Arizona child care assistance.

The program that helps Arizona families pay for child care, who can apply, how to apply, and how providers take part. Last checked November 3, 2026.

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The program in Arizona

WhatDetails
ProgramChild Care Assistance ProgramSource: How to Apply for Child Care Assistance, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.
Run byArizona Department of Economic SecuritySource: Child Care, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.

For families: who can apply

  • Help is for families with income at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Level and children from birth through age 12.Source: How to Apply for Child Care Assistance, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • Teen parents in high school, GED, ESOL, or remedial education programs may also qualify.Source: How to Apply for Child Care Assistance, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • Income is not counted for families referred by the TANF Jobs Program, the Department of Child Safety, or a Tribal child welfare program.Source: How to Apply for Child Care Assistance, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • A waiting list is in place for most families who do not get Cash Assistance or a Department of Child Safety referral.Source: How to Apply for Child Care Assistance, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.

For families: how to apply

For providers: how to take part

  • DES certifies family child care providers.Source: Child Care, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • Centers and group homes licensed or certified by the Arizona Department of Health Services can become DES contracted providers.Source: Child Care, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • A family approved for assistance may choose a relative as a Non-Certified Relative Provider.Source: Child Care, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • DES helps new and prospective child care providers get started.Source: Child Care, Arizona Department of Economic Security. Checked November 3, 2026.Become a Child Care Provider

Questions about child care assistance in Arizona

What is the child care assistance program in Arizona called?

Child Care Assistance Program. It is run by the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

Who can apply for child care assistance in Arizona?

Help is for families with income at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Level and children from birth through age 12. Teen parents in high school, GED, ESOL, or remedial education programs may also qualify. Income is not counted for families referred by the TANF Jobs Program, the Department of Child Safety, or a Tribal child welfare program. A waiting list is in place for most families who do not get Cash Assistance or a Department of Child Safety referral.

How do families apply in Arizona?

Families apply or renew online through the A-to-Z Arizona portal, or send a paper application to a local DES office. Official page: https://desportal.az.gov/

How does a child care provider take part in Arizona?

DES certifies family child care providers. Centers and group homes licensed or certified by the Arizona Department of Health Services can become DES contracted providers. A family approved for assistance may choose a relative as a Non-Certified Relative Provider.

Sources

Every source is an official government page.

About this page

We read each source above on an official government site on November 3, 2026. Each fact links to the page it came from.

If a fact is not here, we could not read it on an official page, so we left it out.

Programs change their rules, limits and forms. Confirm with the agency before you apply or enroll as a provider.

This page is a summary of public information. Bloomily does not run these programs or decide who qualifies.

More about child care in Arizona

Child care assistance in other states

Billing a family with a subsidy

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