Now, you can trust your children to responsible, safe, supportive care that thousands of other AF families have discovered. Already available at more than 80 installations and civilian communities worldwide, FCC offers in-home care for your children ages 2 weeks to 12 years in both on-base housing and civilian communities.

The growing demand for child care and the need for greater flexibility in supporting the Air Force mission necessitated for the expansion of FCC Program. The initiatives of the Expanded FCC Program enables military and civilian parents to perform their duty without undue concern about the well being of their children while reducing significant additional child care costs.

Currently caring for more than 20,000 children, FCC is offered on an hourly, part-day or full-day basis. It can help you in the event that your child is ill or has other special needs. It’s available for deployments, exercises and extended duty hours. In short, it’s everything you need to make sure your children have everything they need.Far from a simple baby-sitting service, FCC providers must meet stringent requirements. They are required to be at least 18 years of age, able to speak, read and write English, and in good mental and physical health. They and their family members must pass a comprehensive background check and complete an orientation program prior to licensing.

Additionally, providers must complete 15 AF Training Modules equating to approximately 60 hours of training. Finally, to ensure your peace of mind, they are required to complete additional training each year, similar to the training required of the Child Development Center (CDC) employees.When you leave your child in an FCC home, you can be sure that it is fully equipped for your child’s physical safety. That’s because the FCC program lends providers important child safety items such as safety gates, scald guards, first-aid kits, doorknob covers, fire extinguishers, electrical outlet covers, etc. Further, unannounced home inspections are conducted monthly to ensure that every provider is consistently maintaining all safety standards.

In addition to child safety items, the FCC program lends providers a wide range of developmentally appropriate educational materials and supplies for infants through school-aged children. Ranging from small-muscle development toys such as puzzles and LEGOs to music materials, language skill supplies, arts and crafts materials and outdoor play equipment, your child will enjoy (and be challenged by) a wide selection of books, games, and toys.FCC is now available in civilian communities in off-base affiliated-provider homes at most locations. Offering the same standards in care, these homes are affiliated with the AF and are required to meet all AF standards as well as standards of the state, county, or country that has child-care licensing jurisdiction.

EXTENDED DUTY CARE
The EDC Initiative is to enable families to obtain high-quality child care from licensed or affiliated providers at or near their base when weekly parental workloads due to longer duty hours exceed their typical 50-hour child care arrangements. Child care provided is for non-traditional hours, i.e., evenings and weekends at no additional costs to parents. The EDC Initiative also helps parents with “child care emergencies” when their regular source of child care is not available. Other approved use includes spouses of deployed or TDY members needing child care created in part by absence of spouse as well as FCC providers that have medical appointments or need substitute care on a limited basis. Contact your FCC Coordinator for more information.

RETURNING HOME CARE
Active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve members returning to their home stations after deployments of a minimum of 30 calendar days or personnel who routinely deploy on a short-term basis (cumulative of 30 days in a six month period) in support of contingency operations, we will receive 16 hours of child care per child (12 years and under) FREE. Child care is offered in the EDC homes. Each member may use no more than 16 hours of care per child per six-month period.

MISSILE CARE PROGRAM
Overnight, weekend and holiday child care provided in homes, contracted by the AF, for children whose parents are assigned to missile sites for more than 24 hours at Malmstrom, Minot, and F. E. Warren Air Force Bases. Parents are still required to pay for their regular child care during the day, but care beyond the normal duty hours is at no cost to parents.

MILDLY ILL CARE
Mildly Ill Child Care enables parents, the opportunity to report to duty and continue the military mission when their child has a mild illness and is unable to participate in a group child care program. Child care is provided in a specially contracted AF licensed or affiliated FCC homes. These homes features providers who have received specialized training from medical staff and provide child care services for children ages 2-weeks-to-12 years who have mild illnesses or conditions that prevent them from using their usual group care arrangements.Eligible users are active duty members, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and DOD civilians assigned to or living on the installation. First priority is given to parents whose children are currently enrolled in the child development, school-age, and family child care programs; however, all children in the previous categories are eligible to use the program simply by completing an enrollment form obtainable from any of the program locations.

SUBSIDY PROGRAM
The FCC Subsidy Program allows parents to utilize a FCC home and pay the same weekly fee they would be charged for child care in the CDC or School-Age Program. Currently, Air Force is buying down the cost for those parents who have children under the age of 3, special needs children, and those who work swings or midnight shifts. The amount offset by Air Force is based on the type of care provided, the age of the child, and the provider’s license status. The FCC Coordinator calculates parent fees by using the guidelines set forth on the DD 2652, Application for Department of Defense Child Care Fees, on Total Family Income (TFI).

NOTE: The subsidy program is intended to help support military spouses’ employment, education, or special medical circumstances. Subsidies will only be provided to single parent families, families with a working spouse, or one who is enrolled in school. It will also be provided to families where the spouse is looking for work for a period of 60 days.

CHILD CARE FOR PCS
The Child Care for PCS Program is intended to help relieve some of the stress felt by families in the process of a PCS move. The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) will pay up to 20 hours of child care (per child) in licensed FCC homes on base or in AF affiliated homes off base. Air Force families with PCS orders can obtain a Child Care for PCS Certificate at the base Relocation Office in the Family Support Center. Families can receive a certificate at both the base from which they are departing and at their new base. Certificates are good only at the base at which they are issued--unused hours do not transfer from one base to another.Families may use the 20 hours of child care within 60 days before the family's departure from a base, and 60 days after arriving at the new base. This program is open to all ranks unless there are a shortage of child care providers at the base in which case priority would be given to junior ranking personnel.

CHILD CARE FOR VOLUNTEERS
Recognizing the importance of volunteers to the base community, the AFAS provides funding for the Child Care for Volunteers program at selected bases. The AFAS will provide up to $1000 per month to pay child care expenses in AF licensed or affiliated FCC homes for volunteers who are engaged in supporting programs, which benefit the AF community. This funding is not meant to replace other moneys that may be available for this purpose, but rather, to provide additional funds to increase the number of volunteers at a base. It is hoped that this funding will be used to support as many volunteers as possible who work at a variety of agencies throughout the base. It should be noted that this program is not meant to pay for child care for volunteers in resale (Thrift Shop), fund raising, or social activities.

QUALITY FAMILY CHILD CARE (QFCC) PROJECT
The QFCC Project is designed to expand the availability of high quality child care for AF families by establishing a partnership between the United States Air Force, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), and 12 community-based Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies. The goal is to ensure that AF families who are unable to find care on the base are able to find child care in civilian communities that is comparable in quality to care provided on AF bases by FCC providers monitored and trained by the military.

QFCC is being offered at the following 15 Air Force Bases:

Beale Air Force Base
Buckley Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force Base
Hurlburt Field
Keesler Air Force Base
Moody Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Pope Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base,
Lackland Air Force Base,
Brooks City Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base

OPERATION MILITARY CHILD CARE (OMCC)
The OMCC is a DOD Initiative to support the child care needs of military parents who are activated or deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Families/child guardians of active duty, National Guard and Reserve Service members who are activated or deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism are eligible to participate during the period of the Military Parent’s deployment period and for 30 days after the return of the Military parent.This initiative helps eligible military families locate affordable child care options in local communities. Military families who are using licensed/legally operating community-based child care programs and providers will pay reduced fees. Military families living near installations will be referred to on-base child care programs. Fee reductions will vary for each family depending upon TFI, geographic location, Military Service/DOD child care fee policies, and available funding. Family circumstances are considered when determining fees.
To apply for OMCC military member, spouse, or legal guardian contacts Child Care Aware at 1-800-424-2246 or via the web at www.childcareaware.org.

MILITARY CHILD CARE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood is a DOD program designed to meet the child care needs of Service members living in areas where on-base military child care is not available. Eligible Service members include Recruiting Specialists, Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC) instructors, Military Entrance Processing (MEP) personnel and Service Members on independent duty assignments who cannot access the high quality care available on military installations. In the past, these families bore the full cost of their child care. Now with Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood, many of them will be eligible to pay reduced fees for the care of their children. To meet this need, the DOD has asked NACCRRA to partner with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies to locate or develop high quality child care spaces that meet DoD quality standards, and provide fee assistance to lower the child care cost to military families. The civilian child care programs that provide Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood child care spaces are comparable in quality to military operated on-base spaces and meet most DOD and Service standards.

The following are examples of programs that DOD considers quality care:
Nationally accredited CDCs or FCC homes FCC homes with a Child Development Associate (CDA) credentialed provider Federal or GSA accredited centers To determine eligibility for Military Child Care In Your Neighborhood, the military member, spouse, or legal guardian contacts Child Care Aware at 1-800-424-2246 or via the web at www.childcareaware.org.

NOTE: Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood service is not an entitlement and subject to geographic availability of care and DOD and Military Service funding.

OPERATION CHILD CARE (OCC)
In May 2004, NACCRRA launched OCC, a voluntary program designed to support the short-term child care needs of National Guard and Reserve members in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. Dedicated child care providers from across the country pledged their support to service members returning home for rest and recuperation (R&R) leave by donating a minimum of four hours of child care services. Their volunteer time allows service members to take care of family business, take a spouse out to dinner, and reconnect with family members. National Guard and Reserve members may request a referral by contacting Child Care Aware at 1-800-424-2246 or via the web at www.childcareaware.org.

A special thanks goes out to all of the child care providers and state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies who are participating in OCC for their devotion to children and their support of our National Guard and Reserve service men and women.

ANG/AFR HOME COMMUNITY CARE
This program allows ANG/AFR parents to utilize state licensed FCC homes in the local community for drill weekends. HCC is currently being offered in several communities: Niagara Falls, NY; Portland, OR; Pittsburgh, PA; Westover ARB, MA; March ARB, CA; Mn St. Paul, MN; Selfridge, MI; Topeka, KS; Tulsa, OK; Fresno, CA; Jacksonville, FL; Ellington, TX; Burlington, VT; and Grissom ARB, IN

BECOMING A FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDER
Help support the Air Force mission by caring for the children of our military and DOD civilian personnel while establishing a professional career for yourself. At minimal start-up cost to you, you can operate your own home-based business, set your own hours, be with your children, and care for other children at home. The FCC staff will train and help you provide responsible, safe, in-home care for children ages 2 weeks to 12 years in your government home or affiliated off-base home.As an added benefit, you’ll also receive 60 hours of AF Standardized training, annual refresher training and be eligible for low cost insurance options. The FCC Program will assist you in seeking the Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) and accreditation through the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).

And, your credentials follow you wherever you go, making your home-based business portable. When you PCS or when your spouse leaves the military, you can move your business along with your family.You can make a difference by providing quality and affordable child care in a home setting.