Child Care

Military families tell us child care remains a top concern. Military families need access to care during nontraditional hours to accommodate the service member’s work schedule. Drop-in care and respite care are a priority for families with a deployed service member. In addition to expanding capacity and building new Child Development Centers, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Services must take innovative steps to address these concerns.

Our Association supports:

  • Sustained funding and resources to meet the child care needs of military families to include hourly and drop-in care across all Services
  • Respite care for families of deployed service members, wounded, ill, and injured service members, and those with special needs family members
  • Community partnerships to increase child care capacity for military families living in geographically dispersed areas
  • Quality, subsidized child care to families who cannot access installation-based child development centers

Updates

  • February 3, 2012 The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Military Child Care subsidies. This report was ordered in the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.
  • July 26, 2011 The Department of Veterans Affairs launches a pilot childcare program in three VA Medical Centers. The child care centers will provide free drop-in care for veterans while they attend their medical appointments.
    Related article: Childcare Pilot Launched by the VA
  • December 14, 2010 The Department of Defense announces a pilot program in thirteen states to improve the quality of off-installation child care for Active Duty and Reserve component families.
    Related Article: DoD Expands Community-based Child Care
  • January 21, 2010 The Department of Defense selects the Sittercity Corporate Program to provide all active duty and reserve component families free membership to Sittercity.com to find quality in-home care.
    Related article: DoD Expands Military Family Care Options
  • June 2010 Association representatives attend the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) National Military Child Care Advisory Group.
  • October 7, 2009 Congress passes the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA includes a provision that requires the Comptroller General to submit a report on financial assistance for childcare provided to all active-duty service members, as well as to members of the reserve components who are deployed in connection with a contingency operation. The Association provided input on the legislative language. We are still awaiting the Comptroller General’s report.