Childcare, money for childcare and campus supports for Arizona college students who are raising kids.
Start here
Answer the FAFSA question about children and dependents correctly. If you support a child, you may count as an independent student.
Ask your financial aid office to add dependent care to your cost of attendance. A higher cost of attendance can mean more aid.
Ask your campus about childcare and emergency funds. Many colleges have help that is not on their front page.
Help anywhere in Arizona
DES Child Care Assistance
DES child care help is tied to work or approved activities; going to college alone may not qualify you — read DES’s rule below and ask DES
DES’s rule, in its own words
“Individuals who are currently receiving full-time DES child care assistance who enroll in a full-time education or employment training program, and submit a work requirement waiver to DES, including proof of enrollment.”
“Funding for this program is limited, and a waiting list is in place for most families. Eligible families that do not receive Cash Assistance or have not been referred by the Department of Child Safety will be added to a waiting list until funding is available.”
“As of November 6, 2026, there are 9,304 families and 15,369 children on the waiting list. This data will be updated every Friday.”
DES gross monthly income limits, FFY 2026 chart (effective Oct 1, 2025)
“Initial Application: A family’s gross monthly income must be at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) / (L1-L6). Redetermination: A family’s gross monthly income must be at or below 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) / (L1-L7).”
DES Child Care Assistance: who it is for (eligible activities)
“The Child Care Assistance Program helps families pay for quality child care for children under the age of 13 years old so that parents and legal guardians can work, go to school, or participate in other eligible activities.”
DES Child Care Assistance: income ceiling and eligibility list
“Child care assistance is available for families with an income at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) with children Birth through age 12 who are: Living in Arizona Participating in an eligible activity Teen parents enrolled in high school, GED, ESOL, or remedial education programs”
DES Child Care Assistance: full-time education/training path (work requirement waiver)
“Individuals who are currently receiving full-time DES child care assistance who enroll in a full-time education or employment training program, and submit a work requirement waiver to DES, including proof of enrollment.”
How to use it: Effective July 1, 2022, individuals who are currently receiving full-time Child Care Assistance may submit documentation to waive work requirements while participating in a full-time education or employment training program. Eligible individuals can call 1-833-947-6396 to speak with a child care specialist for additional information.
“* Federal Poverty Level (FPL) = US DHHS 2025 poverty guidelines. The Arizona state statutory limit for child care assistance is 165% of the Federal Poverty Level.”
DES Child Care Assistance: how to apply (A-to-Z Arizona portal)
“You can apply for or renew your benefits online through the A-to-Z Arizona portal. Paper applications can be submitted by email at DESChildCare@azdes.gov, fax, or in person at your local DES office.”
How to use it: For more information about child care assistance, contact the DES Child Care Assistance team at 1-833-947-6396.
DES Child Care Assistance: waiting list release priority
“Families with gross monthly incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) receive the highest priority for assistance;”
How to use it: Yes, you can still apply for assistance. When the waiting list is active, all applicants will go through the eligibility process. If you are not eligible for one of the waiting list exceptions, you will be placed on the waiting list.
DES Child Care Assistance: who is placed on the waiting list
“The following applicants for child care assistance are placed on a waiting list: Low-income working families who are not TANF Cash Assistance participants. Teen parents (in educational activities).”
Child Care Resource & Referral (finding care while on waitlist)
“Find assistance with the important steps in starting a child care search through Arizona Child Care Resource & Referral website or by phone at 1-800-308-9000.”
“Your family qualifies for the Head Start program if your household income is at or below the poverty level. Check the Poverty Guidelines to see if your family qualifies.”
“Families who receive public assistance (TANF, SSI, or SNAP), and those with children in foster care or children who are homeless, also qualify regardless of income.”
Head Start / Early Head Start: what it is (birth to 5, prenatal)
“Head Start programs provide low-income families with free learning and development services for their children ages birth to 5. All programs welcome children with disabilities. Some Early Head Start programs also provide prenatal services for pregnant women.”
How to use it: Talk to your local Head Start program. They’ll help you find out if your child qualifies, give you the forms you need, and tell you what documents you’ll need to submit. If there is not a space for your child, you can ask to be added to the waiting list.
Quality First Scholarships: what they are and how to apply (SFY 2027 family application)
“The Quality First (QF) Scholarships are available through participating child care sites and are designed to help eligible families access quality child care.”
How to use it: To apply, please complete this application, include all required documents, and submit it to your participating QF child care provider. Please note that the scholarship may not cover all costs; you should review any required co-pay amounts with your child care provider before enrollment.
Quality First Scholarships: income ceiling (300% of 2026 FPL, annual)
“2026 Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) supplied by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”
How to use it: If you have any questions about eligibility or need clarification, please contact regionalscholarships@vsuw.org or call toll free 1-866-973-0012.
Quality First Scholarships: unemployed applicants may apply (no work requirement on the form)
“Unemployed – must provide the following (see below for additional unearned income requirements): ☐ No Income Declaration Form (mandatory for all Contributing Members with no earned income)”
2026-27 AVG Ch 2: students with children/legal dependents are independent
“Students who have legal dependents are independent. Legal dependents include children or other people (except a spouse) who meet all the following criteria:”
“They currently receive more than half of their support from the student. They will continue to receive more than half of their support from the student between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.”
2026-27 AVG Ch 2: student parent living with own parents
“If one or both of a student’s parents are directly or indirectly providing more than 50% support in cash or other assistance to the student’s child, then the student could not claim to have a legal dependent who receives more than half of their support from the student.”
2026-27 AVG Ch 2: TANF/SNAP count as the student's support; child support does not
“So, a student may be considered independent when the benefit they receive is the primary support for the child. However, child support received from a noncustodial parent cannot be counted as part of the student’s support to the child.”
FSA Handbook 2026-27 Vol 3 Ch 2: Dependent Care Costs allowance in COA
“For students with dependents, this allowance covers actual costs expected to be incurred for dependent care during periods that include but are not limited to class time, study time, field work, internships, and commuting time for the student.”
How to use it: Because students are often unaware of this allowance, schools should explain the availability of the dependent care allowance when counseling students and tell them how to request that an allowance for dependent care be included in their COA.
FSA Handbook 2026-27 Vol 3 Ch 2: how the dependent care amount is set
“The amount of the allowance should be based on the number and age of the student’s dependents and should not exceed reasonable cost in the community for the type of care provided.”
FSA Handbook 2026-27 Vol 3 Ch 2: documenting dependent care
“You can document these expenses in any reasonable way, such as documenting an interview with the student or obtaining a written statement from the student or other appropriate sources.”
FSA Handbook 2026-27 Vol 3 Ch 2: professional judgment COA adjustment
“You have the authority to use professional judgment to adjust a student's COA on a case-by-case basis to allow for special circumstances. Such adjustments must be documented in the student’s file.”