Current research shows that children attending high quality child care score better on academic testing in school, and develop better language and social skills.

In Arizona, more than half of all children birth through five years of age lives in homes where all of the adults work. Statistics show the high cost of early care and education is one of the most difficult obstacles to obtaining and maintaining employment for many low-income single-parent families. Currently 22 regions statewide are funding the Quality First Child Care Scholarship Program. All centers and homes who are participating in Quality First, have applied and been deemed eligible, and/or nationally accredited are eligible to participate. If you are unsure of your Quality First status please feel free to call the Quality First program at First Things First at (602) 771-5100. If you would like to apply for the Quality First Program please visit their website at www.azftf.gov/WhatWeDo/Programs/QualityFirst/Pages/default.aspx

Early Care and education scholarships improve the access and affordability of high quality early care and education for low-income families with children birth through five. Scholarships benefit children, families, the childcare industry and communities by offsetting the cost of quality care. Childcare scholarships are defined as payments to an early childhood provider, either center or family based child care, for the full or partial cost of care. The maximum reimbursement rates are determined using data from the most recent “Market Rate” as defined by the Department of Economic Security (DES). These rates indicate the cost of care per age group, setting and attendance status in different districts of the state.

Not every region throughout the state is funding the Quality First Child Care Scholarship Program at this time. Please use the link below to enter the zip code in which your home or center is located in to determine if funding is available.