In Phoenix, one of the outreach ministries of the Church of the Beatitudes is Age Link, an intergenerational child development center.  The mission of Beatitudes Age Link is to provide an affordable, high-quality early childcare program where children, their families, and elders benefit from regular interaction.

 Currently, of the 160 children at Age Link, 35 percent come from the working poor--families who require help each month for tuition costs to keep their young children in a quality, safe early education environment.  Because it is the mission of Age Link to serve these families, a scholarship fund has been established to help offset the costs of childcare. 

Many lower-income, working parents face a real crisis when trying to find quality childcare for their young ones.   Often these families are living on the edge of financial stability.  An illness, unexpected family emergency or increase in rent will force them to uproot their children from a stable, nurturing environment at a quality center to search for less expensive and usually sub-standard childcare.