In a partnership between Arizona's governor and the Department of Economic Security, $3 million in grant awards will be distributed across the state for affordable out of school childcare.
DES Director Michael Wisehart said the initiative aims to help working families access childcare support.
“Child care is an extreme burden on families and we need as many individuals able to work productively while their children are being developed intellectually, stimulated in social classrooms and engaged in quality settings,” Wisehart said.
Wisehart said another big goal of the funding is to support facilities in all corners of the state.
“We're going to be engaged with 59 providers statewide, and they are going to run the gamut of small rural providers, small urban providers and larger urban provider areas as well,” Wisehart said.
Wisehart says the initiative works to support working parents who can’t care for their children during school breaks.
He says a new Child Care Provider Search Tool will additionally help parents navigate the confusing process of finding care.
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