Your Child Care Guide
Navigating Child Care Choices Made Easier
Child Care Options
Discover the right child care for your family by exploring the various types available, each designed to meet a child and family’s unique needs.
Child Care Centers
Child care centers are small businesses in non-residential settings that offer care for five or more children, often grouped by age. With a larger enrollment, child care centers have a dedicated director with a staff.
Private Preschools
Private Preschools in Arizona, licensed through the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS), provide non-residential early education settings. These centers cater to more than four children and may partner with the Department of Economic Security (DES) to support families eligible for child care assistance.
Public Preschools
Public Preschools in Arizona, administered by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), offer early childhood education through public and charter schools. These programs, licensed by AZDHS, focus on preparing children for kindergarten, accommodating children with diverse abilities and income levels.
Department of Health Services (DHS) Child Care Centers
The DHS Child Care Facility Licensing licenses and monitors child care centers that are operated in a commercial building. These facilities can be owned by an individual, church, public school, non-profit organization, etc.
Military School-Age Care
School-age care programs provide care to children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Care is offered before and after school, during non-school days and summer vacations.
Military Child Development Centers
The child development centers are located on installations and generally offer care for infants through preschool-age children.
Tribal Child Care Centers
The child care centers on tribal land are regulated by each tribal government.
Family Child Care Providers
Family child care providers offer care for small groups of children in a residential building.
Department of Health Services (DHS) Child Care Group Homes
The DHS Child Care Facility Licensing certifies and monitors child care group homes that are operated in a residential setting. They may provide care for up to 10 children at one time for compensation. They must maintain at least one staff member for every five children in care.
Department of Economic Security (DES) Family Child Care Homes
The DES Division of Child Care certifies and monitors family child care homes that are operated in a residential setting. They may care for up to four children for compensation at one time.
DES Family Child Care In-Home Providers
The DES Division of Child Care certifies and monitors family child care in-home providers who travel to children’s homes to provide child care services.
Military Family Child Care Providers
Family child care providers are certified professionals who provide child care for infants through school-age children in their homes, located either on or off an installation.
Non-Certified Relative Providers (NCRP)
NCRP means a person who is at least eighteen years of age, who provides child care services to an eligible child, who is by blood or marriage or by court decree the grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling not residing in the same household, aunt, great-aunt, uncle or great-uncle of the eligible child and who meets the department’s requirements to be an NCRP.
- NCRP Home Providers care for children at NCRP’s homes.
- NCRP In-Home Providers care for children at children’s homes.
Quality Indicators
After choosing the best child care option for your family, the next step is to learn about the signs of a great child care provider. Knowing these will help you find the best place for your child.
Star Ratings
Providers are graded on the Quality First scale, a signature program of First Things First. A child care provider is graded on the following criteria:
- Ensuring health and safety for children's well-being
- Staff qualifications, including experience and education in early childhood
- Positive and nurturing teacher-child interactions
- Learning environments with appropriate books, toys, and materials
- Curriculum aligning with state standards for all age groups
- Group sizes that give young children the individual attention they need
- Regular child assessments and effective parent communication
Child Care Arizona Market Costs
Explore the average weekly costs of child care across Arizona's counties, based on the recent DES Market Rate Survey, to get a sense of what you might expect to pay in your area. Costs are subject to change based on the provider.
- DES District 1 Maricopa County
- DES District 2 Pima County
- DES District 3 Apache, Coconino, Navajo & Yavapai Counties
- DES District 4 La Paz, Mohave & Yuma Counties
- DES District 5 Gila & Pinal Counties
- DES District 6 Cochise, Graham, Greenlee & Santa Cruz Counties
DES District 1 Maricopa County
| Ages | Child Care Centers | Certified Family Homes | Certified Group Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 Year | $320.00 | $213.00 | $200.00 |
| 1 & 2 Years | $270.00 | $194.00 | $200.00 |
| 3, 4 & 5 Years | $236.00 | $167.00 | $200.00 |
| School Age | $215.00 | $175.00 | $175.00 |
Approved homes include all DES Certified Family Child Care Homes.
Financial Assistance
Explore various financial assistance options available for child care, including state support, Head Start programs, scholarships and tax credits, to help ease the cost for your family.
- State Child Care Assistance
- Head Start and Early Head Start
- Quality First Scholarships
- State or Federal Tax Credits
- Additional Assistance
State Child Care Assistance
The Arizona Department of Economic Security administers the state child care financial assistance program, with funding from the federal Child Care Development Block Grant.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. Early Head Start serves children from birth to two years old, and Head Start serves children ages three to five years old. These programs work with families to provide a wide range of services to support children’s development.
These federally funded programs are in every state, territory, and many tribal communities. Families with incomes at or below the poverty level may be eligible for Head Start services. Special consideration is given to children who have disabilities, children in foster care, families experiencing homelessness, and families receiving certain types of public assistance. Foster children are eligible regardless of their foster family’s income.
Quality First Scholarships
Programs that participate in Arizona's quality improvement and rating system, Quality First, may have financial scholarships available for children ages zero to five. Quality First scholarships, from First Things First, help low-income families afford quality early care and education for their young children. Programs distribute available scholarships to eligible families on a first-come, first-serve basis.
State or Federal Tax Credits
These tax credits help families pay for child care for children under the age of 13 if the parents are working, or are looking for work. Parents who are full-time students can also claim the credit. Qualifying care includes child care centers, family child care homes, and care provided by paid friends or relatives, as long as the relative is not a dependent of the taxpayer. The size of the credit depends on the number of children in care, your family income, and the amount you paid for child care during the tax year. There are limits on the credit given for one child and two or more children.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit for low- and moderate-income families, particularly those with children. The EITC is based on family income and the number of children in the family. Both single and two-parent families are entitled to the credit, as long as one parent is employed.
If you paid someone to care for your child, spouse, or dependent last year, you may be able to claim the Federal Child Tax Credit on your federal income tax return.
Additional Assistance
Arizona offers a wide variety of public programs and services to help families who need support or may be experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, no healthcare or challenges paying utilities.
Have Questions?
If you have any questions about what child care may be best for you, financial assistance and more, please contact your local office based on your needs.
Contact Arizona Child Care Resource & Referral
Available to answer questions about and provide support on child care options and quality indicators.
Contact Arizona Department of Economic Security
Available to answer questions about and child care costs and financial assistance.