Arizona moves to make child care more affordable when school’s out

PHOENIX — Arizona officials recently launched a free search tool parents can use to find after-school child care programs and awarded $3 million in grants to providers.

The moves are part of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ Bright Futures AZ initiative.

“We are providing tools for families to find child care more easily, creating new opportunities for out-of-school programming and supporting small businesses that offer child care,” Hobbs said in a recent announcement.

The Child Care Provider Search Tool has various filters families can use to find their perfect match, including:

• Hours
• Ages accepted
• Languages
• Quality rating
• Whether they take financial assistance

As of Monday, the tool has 2,752 results, as well as an interactive map.

Out-of-school time providers get $3 million in grants

That’s one of several ways the state is trying to lighten parents’ financial loads. Arizona officials recently handed out $3 million to dozens of programs that take care of children when school is out.

This money went to 59 providers that serve more than 2,500 children from 5 to 12 years old. These programs will use the money to:

• Lower the price families pay
• Offer more spots for kids
• Expand programs in rural areas

The Arizona Governor’s Office said the funding will help make child care costs more affordable for working families. It comes from Bright Futures AZ Out‑of‑School Time Grant Program, which is run by the Arizona Department of Economic Security in partnership with the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence.

“The importance of high-quality child care cannot be overstated, and these two new developments in Gov. Hobbs’ Bright Futures AZ initiative ensure that child care remains accessible and affordable to working families,” DES Director Michael Wisehart said.

Another way the state is trying to alleviate parents’ burdens is by handing out $700,000 in microbusiness investment grants to four nonprofit community lending organizations.

“Not only will children be better able to access child care and early childhood education opportunities, but parents will also have peace of mind, knowing their children are cared for while they are at work or pursuing education,” Wisehart said.

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