DES Announces Child Care Scholarship Program for Essential Workers

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES)announced a new program aimed at providing child care resources to essential frontline workerscombating COVID-19.

The Essential Workers Child Care Relief Scholarship Program will be open to:

• First responders
• Critical health care workers
• Essential government operations workers
• Grocery store and food bank workers
• Licensed/certified child care workers

“Our frontline workers continue to protect and serve Arizonans — and we want to make surethey have the support they need,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “The Department of EconomicSecurity’s new program will ensure Arizona’s working families have safe and secure child carewhile they work to protect public health. Thank you to all Arizonans who continue to help oneanother during the pandemic.”

DES is partnering with contracted child care providers to offer child care so Arizona can remainfocused on keeping children safe and supporting families and providers. Participants will selectchild care from DES contracted child care providers. ​Arizona Child Care Resource & Referral​ can assist parents in finding and selecting care.“

Early in the pandemic, the Arizona Enrichment Centers were critical to providing first responders and essential workers with the child care they needed to support our state through the public health emergency,” said DES Director Michael Wisehart. “This new program builds upon this success and continues support for those bravely serving on the frontlines. We are grateful for Governor Ducey’s partnership in the continuation of support for Arizona’s essential workers.”

In addition to qualifying as serving an essential function, parent eligibility requires the following:

• Critical job functions cannot be completed remotely (telework);
• Household income is $65,000 or less annually; and
• The parent does not have access to child care and/or in person school services, or there is a health or safety concern with the child attending in person school services.

Individuals can apply for the Essential Workers Child Care Relief Scholarship ​here​. All applicants will receive an email confirmation once their application has been submitted and received, and will be notified of the application approval by email. Upon notification of approval, applicants need to register their child(ren) at the child care provider they selected in their application, and follow the step-by-step instructions.

For additional information, including a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ),please visit: ​des.az.gov/services/child-and-family/child-care​.