Office of Work-Life Programs -
Child Care
Who is Eligible for this Program?
The Child Care Program is available to the following members
of Team Coast Guard:
- Active Duty, Reserves, Retirees and their dependents
- Civil Service employees
- Exchange System employees and MWR employees
In addition, DoD military members and civilian federal employees are
eligible on a space available basis.
Purpose of Program
The purpose of the Child Care Programs is to assist Coast
Guard personnel in balancing the competing demands of family life and the
accomplishment of the Coast Guard mission. This may be done through onsite
Coast Guard Child Development Centers, Coast Guard certified Family Child
Care Providers and referral to child care programs in the local community.
DoD Child Development Centers and Child Care Subsidy program are available
to Coast Guard active duty members only.
Program
Confidentiality
Discussions of the information provided to enroll a child in a child
care program or to certify a spouse to become an FCC provider are revealed only to persons with a
need to know as defined in the privacy act statements that accompany the
request for information.
Child development service providers are mandated reporters of suspected
or substantiated child abuse. They are required to report such incidents
to the Family Advocacy Specialist on the servicing Work-Life Staff and
to the Child Protective Services agency.
All discussions between a person using the Child Care Program and the
Family Resource Specialist, the Child Development Center Director, and
the CDC staff members, and the Family Child Care Provider after a child is
enrolled in a program are confidential, with the exceptions as indicated
above.
Definitions
The following definitions apply to the Child Care Program:
- Child Development Centers (CDC) are facilities that provide
developmentally appropriate programs (full day or part day) to children
from age 6 weeks until Kindergarten. Before and after school programs
and summer programs are available in selected locations.
- Developmental program is a planned program of activities that
are appropriate for the age and development of the children involved.
These activities promote the social, emotional, physical, creative and
cognitive development of children.
Coast Guard-certified Family Child Care takes place in a home that is
owned or leased by the Coast Guard for the family residence. A spouse may
care for a maximum of six children. To become a certified provider, a
spouse must
have appropriate training and the home where child care is provided must
undergo regular inspections.
Services and Resources Available
The following services and resources are available within the Child Care
Program:
- Child care services at Child Development Centers at major commands
and from Family Child Care Providers in Coast Guard-controlled housing
- Referral to appropriate service agencies in the community when
requested
- Points of contact for child care services both within the Coast
Guard and in the community
- Parenting information
Services at Coast Guard Child Development Centers may be requested by
contacting the Child Development Centers Contact List
Related Program Information
CHILD CARE CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS
This checklist is designed to assist and guide parents in evaluating child
care arrangements for their children. While not all-inclusive, it does
provide important items parents should consider before deciding who will
care for their children. Parents still have the ultimate responsibility to
make appropriate child care arrangements.
- Does the caregiver(s) appear warm and friendly? Are the children,
including infants, spoken to in a manner encouraging language
development?
- Does the caregiver(s) have child-rearing attitudes and methods
similar to your own?
- Is there a planned program of activities appropriate for the age
and development of the children? Do the children have the opportunity
to make choices?
- Is there a variety of materials appropriate for the age and
development of the children?
- Are parents encouraged to visit at any time and participate in the
program when possible?
- Does the caregivers have child care training or experience?
- Are there enough caregivers to give adequate attention to all the
children?
- If meals are served, are they balanced nutritionally? Are infants
held during bottle feeding?
- Are matches, sharp knives, medicines, household cleaners, and
other dangerous items stored out of children's reach?
- Do electrical outlets have safety caps?
- Are smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and a fully stocked first
aid kit available?
- Are toys and equipment children use safe and in good condition?
- Is the facility clean and sanitary?
- Does the facility have an up-to-date license, if one is required?
Is the family child care provider certified?
- Is the outdoor play area fenced and free of hazards and litter?
- Is the caregiver willing to supply references?
- Are emergency evacuation procedures posted and practiced
regularly?
- Does the caregiver meet State requirements for general liability
insurance? If there is no State requirement, does the caregiver have a
minimum of $500,000 general liability coverage?
Program References
The following references provide details of the Child Care
Program:
Related Web Sites
The following web sites provide information related to the Child Care
Program:
- American Academy of Pediatrics -
http://www.aap.org/. Current
information concerning the physical, mental, and social health and
well-being for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults can be
found here.
- Care.com -
http://www.care.com/military. Provides access to
information about how to find and choose quality child care in more than
650 areas of the U.S.
- Consumer Product Safety Commission -
http://www.cpsc.gov. This site has
information on recalled products and a special site for children with
safety games.
- Federal Child Care Bureau and the Maternal and Child Health
Bureau -
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/ . Information is available
about health, nutrition, and safety education for children and parents,
and a link to the American Academy of Pediatrics is provided.
-
Coast Guard Subsidy Program - GSA/Coast Guard Partnership
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- http://www.naeyc.org. The site
provides listings of NAEYC accredited child care centers by location and
is a source for books and brochures on early childhood education.
- National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
- http://www.naccrra.net. Provides information on locating child care
and resources for training providers of child care.
- National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
- http://www.childcareaware.org/. Helps parents locate child
care in their area.
- National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families -
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer. Articles promoting
the healthy development of babies and toddler can be found here.
- National Network for Child Care -
http://www.nncc.org. USDA Cooperative
Extension System’s site provides information on child care and available
resources from county extension service offices.
- Parents.com -
http://www.parents.com. Committed to helping parents with the
adventure of raising children.
- Tufts University Child and Family Web Guide -
http://www.cfw.tufts.edu.
Describes and evaluates web sites that contain research-based
information about child development.
Point of Contact
If you are unable to contact the Family Resource Specialist on your
Regional Work-Life Staff, or need additional
assistance beyond the information provided here, please contact the
Headquarters Dependent Care Program Manager, Mr. Ken O'Meara
at (202) 475-5156 or by Email at
Kenneth.R.O'Meara@uscg.mil.