Arizona families need reliable, high-quality child care in order to work. For many families, especially low-income families, the cost of child care is not affordable. A new report shows that child care costs in Arizona have reached over $15,000 annually. As these costs continue to grow, and with the rising costs of groceries, utilities, and housing, many families are left with difficult decisions on how they can afford it all.

It is essential that Arizona support our families by ensuring the Child Care Assistance Program is fully funded. Currently, the waiting list for the Child Care Assistance Program has reached over 5,000 children and needs $120 million to be fully funded. Please fight to get funding for child care in this year’s budget to begin addressing the problem and to provide quality, safe child care while families work.

Please support families who need help affording child care and include the Child Care Assistance appropriation in the final budget. Without this funding, there will be a negative impact on the availability and affordability of child care across the state, and the waiting list for working families will only continue to grow.

Thank you!

The Honorable Katie Hobbs,

Arizona families need reliable, high-quality child care in order to work. For many families, especially low-income families, the cost of child care is not affordable. A new report shows that child care costs in Arizona have reached over $15,000 annually. As these costs continue to grow, and with the rising costs of groceries, utilities, and housing, many families are left with difficult decisions on how they can afford it all.

It is essential that Arizona support our families by ensuring the Child Care Assistance Program is fully funded. Currently, the waiting list for the Child Care Assistance Program has reached over 5,000 children. I applaud your inclusion of an appropriation in your FY26 Executive Budget Proposal to help alleviate the waiting list.

Please continue to fight for families who need help affording child care and include the Child Care Assistance appropriation in the final budget. Without this funding, there will be a negative impact on the availability and affordability of child care across the state, and the waiting list for working families will only continue to grow.

Thank you!