HonorHealth: Investing in Child Care

Child care challenges are one of the biggest obstacles facing Arizona’s workforce, especially in industries that rely on shift work. In health care, employees often work early mornings, late nights, overnights and weekends—precisely when most traditional child care centers are closed. With licensed child care in Arizona already falling 25% short of demand, access to affordable, high-quality care becomes even more difficult.

As one of Arizona’s largest nonprofit health care systems, HonorHealth recognized this challenge and made child care a top priority for its 16,000 employees. By listening to its workforce and investing in solutions, HonorHealth has strengthened retention, reduced stress for working parents and reinforced its reputation as one of the state’s top employers.

What they did

HonorHealth developed a multi-pronged approach to support working families:

• On-site child care: Lincoln Learning Center at John C. Lincoln Medical Center in Phoenix and Bright Horizons at Scottsdale Shea Medical Center
• Extended child care hours to align with day-shift schedules
• Discounted rates for employees, plus access to Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (up to $5,000 pre-tax annually)
• Wraparound services: Free mental health consultations and parenting coaching through Lyra to help employees navigate challenges at home and work

HonorHealth’s efforts show how family-friendly workplace policies can meet the unique demands of shift workers while strengthening the broader economy. By investing in child care, HonorHealth has created a healthier workplace culture, improved retention, and set a model for other Arizona employers navigating similar challenges.

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