Over the years, the Department of Defense (DoD) has recognized the need to help provide military families with quality, affordable child care. Depending on where a service member is stationed, finding child care can be somewhat challenging.  DoD has created programs to help meet those challenges and to improve the quality of life for military families.

DoD currently oversees 800 Child Development Centers (CDCs) located on military installations worldwide. These centers offer a safe child care environment and meet professional standards for early childhood education. Child care is typically available through these centers for children ages six weeks to twelve years.  The centers are generally open Monday through Friday between the hours of 6:00AM and 6:30PM. Commanders may decide to extend hours to meet the work and deployment needs and schedules of their installation population.

DoD also oversees the Family Child Care (FCC) programs. These programs provide in-home care by installation-certified providers. FCC helps bridge gaps in child care when the CDC does not entirely meet the child care needs of the family.  Family Service Centers, youth centers, referral offices, and the CDC have lists of approved homes and providers.

An additional component of military child care is the School Age Care (SAC) program. SAC meets the needs of children ages six to twelve years and provides before and after school care as well as summer and holiday programs. Additional support for families with children over the age of twelve can be found through the youth and teen programs often sponsored by youth services and community centers.

Over the years, the Department of Defense (DoD) has recognized the need to help provide military families with quality, affordable child care. Depending on where a service member is stationed, finding child care can be somewhat challenging.  DoD has created programs to help meet those challenges and to improve the quality of life for military families.

DoD currently oversees 800 Child Development Centers (CDCs) located on military installations worldwide. These centers offer a safe child care environment and meet professional standards for early childhood education. Child care is typically available through these centers for children ages six weeks to twelve years.  The centers are generally open Monday through Friday between the hours of 6:00AM and 6:30PM. Commanders may decide to extend hours to meet the work and deployment needs and schedules of their installation population.

DoD also oversees the Family Child Care (FCC) programs. These programs provide in-home care by installation-certified providers. FCC helps bridge gaps in child care when the CDC does not entirely meet the child care needs of the family.  Family Service Centers, youth centers, referral offices, and the CDC have lists of approved homes and providers.

An additional component of military child care is the School Age Care (SAC) program. SAC meets the needs of children ages six to twelve years and provides before and after school care as well as summer and holiday programs. Additional support for families with children over the age of twelve can be found through the youth and teen programs often sponsored by youth services and community centers.

Some installations have more demand for child care than they can provide through the CDC and have to put parents on a waiting list. As soon as a family knows they will need child care, they should contact the CDC and secure a place on the list.

Some installations have more demand for child care than they can provide through the CDC and have to put parents on a waiting list. As soon as a family knows they will need child care, they should contact the CDC and secure a place on the list.

The placement of a family on a waiting list before or after other families depends on several things: when they applied, their status, and if their status changes. Status is determined by considering things like deployment, single parent families, and spouse employment. Installation commanders often determine placement on the list, taking into consideration needs specific to their installation and their service members. Criteria can vary from installation to installation. The installation CDC can clarify the criteria for the waiting list and can explain how a family's status is determined.

The placement of a family on a waiting list before or after other families depends on several things: when they applied, their status, and if their status changes. Status is determined by considering things like deployment, single parent families, and spouse employment. Installation commanders often determine placement on the list, taking into consideration needs specific to their installation and their service members. Criteria can vary from installation to installation. The installation CDC can clarify the criteria for the waiting list and can explain how a family's status is determined.

Until space becomes available in a CDC, military families have several options. Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) partners with each of the branches of Service to help military families find affordable, quality child care in their surrounding civilian communities. Child Care Aware of America 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.

Military families may decide to use a Family Child Care home while waiting for a space to become available at a CDC.  A family might also decide that it would be best for them to have a nanny or au pair come into the family home to care for the children. Parents can also contact the Resource and Referral (R&R) office on their installation for further assistance.

Until space becomes available in a CDC, military families have several options. Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) partners with each of the branches of Service to help military families find affordable, quality child care in their surrounding civilian communities. Child Care Aware of America 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.

Military families may decide to use a Family Child Care home while waiting for a space to become available at a CDC.  A family might also decide that it would be best for them to have a nanny or au pair come into the family home to care for the children. Parents can also contact the Resource and Referral (R&R) office on their installation for further assistance.

Monthly fees are based on a sliding scale depending on Total Family Income. DoD has established nine income categories.  Once Total Family Income is determined, a family will be charged a fee based on their income category:

While the range for the sliding scale is standardized throughout DoD, commanders have the authority to determine the exact fee for their installation. In addition, commanders also have the ability to authorize individual fees below the installation set fee on a case-by-case basis if special financial circumstances exist for a family.

Monthly fees are based on a sliding scale depending on Total Family Income. DoD has established nine income categories.  Once Total Family Income is determined, a family will be charged a fee based on their income category:

While the range for the sliding scale is standardized throughout DoD, commanders have the authority to determine the exact fee for their installation. In addition, commanders also have the ability to authorize individual fees below the installation set fee on a case-by-case basis if special financial circumstances exist for a family.

Families must complete the DD Form 2652 "Application for Department of Defense Child Care Fees" by providing their earnings information from their most recent W-2 or leave and earning statement. If a family chooses not to verify income, the family will automatically be charged the Category VI fee, the highest fee allowed.

Families must complete the DD Form 2652 "Application for Department of Defense Child Care Fees" by providing their earnings information from their most recent W-2 or leave and earning statement. If a family chooses not to verify income, the family will automatically be charged the Category VI fee, the highest fee allowed.

DoD provides funding to most military Child Development Centers and Family Child Care (FCC) in-home providers so they, in turn, will not have to charge as high a fee to the families to whom they provide child care services. Subsidies vary by branch and facility. FCC providers may receive subsidies in the form of direct cash, equipment loans, free training, or low-cost insurance.

Because of the subsidies, military child care is often more affordable than child care in the civilian community, often meeting or exceeding the local economy's standards and accreditations.

DoD provides funding to most military Child Development Centers and Family Child Care (FCC) in-home providers so they, in turn, will not have to charge as high a fee to the families to whom they provide child care services. Subsidies vary by branch and facility. FCC providers may receive subsidies in the form of direct cash, equipment loans, free training, or low-cost insurance.

Because of the subsidies, military child care is often more affordable than child care in the civilian community, often meeting or exceeding the local economy's standards and accreditations.

Installation commanders know their populations best and are able to consider their local community's needs when developing policy.

Installation commanders know their populations best and are able to consider their local community's needs when developing policy.

Some CDCs may provide discounts for families with more than one child in care.  The installation CDC can explain fees for multiple children in care before a family registers for services.

Some CDCs may provide discounts for families with more than one child in care.  The installation CDC can explain fees for multiple children in care before a family registers for services.

The Resource and Referral Office can help families identify child care options in the civilian community that can meet their after-hour and weekend care needs. Families can also use Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) to help them locate quality child care.

Family Child Care (FCC) homes might also have more flexible hours.  This DoD-sponsored program allows for more flexible child care hours, some even providing overnight care, while maintaining the standards and certifications found in a CDC.

School Age Care (SAC) is also a possible resource for parents when traditional CDC hours do not meet their child care needs. SAC was developed to assist parents in balancing the competing demands of family life and military service. This program provides age-appropriate activities and educational, social, physical, and emotional support in a safe environment.

The Resource and Referral Office can help families identify child care options in the civilian community that can meet their after-hour and weekend care needs. Families can also use Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) to help them locate quality child care.

Family Child Care (FCC) homes might also have more flexible hours.  This DoD-sponsored program allows for more flexible child care hours, some even providing overnight care, while maintaining the standards and certifications found in a CDC.

School Age Care (SAC) is also a possible resource for parents when traditional CDC hours do not meet their child care needs. SAC was developed to assist parents in balancing the competing demands of family life and military service. This program provides age-appropriate activities and educational, social, physical, and emotional support in a safe environment.