Resources

The Department of Defense (DoD) and all branches of Service recognize how important affordable, quality child care is for military families. There are numerous organizations and support networks available through DoD, installations, local community programs, and on the Internet to help families make informed decisions about their children's care.

Child Development Centers (CDC)

Most installations have a CDC. CDC staff can provide information on their fees, requirements for registering children, local installation policy regarding certifications for child care providers, and information on after-hours child care that might be available in the local community. They can also help parents on the waiting list find alternative child care referral services until a slot in a CDC classroom becomes available.

Family Child Care (FCC)

Through the FCC program, installation-certified individuals provide care in their private homes while maintaining standards required by DoD. The advantage to using a FCC is the flexible hours that some FCCs offer, bridging the gap between traditional child care facility hours and military working hours due to training, shift work, and deployments. In addition, some FCC homes may be able to take mildly ill children, something a CDC is not equipped to do. Background checks are done on all FCC providers and they are encouraged to achieve accreditation through the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).

School Age Care (SAC)

After school, summer, and holiday care for children ages six to twelve years is available through Children and Youth Services.  Typically care is provided both before and after school. SAC programs strive to reinforce family values and provide a safe environment while addressing cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Most SAC programs provide transportation to and from local schools for children.  These programs must meet the accreditation standards as set forth by the Council On Accreditation (COA). SAC programs are currently being expanded to more fully meet the needs of military families.

Stop Bullying Now!

This site, provided by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), assists family members in finding the resources they need to prevent bullying, stop bullying, and help children and youth in coping if they are already experiencing the effects of bullying.  Bullying can take many forms, such as: hitting or punching, teasing or name-calling, intimidation through gestures, social exclusion, and sending insulting messages or pictures by mobile phone or using the Internet (also known as cyber bullying).

Youth and Teen Services

Children ages twelve years and older, while more independent, still need structure and age appropriate activities. The Youth and Teen Services office can help parents find programs, activities, field trips, and other events geared to children ages twelve to eighteen. They are located at the installation youth center, Family Assistance Centers, or Fleet and Family Service/Support Centers.

Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA)

Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) is a "national network of more than 850 child care resource and referral centers (CCR&Rs) located in every state and most communities across the United States. CCR&R centers help families, child care providers, and communities find, provide, and plan for affordable, quality child care."  Child Care Aware of America also partners with each of the branches of Service to help military families find affordable child care, improving the quality of child care across the board. Through partnerships with DoD, Child Care Aware of America has several programs and non-profit initiatives designed to help strengthen military families:

• Child Care Aware®  - Child Care Aware is a nonprofit initiative administered by Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) that helps parents locate quality services and resources in the local community through increased visibility of local and national child care resource and referral agencies.  This initiative is not limited to service members.
• Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) - MCCYN is a DoD program operated in partnership with Child Care Aware of America.  The program is designed to help service members stationed in communities without military installations (such as Recruiters, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) instructors, Military Entrance Processing (MEP) personnel, and service members on Independent Duty) find affordable, high-quality child care in communities by providing reduced fees for the care of their children.  
• Operation: Military Child Care (OMCC) - OMCC is a DoD initiative, administered through a contract with Child Care Aware of America, to support the child care needs of parents who are activated or deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism. This initiative helps these service members locate affordable child care options and provides subsidies to reduce the cost of child care.

Links to Branch Support Services
Links to Additional Resources