Valley of the Sun YMCA: Investing in Child Care

In today’s competitive job market, businesses across Arizona are realizing that family-friendly policies aren’t just good for employees—they’re good for business. Child care challenges cost Arizona’s economy billions of dollars every year in terms of turnover, absenteeism and lost productivity. Employers are stepping up with solutions that increase access to affordable, quality child care because they understand how it creates a stronger workforce.

One standout example is the Valley of the Sun YMCA, one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations in Arizona. With 12 locations across the Phoenix metro area, the YMCA is committed to serving all walks of life—and that includes ensuring its own employees have access to affordable, reliable child care.

What they did

After surveying staff and listening to feedback, YMCA leadership discovered that the rising cost of child care was one of the most significant barriers for their employees with children. To meet this need, they offer:

• On-site child care at all 12 valley locations for children 6 weeks to 5 years old
• Free child care for employees working over 30 hours per week
• 25% discounts for part-time staff working under 30 hours per week
• Extended hours (6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.) to accommodate different shifts
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, allowing employees to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars for child care expenses

In Arizona, these investments ripple beyond the workplace, fueling economic output, sustaining jobs and generating millions in tax revenue each year. As workforce demands grow, particularly in industries with non-traditional hours, child care will remain essential infrastructure for business success. 

Family-friendly policies are no longer optional—they’re essential for attracting and retaining top talent.

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