Eligibility

DES child care assistance can help families pay for care in child care center-based or home settings that are contracted with DES to provide high quality child care. Families are required to cost-share (co-pay) based on family size and income.

Child care assistance is available for families with an income at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) with children Birth through age 12 who are:

Living in Arizona

Participating in an eligible activity

Teen parents enrolled in high school, GED, ESOL, or remedial education programs

Currently residing in a homeless or domestic violence shelters

Individuals who are unable to care for their children due to a physical, mental or emotional condition

Individuals who are unavailable to care for their children due to participation in court-ordered community service or participation in a drug treatment program

Individuals who are currently receiving full-time DES child care assistance who enroll in a full-time education or employment training program, and submit a work requirement waiver to DES, including proof of enrollment.

DES also provides child care assistance to individuals receiving Cash Assistance (CA) who are employed or enrolled in the Grant Diversion program, as well as grandparents and guardians when the parent of the child is not living in the same home and when the grandparent or guardian is engaged in an eligible activity.

DES does not consider income when determining eligibility for an individual who is referred from the TANF Jobs Program, Department of Child Safety (DCS), or a Tribal child welfare program.