Help Paying for Child Care
Financial assistance may be available to families that might not otherwise be able to afford the costs of child care. Below are some suggested options for families who need assistance with the costs of child care.
Department of Economic Security (DES) State Child Care Subsidy The purpose of DES Child Care is to assist eligible families with child care costs, enabling parents to participate in employment and specific education and training activities related to employment or in certain other circumstances when parents are unable to provide care. Funding is limited. Please visit DES Child Care Administration’s
website, you may be eligible for assistance. Their website offers a variety of useful forms, including an income eligibility chart (en Español), to help you to determine if you are eligible for child care assistance.
First Things First Quality First Child Care Scholarship Program The Quality First Child Care Scholarship Program is a signature program of First Things First which supports high quality early learning experiences for children birth to five to ensure they are healthy and ready to succeed in school. Scholarships support families who are working, attending school or choosing to place their child in a quality early childhood education setting. Scholarships are offered to children birth through five years of age. To find a participating child care facility in your area or for more information, please visit http://www.azftfscholarships.org/.
Employer/Corporate Supported Discounts: Some child care programs may have an agreement with your employer to offer a discount on your child care tuition. Please ask your employer if they have any programs to support your child care needs. In addition, please be sure to verify with the child care program if they accept or offer any sort of employer supported discounts.
Scholarships: Some child care programs may receive additional funding from various funding sources to help off-set the cost of child care to qualifying families. Check with your child care program to see if they have any scholarships available.
Sliding fee scales and multi-child discounts: Some child care programs offer adjustable rates dependent upon the income of the family and/or the number of children the family has enrolled at the child care facility or home. Check with the child care facility or home to see what is available.
Tax Credits Click on any of the links below to learn more about federal and state income tax credit programs.