PHOENIX — Quality childcare is hard to come by in Arizona. In fact, more parents are cutting back on work hours, to save money on daycare spending.
In an effort to help parents get connected with affordable daycare, there's a new app connecting parents to care providers based on "day-to-day" needs vs. contracts or campuses.
"June Care" started in California and has now moved to Arizona. The idea aims to provide parents a connection to daycare providers as a recent survey by "Ready Nation" shows our state is in a daycare desert.
Father of two, Ryan Whitehead didn't want just anyone watching his kids.
"You want the person to have the background, to be CPR certified and a childcare background as well and couldn't quite find anything and I kind of gave up," he explained.
That is until he came across the new app offering flexibility and affordability.
"I want them to experience life because that's what we did from dawn to dusk and I didn't need care the same hours, each day so this is great," he said.
He connected with a mother of two, Libby Vogel, who has a background in child education and keeps busy with two of her own babies at home.
"I was looking to work from home, work with kids and be home with my own kids and still use that experience that I have as a former elementary teacher," she told 12News.
June Care is now available in Arizona, as of this summer and it aims to match budgets, proximity, and parents. The "Ready Nation" survey shows Arizonan's spend $4.7 billion on daycare annually. Plus, half the state experiences a "childcare desert," meaning there are more than three kids for every available childcare slot.
The app is simple; you put in your location and price and can even do a meet and greet to see if it's a great fit.
Not to mention 42 percent of parents who choose to reduce work hours to cut costs, Whitehead is thankful this heartfelt option is on the table.
"I just love my kids so much and I can tell when I pick them up that they were in the best care," he added.
June Care Details: https://www.junecare.co/
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
12News on YouTube
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.