NOVEMBER 8, 2022 – Among the child development programs recently announced by the Department of Defense as part of the “Taking Care of Service Members and Families” initiative is one that improves access to off-site military child care fee assistance and expands access for in-home child care.
The DOD child care fee assistance program, “Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood,” provides service members and their families assistance in finding civilian child care off military installations and helps offset the costs when installation-based care is either unavailable or not a viable option, such as in the instances of lengthy waitlists or when service members are geographically dispersed.
Fee assistance for community-based child care is available for all active-duty service members, including National Guard and reserve on active duty, as well as DOD civilian employees in participating locations.
Through the initiative, the DOD has additionally launched a pilot program to offer child care fee assistance to service members who utilize in-home child care providers such as nannies or babysitters.
This in-home child care pilot is currently available in limited locations, and Arnold Air Force Base is not yet on the list.
It is currently available in Hawaii; National Capital Region; Norfolk, Virginia; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California.
It will be expanding to Colorado Springs, Colorado; Seattle/Tacoma, Washington; Jacksonville/Mayport and Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Eligible military families for the pilot include single or dual active-duty members, active-duty members with a full-time working spouse, and active-duty members with a spouse enrolled in a postsecondary institution on a full-time basis.
The goal of these programs is to provide military families with access to quality, affordable child development programs in the face of an increased demand for child care.
For additional information on military child care programs, including fee assistance programs, visit https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome?.
For additional information on the in-home child care pilot, visit https://public.militarychildcare. csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome/child-care-in-your-home?.
Information is also available on Military OneSource at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/family- relationships/ parenting-andchildren/childcare/in-home-child-care-fee-assistance-program/.
Authorized users can request child care through MilitaryChildCare.com.
Story by Bradley Hicks
Arnold Engineering Development Complex Public Affairs