Efforts to slash waitlists for child care assistance in Arizona have taken a significant leap forward, as the office of Governor Katie Hobbs announced the integration of an additional 900 children into the state's program. As noted by FOX 10 Phoenix, this expansion is fueled by the new state budget that earmarks $125.9 million in a blend of state and federal funds dedicated to child care. "This represents a critical milestone in the Governor’s efforts to cut the state’s child care waitlist and expand access to quality early learning experiences for more working families," a statement from Governor Hobbs' office read.
With this commitment, dubbed the Arizona Promise Budget, the largest general funds investment in child care since the Great Recession aims to, not only lower educational barriers but to also sustain the workforce by enabling parents to return or remain at work. Governor Hobbs expressed her motives by saying, "When I’ve traveled across the state, I’ve heard from families who are struggling to afford child care and moms who put their careers on hold to care for their kids," according to the statement she wrote that was obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. "These stories are exactly why I’ve made it a priority to expand pathways to child care."
The Arizona Department of Economic Security outlines that the Child Care Assistance Program supports families with children under 13, helping them afford child care expenses. To be eligible, parents must have an income at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Level. As reported by ABC 15 Arizona, letters, e-mails, and text messages have started to go out to the nearly 1,000 families who were next in line for the assistance.
Families have until July 25 to confirm their eligibility and enroll in the program, a critical deadline that gives beneficiaries the chance to secure the future educational grounding of their children. To facilitate this process, outreach has been targeted first towards families at 100% of the Federal Poverty Level and will continue to expand in increments of 10%. "Once families receive notification, they must respond to the Department of Economic Security by July 25 to confirm eligibility and enrollment," the statement from Governor Hobbs' office emphasized, as FOX 10 Phoenix reported. More information on the Arizona Child Care Assistance Program can be found through the links provided by local news outlets.
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