PHOENIX — Inside Trina Lopez's Laveen home are preschool-sized tables, colorful wall hangings above bins and shelves of colorful books and toys.
All of that is for the four kids she watches each day out of her own home as a Department of Economic Security (DES) family child care provider.
She's one of nearly 200 across the state, but the department says they need many more.
Child care challenges are estimated to cost the Arizona economy $1.7 billion annually, according to a 2021 report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Arizona Chamber Foundation.
'It's a great job'
"It doesn't always feel like work," Lopez said of her time caring for the kids.
While Lopez began working in child care 30 years ago, Lopez earned her certification from DES and started her family child care business in Arizona after she moved here in 2006.
"When I first started I had no little children's furniture. I had nothing except for a coffee table, you know, and I bought some cute little chairs at Target, and that was it," Lopez said.
That became more over the years thanks to support from grants through the state. Most recently, the grants helped her re-do her backyard from rocks to turf with climbing toys and more for the kids she cares for.
For the last 10 years, Lopez has also been involved with Quality First, a program through First Things First that helps early child care providers improve the quality of their programs. Lopez said the program helped her with further resources like toys for the kids as well.
"Know that it's a great job," Lopez said. "It's a great job, but sometimes it can be stressful."
Lopez, who maintains a five-star rating through Quality First, and works with infants through preschoolers said she loves getting to play with the kids and see their development and their personalities unfold.
"You just have to really love what you're doing and love the children," Lopez said.
That's the first thing Hope Edwards, Provider Network and Support Manager at DES's Division of Child Care said is needed to become a family child care provider.
"The number one thing you have to have is a love and a desire to work with children, and then not only work with them, but work with them in your home," Edwards said.
Parents need affordable and quality child care
Edwards said there is a great need for more family child care providers, who care for up to four kids out of their own homes.
"We've seen some decrease in the numbers and that's why we're trying to build those numbers up," Edwards said.
A new analysis by LendingTree finds that Arizona families spend nearly a fifth of their income on child care costs.
Right now, Edwards said there are a little less than 200 family child care providers throughout the state.
"Most often, the childcare deserts are located in rural communities where there are families that are living below the poverty level, we know still that these parents, they have to work, and in order to work and pursue higher education, they need affordable and they need quality child care," Edwards said.
State launches campaign for more family child care providers
The department has started a campaign to get more family child care providers, people like Lopez, signed up to help.
Right now, Edwards said in Maricopa County they need people in the East Valley.
"Some areas out in East Valley is a higher economic areas, and maybe that's why we don't have as many people interested in doing family childcare and working with DES to do childcare subsidies, so that is definitely one of our target areas," Edwards said.
According to DES' website, families earning at or less than 165% of the federal poverty level and meet other eligibility requirements can apply for child care assistance.
To become a family child care provider, Arizonans have to be 18 years and older and all household members must have a completed background check, in addition to further requirements and processes found here.
In anticipation to help onboard family child care providers, Edwards said DES has stepped up staffing in hopes others will step up to help care for children in Arizona.
DES also provides certified family child care providers with resources like professional development training, scholarships, and financial assistance for things like liability insurance and other requirements to be a family child care provider.
"The benefits are huge, you get to watch children in the comforts of your own home and you know watch children that are child care eligible - some of our needier families," Edwards said.
Edwards said parents could watch up to four children in their home, including their own, as part of being a family child care provider.
"You're doing such a wonderful service for the community. When you are a family child care provider with DES, you're helping families by giving them peace of mind while they're working to know that their children are being taken care of in a loving environment and safe environment," Edwards said.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
More ways to get 12News
On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Silent Witness:
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.