Balancing military duties and family life can be challenging, especially for Air National Guard service members. Recognizing these demands, the Department of the Air Force offers the Air Force Family Child Care Subsidy Program, designed to provide financial assistance for child care to eligible families. This program ensures that service members can focus on their mission knowing their children are in safe, nurturing, and affordable care environments.
Understanding the Air Force Family Child Care Subsidy Program
The core mission of the Air Force Child Care Fee Assistance Programs is to support Department of Defense (DoD) military personnel by easing the financial burden of child care. This commitment translates to a system of high-quality, accessible, and affordable child care programs for children from birth through 12 years of age. For Air National Guard members on state active duty, this program is a valuable resource.
Who is Eligible for the Child Care Subsidy?
Eligibility for the Air Force Family Child Care Subsidy Program extends to children of Air National Guard service members serving on state active duty. This ensures that families facing the unique challenges of state active duty can access crucial child care support. In addition to active duty families, children who are survivors of Combat Fallen Warriors are also eligible for these vital programs. For detailed information regarding general child care eligibility, you can refer to the Child Development Centers, School Age Services and Care, and Child & Youth Services (CYS) fact sheets, which provide comprehensive details on eligibility criteria across various child care programs.
Exploring the Benefits: Military Child Care Options
Many Air Force families reside in areas where on-base child care options are limited, unavailable, or have extensive waiting lists. To address this gap, the Department of Defense has established partnerships with national organizations and local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. These collaborations help military families find licensed child care within their communities.
The cornerstone of the program is Military Child Care (MCC), which offers fee assistance to eligible families with children aged 0-12 enrolled in licensed, off-base community child care programs. MCC not only assists families in locating suitable child care options but also significantly reduces child care costs based on total family income. This ensures that quality child care is financially accessible for more Air Force families. Licensed Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Providers participate in this program across all 50 states.
For detailed eligibility criteria and step-by-step application instructions, families are encouraged to contact Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) at 800-424-2246 or visit their website. Child Care Aware® of America is a key partner in administering the Air Force Family Child Care Subsidy Program, providing resources and support to military families seeking child care assistance.
Image: A child happily engages in block play at a child care center, illustrating the nurturing environment provided by the Air Force Family Child Care Subsidy Program.
The Air Force Child Care Fee Assistance Programs encompass several initiatives, including:
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Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN): This program focuses on providing off-base child care solutions for active duty families with children aged birth to 12. MCCYN assists families in finding and enrolling in nationally accredited, high-quality community programs, enabling them to benefit from reduced child care fees. Families living near on-installation child care (within 15 miles or 20 minutes) are required to have an active care request on MilitaryChildCare.com before applying for fee assistance, ensuring on-base options are considered first. To locate qualifying programs and providers in your area, you can utilize the search tool available on the Child Care Aware of America website.
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Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood – PLUS (MCCYN-PLUS): MCCYN-PLUS is an innovative pilot program operating in select locations nationwide. It focuses on enhancing the quality of child care in non-accredited, licensed center-based programs through the implementation of state Quality Rating and Improvement Systems. MCCYN-PLUS is considered when nationally accredited care is not readily available, ensuring a baseline quality standard even in areas with limited accredited options. More information is available in the MCCYN-PLUS Fact Sheet.
How to Apply for Air Force Child Care Fee Assistance
To apply for the Department of the Air Force MCCYN program and access Community Child Care Fee Assistance, follow these essential steps:
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Create a MilitaryChildCare.com Profile: Begin by creating a profile on MilitaryChildCare.com. This centralized platform is the starting point for accessing military child care benefits.
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Request CDC/FCC Care in Your Profile: Within your “household profile,” submit a request for CDC/FCC (Child Development Center/Family Child Care) care. This step is mandatory before applying for Community Child Care Fee Assistance, as it ensures consideration of on-base child care options first.
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Accept the Fee Assistance Offer: If you receive an offer for community child care fee assistance, it will be communicated through MilitaryChildCare.com. The offer email will provide detailed instructions on how to accept the assistance, along with a direct link to the CCAoA fee assistance enrollment portal.
Formal applications are submitted online via the Child Care Aware of America Fee Assistance Program Website. It is crucial to wait for an offer notification via email before submitting any supporting documents to your fee assistance account.
Image: A smiling mother and child, representing the peace of mind and family well-being supported by the Air Force Family Child Care Subsidy Program.
Commonly required documents for the application process include:
- LES/CLES (Leave and Earnings Statement/Comprehensive Leave and Earnings Statement)
- Orders/SF-50 (Official Military Orders/Notification of Personnel Action)
- Spouse pay stubs/school schedule/ Looking for Work Form
- Self-certification Form
- Installation Child Care Request Form
- Provider Cost Verification Form
- Provider Application documents
If you encounter difficulties finding a provider that meets the MCCYN or MCCYN-PLUS requirements, specialist assistance is available from CCAoA.
For families in the National Capital Region, Enhanced Referral services are offered by Child Care Aware® through a dedicated phone line (1-800-424-2246). This service provides personalized child care searches considering work and home locations, transportation routes, care hours, children’s ages, and provider eligibility within the fee assistance program. Enhanced Referrals also grant access to providers in the CCAoA preferred network, which includes nearly 3,500 pre-approved MCCYN providers.
Additional Resources and Information
For further details and to access the program resources directly, please visit the following links:
- Child Care Aware Fee Assistance: https://www.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/military-families/air-force/fee-assistance/
- Administration for Children and Families Website: https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/military-child-care-financial-assistance
- Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) Fee Assistance Program: https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome/mccyn/air-force
The Air Force Family Child Care Subsidy Program stands as a testament to the commitment to supporting Air National Guard families. By providing crucial financial assistance and resources, this program helps ensure that service members can confidently fulfill their duties while their children receive quality care.
