READY TO USE
Help paying for child care
A parent needs child care to work, go to school, or stabilize, and cannot afford it.
What changed
Recent change
As of October 2, 2026, DES reported 9,128 families and 15,093 children on the child care assistance waiting list.
Start here
Do this today
- 1
Check the basics: children from birth through age 12, and household income at or below 165% of the federal poverty level.
- 2
Name the reason care is needed: work, school or training, a teen parent in school, living in a homeless or domestic violence shelter, a parent’s health condition, or court-ordered treatment.
- 3
Apply through DES A-to-Z Arizona (desportal.az.gov), or call to speak with a Child Care Eligibility Specialist.
- 4
Pick a DES-contracted child care provider. The application asks for one.
- 5
Plan for the wait. Most families are placed on a waiting list. Ask about scholarships and other help in the meantime.
Real starting points
Who to call
DES Child Care Assistance
- Phone
- 1-833-947-6396
- Hours
- Call for current hours. Apply online any time.
- Who qualifies
- Families at or below 165% of the federal poverty level with children birth through 12 who are working, in school or training, in a homeless or DV shelter, or meet another listed reason. Referrals from DCS, the TANF Jobs Program, and tribal child welfare do not count income.
- Next step
- Apply at desportal.az.gov or call. Applications can take up to 30 days.
Get ready
What to bring
- Proof of identity for the parent
- Citizenship or qualified noncitizen proof for the children
- The name of a DES-contracted child care provider
- Pay stub, hiring letter, or tax return for work
- School or training enrollment proof, if that is the reason
Avoid a dead end
What usually goes wrong
- Not applying because of the waiting list. A family has to be on the list to move up it.
- Forgetting to choose a DES-contracted provider before applying.
- Missing that shelter residents and DCS referrals have their own eligibility reasons.
- Letting the application sit. It can take up to 30 days, so start before the job or class starts.
Use your own words
What to say
I’m helping a parent apply for child care assistance. They are [working / in school / in a shelter]. What is the fastest way to apply, which documents do you need, and are they likely to go on the waiting list?
Check the fit
If your client is...
Families with kids
Count every child under 13. Ask whether the family’s reason (work, school, shelter) changes the wait.
Disability
A parent’s physical, mental, or emotional condition that keeps them from providing care is a listed reason.
Limited English
Ask DES for an interpreter when you call.
Youth 18 to 24
Teen parents in high school, GED, or ESOL programs are a listed reason.
Keep a second door open
If this fails
If the family is on the waiting list, ask about other child care scholarships in the PHX Good directory and whether a DCS or TANF Jobs referral applies. Call 2-1-1 for other local options.
Practice itOne scenario, about 15 minutes
A fictional mother of two, ages 3 and 7, is staying in a family shelter. She has a job offer that starts in two weeks but no one to watch her kids.
- Does she have a listed reason?
Yes. Living in a homeless shelter and working are both listed reasons.
- What does she need before applying?
ID, the children’s documents, the job offer letter, and a DES-contracted provider.
- What is the risk with timing?
Processing can take up to 30 days and there is a waiting list. Apply today and line up backup care.
After-action review
- What was supposed to happen?
- What happened?
- Why was there a difference?
- What will you do differently?