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ANNOUNCEMENT: The vendor through which the State of Arizona utilizes to print and mail correspondence is experiencing a nationwide system outage. Until this issue is resolved, most notices, forms and paper checks from DES will be impacted. We continue to work closely with our vendor throughout the process to ensure minimal disruption to our clients and partners. We are also connecting with other vendors who are able to provide services during the outage. The services DES provides are not impacted by this incident and remain accessible to the public. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Child Care

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Important Information

New! The Child Care Administration is now the Division of Child Care

Please read Director Wisehart’s message on this exciting change for DES, strengthening its focus on the critical child care program and providing a dedicated foundation to quality child care, safety, development and early literacy for Arizona’s families, while more parents enter the workforce.

DCC is Expanding its Virtual Services

Message to Parents Regarding Child Care Assistance

The Division of Child Care (DCC) provides child care assistance to eligible families who participate in employment activities and specific education and training activities related to employment by providing financial support intended to offset a portion of child care costs. This financial support allows families better access to high-quality, early care and education settings for their children. Child care assistance is also available for children who are involved with the Department of Child Safety due to child abuse or neglect, and families with children experiencing homelessness.

Arizona’s child care and early childhood education system are interconnected across the services and supports provided by community organizations, and state or federally funded programs like DES and the Division of Child Care. Partners include the Department of Health Services, First Things First, the Department of Child Safety, Head Start and Early Head Start, and the Department of Education and local school districts who provide preschool education and before and after school programs for children.

Families

Apply for child care assistance

The DES Division of Child Care (DCC) offers child care assistance for:

Low-income working families
Teen parents enrolled in high school, GED, ESOL or remedial programs
Residents of homeless or domestic violence shelter residents
Individuals who are unable to care for their children due to a physical, mental or emotional condition
Individuals who are unavailable to care for their children due to participation in court-ordered community service or participation in a drug treatment program

Child care assistance is also available for grandparents and guardians:

When the parent of the child is not living in the same home
When the grandparent or guardian is engaged in an eligible activity

Child care assistance is available without regard to income for the following:

DES Cash Assistance recipients
Grant Diversion program for job search
TANF recipients who are employed
Referrals from a DES Jobs Program
Referrals from the Arizona Department of Child Safety or Tribal Child Welfare program

Documents Center for Families - search for reports, forms, policies and pamphlets and posters with information about child care programs and services.

Providers

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) oversees certification of family child care providers to care for up to four children in their home. View more information on becoming a certified family child care provider.

Child Care Centers and Group Homes that are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services can become a DES contracted provider to be eligible for reimbursement for caring for children receiving DES Child Care Assistance.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Office of Child Care Licensing certifies group homes - family home child care providers who care for 5 to 10 children in their home. In order to provide care to DES qualified children, group homes must be contracted with DES and be certified by ADHS.

ADHS also licenses child care centers - child care providers who care for 10 or more children at a location separate from their residence. In order to provide care to DES qualified children, child care centers must be contracted with DES and be licensed by ADHS. For more information, contact the ADHS Office of Child Care Licensing.

Alternative Computerized Attendance Tracking Systems Options

We are pleased to inform you that the Department of Economic Security Division of Child Care (DCC) has approved Alternative Computerized Attendance Tracking Systems options for your convenience. Contact your assigned Compliance Specialist for more information or email [email protected].

Please note: An alternative method of daily attendance verification, computerized tracking system, biometric, digital fingerprint recognition, or facial recognition system requires written approval by DES prior to implementation. All DES-approved systems are listed below.

List of approved Alternative Computerized Attendance Tracking Systems

Additional Resources

Publications and documents for Child Care Providers

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.

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