now has a child care waiting list in place for most families applying to the program. Learn more about the waiting list on the Child Care Assistance page.
The Arizona Child Care Assistance Provider (AZCAP) grant is intended to support DES contracted child care programs and DES certified family child care providers who serve children eligible for DES Child Care Assistance. AZCAP funds can be used for personnel costs. DES Certified Family Child Care Providers and DES Contracted DHS Group Homes that do not have staff can also use the funds for rent/mortgage, and utilities expenditures.
This funding is for expenses incurred from October 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. While child care providers must apply to receive funds, grants are not competitive.
The application is due by September 15, 2023. Due to federal funding timeframes, no extensions to this deadline will be granted.
These funds are made available to Arizona through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) relief funding appropriated through The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).
Notification was sent by email to all eligible DES contracted and DES certified providers on August 15, 2023.
If you are a DES contracted or certified provider, and did not receive an email with a link to apply, please contact [email protected].
Providers must be contracted or certified at time of application:
In addition, all programs must also be:
Providers are strongly encouraged to update their operational status with their Licensing or Regulatory authority. This will be necessary to access the various supports offered through the Department.
If you have additional questions not answered in the resources above, please contact the Child Care Grants team at [email protected]. Please include your name and DES Provider ID in your email.
Reporting for AZCAP is required. Future grant opportunities through DES are contingent on the provider’s timely and accurate submission of required reports.
Providers are required to submit a mid-term report accounting for all grant funds expended to date, and a final report once all grant funds have been fully spent.
Mid-term report due: March 1, 2024
Final report due: July 31, 2024
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Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other nondiscrimination laws and authorities, ADES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Persons that require a reasonable modification based on language or disability should submit a request as early as possible to ensure the State has an opportunity to address the modification. The process for requesting a reasonable modification can be found at Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Modification