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.
As the lead agency for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), DES is required to build a framework and systematic approach to training and professional development to improve the knowledge and skills of DES child care providers who receive CCDF funding. This includes health and safety training, application of health and safety standards, early learning guidelines, responses to challenging behavior, and the engagement of families.
DES works in collaboration with state agencies and community partners, including institutes of higher education, to plan and administer professional development systems and workforce initiatives for Arizona’s child care providers, educators, and staff.
To help providers be successful in meeting the annual pre-service and ongoing Health and Safety training requirements, DES has identified a variety of in-person and virtual opportunities offered throughout Arizona.
Preventing Suspensions and Expulsions
DES is committed to supporting child care providers and caregivers find the resources and support that are essential to ensuring access to quality child care for all children, including child development, social-emotional behavior intervention models for children from birth through school age and more.
Professional Career Pathway Project
The Professional Career Pathway Project (PCPP) is a scholarship funded by DES and administered by Central Arizona College to pay college tuition for up to 24 credits per year and provides a textbook stipend for students in the field of early childhood.
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