The Department of the Air Force is committed to supporting military personnel and their families by providing access to quality and affordable child care. For Air National Guard service members on state active duty, balancing military responsibilities with family needs is a priority. Recognizing this, the Air Force Child Care Assistance Program is designed to ease the burden of child care costs, ensuring that children from birth through 12 years of age have access to enriching and safe environments.
Who is Eligible for Air Force Child Care Assistance?
Eligibility for the Air Force Child Care Fee Assistance Programs extends to children of Air National Guard service members while they are on state active duty. This crucial support system acknowledges the unique demands placed on National Guard families when service members are activated for state missions. Furthermore, children who are survivors of Combat Fallen Warriors are also eligible, highlighting the program’s commitment to supporting families through various circumstances. For detailed information regarding child care eligibility, you can refer to the Child Development Centers fact sheet, School Age Services and Care fact sheet, and the Child & Youth Services (CYS) fact sheet, all available for further reading.
Exploring the Benefits: How the Program Helps
Many Air Force families, especially those in the Air National Guard, reside in communities where on-base child care options are limited, unavailable, or have lengthy waiting lists. To bridge this gap, the Department of Defense has established partnerships with Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies at the state and local levels, as well as National Youth Organizations. These collaborations ensure military families can find and afford quality child care in their communities.
Military Child Care (MCC): Your Neighborhood Solution
The Military Child Care (MCC) program is a cornerstone of the Air Force Child Care Assistance Program. It provides fee assistance to eligible families with children aged 0-12 years who are enrolled in licensed, community-based child care programs off-base. MCC simplifies the process of finding licensed child care options in your area and significantly reduces child care fees based on your total family income. This program is available across all 50 states, offering a wide network of licensed Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Providers.
For specific eligibility requirements and step-by-step instructions on how to apply for fee assistance, it is recommended to contact Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) at 800-424-2246 or visit their contact page. You can also explore the Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) website for more in-depth information about the fee assistance program and how it can benefit your family.
Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) and MCCYN-PLUS
The Department of the Air Force Child Care Fee Assistance Programs include two key initiatives:
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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 from birth to 12 years old. MCCYN assists Air Force families in finding and enrolling in nationally accredited, high-quality programs within their communities, allowing 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 find a qualifying program and child care provider in your local area, you can click here for a helpful locator tool.
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Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood – PLUS (MCCYN-PLUS): MCCYN-PLUS is an innovative pilot program operating in selected locations nationwide. It aims to enhance the quality of child care in non-accredited, licensed center-based programs through the implementation of a state Quality Rating and Improvement System. MCCYN-PLUS is considered when nationally accredited care is not accessible, ensuring a baseline of quality even in broader community care settings. For more details, you can refer to the MCCYN-PLUS Fact Sheet and the MCCYN-PLUS Parent Pamphlet.
Applying for Air Force Child Care Fee Assistance: A Step-by-Step Guide
To request participation in the Department of the Air Force MCCYN program for Community Child Care Fee Assistance, please follow these essential steps:
- Create a Profile on MilitaryChildCare.com: Your first step is to establish a profile on the MilitaryChildCare.com portal.
- Request CDC/FCC Care in Your Household Profile: Within your “household profile,” you must submit a request for CDC/FCC care. This step must be completed before applying for Community Child Care Fee Assistance, indicating your consideration of on-base options.
- Accept the Fee Assistance Offer on MilitaryChildCare.com: If you are offered community child care fee assistance, the offer will be communicated through MilitaryChildCare.com. The offer email will contain detailed instructions on how to accept the space and a direct link to the CCAoA fee assistance enrollment portal.
Applications can be conveniently made online through the Child Care Aware of America Fee Assistance Program Website.
It is important to note that you will receive an email notification when a space becomes available for your child or children. Please wait to submit or upload any supporting documents to your fee assistance account until you have received an official offer. Commonly required documents may include:
- LES/CLES (Leave and Earnings Statement/Comprehensive Leave and Earnings Statement)
- Orders/SF-50 (Standard Form 50)
- Spouse pay stubs/school schedule/ Looking for Work Form (valid for 90 days)
- Self-certification Form
- Installation Child Care Request Form
- Provider Cost Verification Form
- Provider Application documents
If you encounter difficulties in finding a provider that meets the requirements for MCCYN or MCCYN-PLUS (in pilot locations), do not hesitate to contact a specialist at CCAoA for personalized assistance.
Enhanced Referral for the National Capital Region
For military families located in the National Capital Region, an Enhanced Referral service is available to simplify your child care search. By calling Child Care Aware® at 1-800-424-2246, qualifying military sponsors can receive tailored child care referrals. This service considers your work and home addresses, commute routes, required care hours, children’s ages, and provider eligibility for fee assistance. Enhanced Referrals also provide the option to choose providers within the CCAoA preferred provider network, which includes nearly 3,500 pre-approved MCCYN providers, streamlining your selection process.
Further Resources
For more detailed information 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-fee-assistance-programs
- Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) Fee Assistance Program: https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome/mccyn/air-force
This information is based on the most current data available as of Document Review Date: 11 March 2024. Please refer to the official program websites for the latest updates and any changes.
