Finding reliable and supportive child care is a significant concern for military families. At Scott Air Force Base, the Family Child Care (FCC) office understands these challenges and offers a diverse range of programs designed to meet the varied needs of active duty personnel and their families. For complete details on any of these programs, you can always contact the Family Child Care Office directly at 618-256-8047. This guide will walk you through the key child care options available at Scott AFB.
Military Spouse Appointment Child Care: Free Care During Essential Appointments
Recognizing the demands on military spouses, Scott AFB offers a Military Spouse Appointment Child Care program. This initiative provides free child care for active duty military spouses who have scheduled appointments. Whether it’s a medical appointment or a crucial job interview, eligible families can utilize the services of a Family Child Care provider during these times. To access this valuable support, families simply need to provide documentation of the appointment to the FCC office. This program ensures that spouses can attend to important personal and professional matters without the added stress of securing and paying for childcare.
AF Family Child Care Subsidy Program: Making Care Affordable
The Air Force Family Child Care Subsidy Program is designed to make quality child care more affordable for military families. This program bridges the gap in availability at Child Development Centers (CDC) or School Age Programs (SAP), including summer camps. If space is not available at these on-base facilities, the subsidy program allows parents to use a contracted Family Child Care home while paying the same cost they would for CDC or SAP care. These fees are calculated based on total family income, ensuring equitable access to child care regardless of pay grade. This initiative helps maintain affordability and ensures children have access to enriching care environments.
Extended Duty Care Program: Support for Non-Traditional Work Hours
Military life often involves unpredictable and extended work hours. The Extended Duty Care Program at Scott AFB addresses this directly by providing child care during evening and weekend hours. This program is available for mission-related duties that extend beyond normal child care arrangements, accommodating temporary shift changes and extended workdays. Funded through an Air Force contract, this care is free for eligible parents and is provided in contracted FCC homes. It’s a vital resource for personnel who need to fulfill their duties without worrying about child care during non-standard hours.
Home Community Care: Weekend Drill Support for ANG/AFR Families
For Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Force Reserve (AFR) parents, the Home Community Care program provides essential support during drill weekends. This program offers free child care in licensed and affiliated Extended Duty Care FCC homes during drill periods. Care is funded through an Air Force contract and requires pre-approval from the FCC Office. This targeted program acknowledges the unique schedules of ANG/AFR personnel and ensures their children are well cared for during duty weekends.
Deployment Child Care: Supporting Families Through Deployments
Deployments are a challenging time for military families, and Scott AFB provides Deployment Child Care to ease this transition. Before a contingency operation deployment of 30 days or more, military members are entitled to 16 hours of free child care per child. Furthermore, an additional 16 hours of care is provided each month during the deployment, and another 16 hours upon return, usable within 30 days of homecoming. This program, available for children aged 2 weeks to 12 years in contracted FCC homes, is fully funded by the Air Force. It offers crucial support to both the deploying member and their family during each phase of deployment.
EFMP Respite Child Care: Care for Exceptional Family Members
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Respite Child Care program is specifically designed to support Air Force families caring for exceptional family members. This program offers short-term child care to help alleviate the stresses associated with this demanding role. Care is available for exceptional children up to 19 years old and siblings up to age 12. Eligibility requires Airmen to be Q-coded, and the exceptional family member must have a moderate or severe disability. This program is open to Active Duty Air Force and Activated Reserve/Guard members, providing vital respite and support.
24/7 Child Care: Around-the-Clock Support for Shift Workers
Recognizing that not all work schedules align with traditional hours, Scott AFB offers 24/7 Child Care. This program is tailored for families whose work hours fall outside the standard operating hours of the Child Development Center or Youth Programs (0630-1800). It is designed to support shift workers and essential personnel who work overnights, holidays, and weekends, such as Security Forces, Command Post, Fire Department, and Force Support. Participation in this program requires parents to purchase full-time care within a child care program, ensuring consistent and reliable support for those with demanding schedules.
Scott Air Force Base Family Child Care is committed to providing comprehensive and accessible child care solutions for military families. By offering these diverse programs, they aim to alleviate the stress of child care and enable service members and their spouses to focus on their missions and careers, knowing their children are in safe and nurturing environments. For more information or to enroll in any of these programs, please contact the Family Child Care Office at 618-256-8047.
