Childcare shouldn’t be out of reach for Arizona families

Independent Newsmedia

Government

Waitlist begins for Arizona-subsidized child care

I have a concern about a very serious issue I want to bring attention to.

As a mom of three little kids, I know just how expensive childcare can be. It breaks my heart to know that there are over 10,000 kids on the Arizona childcare waitlist, whose parents can’t access childcare subsidies.

It hurts to face the fact that so many families are experiencing this sense of being trapped with little to no options.

 Childcare is simply out of reach for many Arizona families, leaving parents to make tough decisions like making what should be a two-income family forced into a one income family.

When parents can't afford childcare, they cut back their hours at work or leave their job altogether to take care of their kids. That costs our economy nearly $5 billion a year and hurts Arizona families.

This trickle down of need impacts our livelihood. The need for assistance is so great, our children deserve it. Working mothers deserve it. Arizona families deserve it.

The success of our state's children and our economy depends on the Arizona Legislature helping parents afford to work. I hope our legislature will take that responsibility seriously.

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