Arizona’s economy continues to strengthen as our state resumes its stature as one of the strongest in the nation. While the Back to Work Program discussed last week is integral to supporting those who’ve been unemployed, DES and ARIZONA@WORK have a variety of workforce services and child care assistance to further assist those returning to the workforce or shifting careers as opportunities continue to grow.
DES collaborates with our statewide ARIZONA@WORK partners to provide employment services that job seekers can access from home as they safely prepare to return to Arizona’s workforce. To expand the availability and accessibility of these services, we developed a new platform whereby job seekers can set virtual appointments to meet with an employment specialist for services including resume, interview, and job search assistance. Set your appointment online at workappointment.azdes.gov or by calling 1-833-762-8196.
Through Arizona Job Connection, the state’s largest employment database, job seekers can connect with local employers looking for new talent. Additionally, if an individual is looking to break into a new field or advance within their own, they can acquire new skills through the Return Stronger upskilling website, created in collaboration with the Arizona Commerce Authority. The pandemic has shifted the landscape of the labor market. To better equip job seekers to seize the opportunities available to them, they can use the available resources to plan their career, learn new skills through various training programs, and even obtain new certifications within a myriad of industries.
All of these tools and more exist to help job seekers hit the ground running. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be understated, as states across the country experienced an unprecedented surge in unemployment. But through our resiliency, the economy is opening back up, and the opportunities are there for individuals to seize. In order to support this return to the workforce, DES also provides child care assistance, so that job seekers can return to work knowing their children are in a safe, healthy learning environment.
Throughout the pandemic, Arizona has helped to maintain the strength and availability of child care for essential workers and for individuals returning to work. Most recently, on May 7, 2021, Governor Doug Ducey and DES announced an additional $9 million for child care providers through the Child Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment (CCWRR) Grant Program for the continued support of our child care network and the child care workforce, bringing the total Child Care and Development Fund allocation for Arizona’s child care network to $88 million, as appropriated through the 2020 CARES Act. Previously, the Essential Workers Child Care Relief Scholarship program and the Arizona Enrichment Centers were integral to ensuring the access of safe, reliable and quality child care, particularly for workers on the frontlines in our communities throughout the pandemic. As a result, Arizona’s child care network remains strong and available for parents now returning to work.
As a part of the Back to Work Program, the State is providing three months of child care assistance for individuals with children who return to work after receiving unemployment benefits. To be eligible, an individual must have received an unemployment benefit payment for the benefit week ending May 8, 2021 or May 15, 2021, and earn $25 per hour, equivalent to a yearly salary of $52,000, or less at their new job.
Child care assistance is also available for parents who may have not experienced unemployment. The DES Child Care Administration provides child care assistance to eligible parents, including:
If you believe you are eligible, apply for child care assistance today.
It has been a privilege to provide critical assistance to Arizonans during the pandemic, and the support continues as we work together to help Arizona return stronger.
Michael Wisehart
06/17/2021