A new poll released last week by the First Five Years Fund, confirms that now more than ever Americans view child care as an essential service on par with health care and education. The early childhood community was hit hard by the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic created. Many programs closed, some permanently, due to decreased attendance, higher costs, and worry over health and safety. These closures only exacerbated an existing lack of quality child care in underserved communities across Arizona. Now, as the country begins to re-open, there are fears that many more people will not have a safe, reliable place for their children to go for care.

The nation’s child care crisis has impacted the views of voters of every ideological background, signaling to lawmakers that supporting early learning and care still is a rare unifying issue that comes with little political downside. In battleground states with tight Senate races, including Arizona, 83 percent of voters say that candidates for office at all levels should have plans and policies to help working parents afford high-quality child care.

Key findings from the poll include:

• 84% of voters say high-quality, affordable child care for families with young children is an essential service – just like health care and education.
• 79% of voters say the COVID-19 crisis has shown us how essential it is that we build a child care system that makes child care available and affordable to all families who need it.
• Two-thirds of all voters say that access to high-quality affordable child care is essential or very important to our ability to get the economy going.
• A majority of American voters (53%) think that federal funding for quality early education from birth to age five, including child care and preschool, should be increased.

As we approach this year's election, we strongly encourage voters to ask candidates at the state and federal level where they stand on child care and other early childhood issues that affect our community. We must treat child care as an essential service and prioritize it accordingly.

Great news for Arizona’s child care system and the children and families they serve. After a collaborative effort with early childhood stakeholders and advocates, the Governor's Office and the Department of Economic Security announced the Child Care COVID-19 Grant Program on Thursday, August 13. Using funding from the federal CARES Act, the program helps child care providers cover costs during the COVID-19 state of emergency.  The goal of the program is to help child care providers with operational costs to safely remain open or reopen in order to provide child care to Arizona’s families.

The Child Care COVID-19 grant can be used to help child care providers cover a variety of expenses during the COVID-19 crisis including:

• Tuition and registration relief for families
• Lease and mortgage payments

• DHS licensing fees
• Salaries and benefits for employees
• Liability insurance
• Utilities
• Cleaning supplies

• Classroom materials and supplies
• Additional supplies required by CDC and DHS guidelines

This program is another key step on the road to help #saveazchildcare.  Thanks to the Governor and the Department of Economic Security, as well as all the partners and stakeholders who worked together to make this happen!

For additional information on the program and to learn how to apply click here.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis is threatening to put the majority of Arizona’s child care providers out of business. Approximately 50 percent of programs across the state are at least temporarily closed. Centers that are open serve considerably less children than before the crisis. A recent survey of Arizona providers showed that the number of children attending most programs has been cut in half. These programs may be serving less children, due to the health and safety guidelines put forth by state and local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child care provider costs have significantly increased. Another recent survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) showed that only 18 percent of child care programs expect that they will survive longer than a year if they continue to have reduced enrollment.

Some financial supports have been put in place for certain providers, including continued DES Child Care Assistance and Quality First scholarship payments, but these resources only replace a small percentage of most providers’ income. Additionally, these payments haven’t benefitted providers who operate private-pay only business models. Everyone agrees that Arizona’s economy cannot recover from the devastating impacts of COVID-19 without affordable child care. Parents cannot go back to work, attend school, or participate in job training programs if their children are not safe and cared for.

Arizona received $88 million in CARES Act funding from the federal government to address just this issue. We believe it is imperative for the Governor and DES to not only continue the Enrichment Centers and the DES Child Care Assistance payment program until the crisis has passed, but to also immediately implement a grant program to assist all licensed and regulated child care providers to cover some of their operational costs until the state can fully and safely return to business as usual. These grants should allow providers the flexibility to use funds to cover the costs of increased staffing, teacher salaries, sanitation and personal protective equipment, and other needs related to safely caring for children during the pandemic. We must take steps to help ensure that the child care infrastructure remains intact so that it is there when parents need it.

Governor Ducey announced yesterday that the child care centers serving essential workers, known as Arizona Enrichment Centers, will expand to offer prioritized child care to grocery store and food bank employees. Importantly, the Arizona Enrichment Centers offer scholarships to qualified low-income families. CAA has worked tirelessly with early childhood and child care stakeholders to advocate for an expanded definition of essential workers. This is a win for working Arizonans who are on the front lines; putting themselves at risk. Thank you Governor Ducey for your efforts to keep children safe while their parents work to help protect public health during the COVID-19 crisis.

Yesterday, Governor Ducey announced his plan for the Arizona economy to re-open in the coming days and weeks. But, the COVID-19 pandemic has created an emerging crisis for child care programs across the state. Because of the pandemic, nearly 75-percent of Arizona’s licensed early care and education programs are now temporarily closed. Survey results in March, 2020 from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggest that as many as half of the existing early care and education programs in the state could shut down permanently without financial help.

Recent actions by the Governor’s office, the Department of Economic Security, and First Things First have been welcomed first steps to protecting the survival of the state’s child care sector. Children’s Action Alliance asks that the Governor and Arizona Legislature consider additional measures to shore up an industry that is essential to the re-opening of our state economy.

Arizona was allotted $88 million in federal funding from the recent CARES Act specifically for child care, but the Legislature and the Governor must act to provide appropriations authority before those funds can be utilized. We urge lawmakers and our state agencies to make strategic use of the new federal funds by waiving licensure fees for child care providers and by providing operating grants to centers who are struggling to remain open.

Looking beyond the immediate COVID-19 crisis, Arizona must renew its commitment to invest in high-quality child care programs. A new report from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) warns of the long-term dangers to child care from the COVID-19 crisis and points to the need for bipartisan support to improve child care access and quality, despite serious challenges.

Arizonans have repeatedly demonstrated their support for early childhood funding. It’s time our lawmakers join them.

The Arizona early childhood community is coming together to help during the COVID-19 crisis. Most of us are sheltering at home but that isn’t possible for many of the state’s essential services workers. This has created challenges both for childcare providers AND parents who need to continue to work outside of the home.

For families:
A few weeks ago, the Governor’s office released the opening of Arizona Enrichment Centers. These centers are a partnership between childcare, non-profit, education and faith-based organizations. Families who qualify may apply to receive child care from approved childcare providers. Parents who meet certain income requirements may qualify for scholarships to cover the cost of care. More information can be found at https://arizonaenrichmentcenters.az.gov/faq.

For providers:
As the crisis began to unfold, schools and businesses were closed, and most families began sheltering in place. This drastically reduced the number of families using child care. Approximately 50% of Arizona’s licensed and regulated programs are at least temporarily closed. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provider survey found that as many as half of childcare providers said they could not withstand a closure of two weeks without support.

In order to help maintain the states network of providers, state agencies and other stakeholders have come together to try and mitigate the damage. Some key components of the plan to help providers include: continuation of DES childcare assistance, Quality First scholarship payments regardless of attendance, and waiver of certain renewal requirements until the crisis is over. For more information on help and guidance for childcare providers, please visit this FAQ document: https://www.azccrr.com/uploads/8/9/0/8/89086430/faq_desanswers.pdf.

Your calls and emails are working! In response to your calls, Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s office reached out to work with us directly on assuring that child care providers and the child care sector survive in the wake of the COVID-19 emergency. A special thanks to the Senator and her staff for leading the charge to keep Arizona’s children and families healthy and safe during the outbreak. Make sure to keep up the pressure on the rest of your Congressional delegation!

Senator Martha McSally

407 W. Congress St., Suite 103. Tucson, AZ 85701. (520) 670-6334

2201 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 115. Phoenix, AZ 85016. (602) 952-2410

404 Russell Senate Office Building. Washington, DC 20510. (202) 224-2235

Rep. Tom O'Halleran

405 N. Beaver Street, Suite 6. Flagstaff, AZ 86001. (928) 286-5338

211 N. Florence Street, Suite 1. Casa Grande, AZ 85122. (520) 316-0839

3037 W. Ina Rd, Suite 101. Tucson, AZ 85741. (928) 304-0131

324 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3361

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick

1636 North Swan Road, Suite 200. Tucson, AZ 85712. (520) 881-3588

77 Calle Portal, Suite B160. Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 (520) 459-3115

309 Cannon House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2542

Rep. Raul Grijalva

101 W. Irvington Road Buildings 4 and 5. Tucson, AZ 85714. (520) 622-6788

146 N. State Avenue. Somerton AZ 85350. (928) 343-7933

1412 N Central Ave, Suite B. Avondale, AZ 85323. (623) 536-3388

1511 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2435

Rep. Paul Gosar

122 N. Cortez Street, Suite 104. Prescott, AZ 86301. (928) 445-1683

6499 S. Kings Ranch Road, #4. Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. (480) 882-2697

2057 Rayburn House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-2315

Rep. Andy Biggs

2509 S Power Rd Suite 204. Mesa, AZ 85209. (480) 699-8239

1318 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-2635

Rep. David Schweikert

14500 N. Northsight Blvd. Ste. 221. Scottsdale, AZ 85260. (480) 946-2411

1526 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-2190

Rep. Ruben Gallego

1601 North 7th Street Suite 310. Phoenix, AZ 85006. (602) 256-0551

1131 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-4065

Rep. Debbie Lesko

1113 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-4576

12515 W. Bell Road, Suite 104. Surprise, AZ 85378. (623) 776-7911

Rep. Greg Stanton

2944 N. 44th St., Ste. 150. Phoenix, AZ 85018. (602) 956-2463

128 Cannon House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-9888

Governors and leaders of health care systems have made it clear that childcare is an essential service, without which we will not be able to effectively respond to this pandemic. The COVID-19 Pandemic has closed businesses and schools and sent people to socially isolate themselves at home. This is creating an URGENT situation for the child care system across the country. Some programs are having to close their doors both for health and safety but also because they have fewer and fewer children to serve. Congress is considering a number of bills to provide relief due to this unprecedented situation. While we applaud the passage of Families First Coronavirus Response Act, more must be done soon.

If you believe this is a time to work together to solve this crisis please take a moment and call your Congressperson, especially our Senators, and ask them to provide significant, flexible and emergency funding that will maintain our nation's quality child care supply today and into the future.

Below are points you can share when you call or email:

1. Child care is the economic backbone of our communities. Without it, parents can’t work and children will be in unsafe environments. NAEYC data show that 4/5 of the providers in their survey will not survive closures of nearly ANY length.
2. We need to fund child care slots for essential workers and cover the costs associated with centers working through Covid-19. States are waiving co-pays for parents, paying for attendance, and ensuring that staff can be paid even if they need to take leave.
3. These are just the short term costs. A disaster assistance/stimulus package must protect the child care system, and include direct funding to ensure that the current supply of child care is still here for parents in the future, whether that is in two months or six.
4. We also need to make sure that child care providers, who are often self-employed small business owners and/or not-for-profit providers, are eligible for unemployment insurance, paid leave, mortgage/rent supports, grants and no/low interest loans.

 The bottom line is they will not survive closures WITHOUT SUPPORT!

Senator Kyrsten Sinema

3333 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 200. Phoenix, Arizona 85018. (602) 598-7327

20 E. Ochoa St. Tucson, Arizona 85701. (520) 639-7080

317 Hart Senate Office Building. Washington D.C. 20510. (202) 224-4521

Senator Martha McSally

407 W. Congress St., Suite 103. Tucson, AZ 85701. (520) 670-6334

2201 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 115. Phoenix, AZ 85016. (602) 952-2410

404 Russell Senate Office Building. Washington, DC 20510. (202) 224-2235

Rep. Tom O'Halleran

405 N. Beaver Street, Suite 6. Flagstaff, AZ 86001. (928) 286-5338

211 N. Florence Street, Suite 1. Casa Grande, AZ 85122. (520) 316-0839

3037 W. Ina Rd, Suite 101. Tucson, AZ 85741. (928) 304-0131

324 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3361

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick

1636 North Swan Road, Suite 200. Tucson, AZ 85712. (520) 881-3588

77 Calle Portal, Suite B160. Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 (520) 459-3115

309 Cannon House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2542

Rep. Raul Grijalva

101 W. Irvington Road Buildings 4 and 5. Tucson, AZ 85714. (520) 622-6788

146 N. State Avenue. Somerton AZ 85350. (928) 343-7933

1412 N Central Ave, Suite B. Avondale, AZ 85323. (623) 536-3388

1511 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2435

Rep. Paul Gosar

122 N. Cortez Street, Suite 104. Prescott, AZ 86301. (928) 445-1683

6499 S. Kings Ranch Road, #4. Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. (480) 882-2697

2057 Rayburn House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-2315

Rep. Andy Biggs

2509 S Power Rd Suite 204. Mesa, AZ 85209. (480) 699-8239

1318 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-2635

Rep. David Schweikert

14500 N. Northsight Blvd. Ste. 221. Scottsdale, AZ 85260. (480) 946-2411

1526 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-2190

Rep. Ruben Gallego

1601 North 7th Street Suite 310. Phoenix, AZ 85006. (602) 256-0551

1131 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-4065

Rep. Debbie Lesko

1113 Longworth House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-4576

12515 W. Bell Road, Suite 104. Surprise, AZ 85378. (623) 776-7911

Rep. Greg Stanton

2944 N. 44th St., Ste. 150. Phoenix, AZ 85018. (602) 956-2463

128 Cannon House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. (202) 225-9888

The Arizona Early Childhood Alliance (AZECA) hosted its Early Childhood Day at the Arizona State Capitol. The annual day of advocacy brings together families and early childhood champions to raise awareness of the importance of a child’s earliest years.

Families and early childhood advocates attended breakout sessions on a variety of legislative topics and had the opportunity to meet with their legislators during breakfast and facilitated visits throughout the day. CAA President and CEO Siman Qaasim, and Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President, Monica Villalobos presented during a meeting of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. To wrap up the day, a legislator panel led by Senate Minority Leader, David Bradley and Representative Aaron Lieberman (pictured below) highlighted the importance of restoring funding to early childhood programs.

Thank you to all of the legislators who meet with their constituents and to Southwest Human Development (@SWHDaz), Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (@azhcc), Zero to Three (@ZEROTOTHREE), Valley of the Sun United Way (@myvsuw), Stand for Children Arizona (@ArizonaStand), Expect More Arizona (@ExpectMoreAZ), First Things First (@AZFTF), and the rest of our 53 partner organizations.

Special thanks to Barbie Prinster and Eric Bucher who co-chaired the planning committee and to everyone who volunteered many hours of their time for making the 2020 #ECDay possible.