Child care programs strengthen Arizona families

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OPINION — The federal child care program known as the Child Care and Development Block Grant helps working parents in Arizona afford child care while ensuring young children have safe, supportive places to learn and grow.

Backed by a long history of bipartisan support, the program strengthens working families, fosters child development and fuels our economy.

New data from First Five Years Fund shows how CCDBG makes child care more manageable for families. In Arizona, the average cost of center-based infant care is $1,330 per month, or nearly $16,000 per year.

With a CCDBG subsidy, the maximum amount a family of three pays for care is just $35 per month. That translates to savings of approximately $1,295 each month, or more than $15,500 a year that families can put toward housing, groceries, transportation and other essentials.

Parents can also choose the type of care that works best for their family, whether that’s a child care center, a home-based provider or a faith-based program.

Affordable child care is pro-family and pro-work. When parents can afford quality care, they have peace of mind and can stay in the workforce.

Children have opportunities to learn and grow, and employers benefit from a stable, reliable workforce.

There is also bipartisan interest in strengthening the program even further. The Child Care Modernization Act would build on the program's decades-long success by helping states better meet the growing child care needs of working families, providers and employers. That’s good for children, families, businesses and Arizona’s economy.

We urge our policymakers to support this legislation. Arizona families are counting on it.

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