Child-care regulations have long been debated in Arizona, where conservative lawmakers argue for minimum oversight. Child-care advocates, however, say the inspectors are the only outside oversight of the places where an estimated 87,500 Arizona children spend their days. And good child-care providers welcome the annual inspections, said Joy Bauer, director of the Child Care Association of Northern and Central Arizona, which has 400 members. No one wants an expired license hanging in its frame, even if they are in compliance with regulations, she said. It's not good for business.
Providers rely on inspectors for advice on programs, staff and building maintenance.
But plenty of centers likely are just as pleased to not have seen an inspector recently, Wilkins said. In comparison, the Department of Economic Security, which provides child-care subsidies for poor parents, inspects its 1,500 providers twice a year with its 25 inspectors. Regina Gomez, a doctor at Phoenix Indian Medical Center, gets some peace of mind from the DHS' annual inspection. The DHS provides a list of what parents should look for. And inspection reports are available at its offices in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff.