More than 13,500 Arizona children are now waiting for state assistance to help their families afford childcare. According to DES, the list included 13,793 children from 8,262 families as of July 24. The program helps eligible low-income parents cover childcare while they work, attend school or complete job training. Arizona reinstated the waitlist in August 2024 after federal pandemic childcare funding expired. It started with about 2,000 children and has since grown by more than 400%. Childcare now costs Arizona families more than $16,000 a year on average. Some parents say the lack of affordable care has forced them to reduce their hours or stop working entirely. State lawmakers have put $90 million toward childcare assistance over the last two years, but advocates estimate more than $160 million would be needed to eliminate the waitlist. Families can still apply, but most eligible new applicants will remain on the list until more funding becomes available or the program’s caselo...