Arizona Enrichment Centers adds child care for grocery store employees

PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday announced an expansion of the Arizona Enrichment Centers program to provide an additional place for children of grocery store and food bank employees to go while their parents work on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak.

The enrichment centers are made up of preschools and other child care organizations that have joined the cause to ensure children of essential personnel are cared for safely.

Employees who work in essential positions that don’t have access to child care can register for the program online.

The more than 400 enrichment centers across 52 cities in Arizona have already been providing care for children of first responders, critical health care and essential public sector workers.

A list of child care centers and other resources from which parents can choose from can be found here.

“This expansion is made possible by the continued partnership of child care providers across the state. My thanks to all our partners in the Enrichment Centers Program and the frontline workers helping to protect public health during COVID-19,” Ducey said in a press release.

Over 3,300 families have used the program so far, according to the release.

Financial support is available for those who qualify for a scholarship.

Many child care organizations are also offerings discounts to families of first responders.

The Arizona Enrichment Centers Program and scholarship will continue through the end of July.

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