Navigating Military Child Care: Your Guide to On-Base Options and Fee Assistance

Last updated 6 days ago. Our resources are updated regularly but please keep in mind that links, programs, policies, and contact information do change.

Military life presents unique challenges when securing reliable and affordable child care. Frequent Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, unpredictable work hours, and deployments can make finding consistent care a significant stress source for service members and their families.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has made a substantial commitment to providing access to quality child care options, viewing it as essential for mission readiness, family well-being, retention, and overall morale. In fact, the DoD operates one of the largest employer-sponsored child care systems in the United States, serving hundreds of thousands of children annually.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the child care landscape available to U.S. military families. It details the types of DoD-operated programs available on installations, explains fee assistance programs designed to help families afford care in the civilian community when on-base options are unavailable, introduces the central online portal for managing child care requests (MilitaryChildCare.com), and outlines specific support available for families raising children with special needs.

Your On-Base Child Care Choices: DoD-Operated Programs

The DoD offers several standardized types of child care programs directly on military installations, designed to cater to the diverse needs of military families. These programs are regulated and aim to provide high-quality care environments. The three primary types are Child Development Centers (CDCs), Family Child Care (FCC) homes, and School Age Care (SAC) programs.

Child Development Centers

Child Development Centers, commonly known as CDCs, are facility-based programs typically located on military installations. They offer a structured learning environment similar to civilian child care centers but operate under DoD standards. CDCs generally care for children from infancy (typically starting at 6 weeks) up to 5 years of age, or until the child is eligible for kindergarten.

Most CDCs operate Monday through Friday during standard work hours, often from around 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, although specific hours can vary by installation, and some may offer extended hours. The size of these centers varies, with larger installations sometimes hosting multiple CDC facilities.

Services typically include full-day weekly care (usually defined as up to 50 hours per week, with a daily maximum like 10 hours), part-day programs, and part-day preschool or enrichment options (sometimes called Part-Day Enrichment or PDE). Some CDCs may also offer hourly care, depending on space availability.

Many CDCs participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program, providing nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks.

Developmentally appropriate activities are guided by established curricula, such as The Creative Curriculum, focusing on nurturing children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth to help them reach developmental milestones and prepare for school.

While CDCs provide a core service, their standard operating hours might not align with the often non-traditional schedules inherent in military life, highlighting the importance of other care options within the DoD system.

Family Child Care Homes

Family Child Care (FCC) offers a different model, providing care within a home-based setting. Certified FCC providers care for small groups of children in their own residences, which can be located in government-owned or leased housing on the installation or in private homes off the installation. This option often appeals to families seeking a smaller group environment or those needing more scheduling flexibility than typically offered by CDCs.

FCC homes generally serve children from infancy (sometimes as young as 2 or 4 weeks, depending on the service branch or provider) up to age 12. A key advantage of FCC is its flexibility; providers often accommodate various schedules, potentially offering:

• Full-day and part-day care
• Hourly care
• Before- and after-school care
• Care during school breaks and summer
• Extended hours
• Overnight stays
• Weekend care
• In some cases, 24/7 care

This flexibility is particularly valuable for military families facing unpredictable work demands or deployments. FCC homes can also often care for siblings of different ages together in one setting.

To ensure safety and quality, FCC providers are not simply babysitters; they are certified professionals. They must undergo a rigorous certification process managed by the installation’s Child and Youth Services (CYS) or equivalent program, which includes background checks, home inspections, and training.

The number of children allowed in an FCC home at any one time is strictly regulated – typically no more than six children under the age of eight, and often no more than two or three infants (under age 2), including the provider’s own young children. The military services enforce these standards; for instance, Army policy mandates that anyone providing child care for more than 10 hours per week on a regular basis in government housing must be certified as an FCC provider. Failure to comply can jeopardize housing privileges, underscoring the DoD’s commitment to regulated care.

In terms of cost, fees for FCC care are based on Total Family Income (TFI), similar to CDCs. For Army families, FCC generally offers a 15% cost savings compared to center-based care fees. FCC providers receive income from parent fees and may also receive subsidies from the military service to help offset costs and ensure affordability for families.

Recognizing the value of FCC providers, especially military spouses who can take this portable career with them during a PCS, some services like the Army offer financial incentives, such as recruitment and relocation bonuses, to encourage providers to open and maintain their homes.

School Age Care Programs

School Age Care (SAC) programs, sometimes called School Age Centers, cater specifically to older children, typically those in kindergarten through age 12 (usually ages 5 or 6 to 12). These are generally facility-based programs, often located within installation Youth Centers, CDCs, or dedicated SAC facilities.

SAC programs are designed to fill the care gap when elementary schools are not in session but parents are working. They provide supervision and activities before and after school during the academic year. Crucially, they also offer full-day care during:

• School holidays
• Seasonal breaks (like winter and spring breaks)
• Teacher in-service days
• Other school closures
• Summer camps

Depending on the installation and local school arrangements, transportation between the SAC program and local schools may be provided.

These programs offer more than just supervision. They provide structured, age-appropriate activities aimed at positive youth development. Many SAC programs partner with well-regarded national youth organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and 4-H. Programming often covers core areas such as:

• Homework assistance (e.g., BGCA’s Power Hour)
• Character and leadership development (e.g., CHARACTER COUNTS!)
• Sports and fitness
• The arts
• Health and wellness
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities

These partnerships enhance the quality and variety of experiences available to military children during their out-of-school time.

Ensuring Quality: DoD Standards and Oversight

The Department of Defense places a high priority on the quality and safety of its child care programs, striving to create a system that serves as a benchmark for the nation. Rigorous standards and multiple layers of oversight are in place to ensure consistency and maintain a safe, healthy, and developmentally supportive environment for children across all installations worldwide. This commitment to quality extends not only to DoD-operated programs but also influences the standards expected of community-based providers who receive military fee assistance.

DoD Certification and Inspections

All military-operated programs, including CDCs and SACs, must achieve and maintain DoD certification. This certification process involves annual internal reviews to verify that programs are operating in accordance with comprehensive DoD Instructions, primarily DoDI 6060.02, as well as all applicable federal laws and mandates.

A critical component of maintaining certification and ensuring ongoing quality is a robust inspection system. Each CDC and SAC program undergoes at least four unannounced inspections every year. These inspections cover different areas:

• An annual comprehensive Fire and Safety inspection.
• An annual comprehensive Health and Sanitation inspection.
• A Multi-Disciplinary Team Inspection, which includes various experts and importantly, a parent representative, providing direct family input into the oversight process.
• A Military Service Headquarters Inspection, conducted by a higher-level command to ensure adherence to service-specific and DoD-wide policies.

These inspections, along with the certification standards, scrutinize various aspects of program operation, including the physical environment (facilities, fire prevention), health and safety practices (food service, sanitation, medication administration, SIDS prevention for infants), risk management, staffing (background checks, qualifications, staff-to-child ratios), programming (curriculum, learning activities), and interactions (child abuse prevention and reporting, positive guidance, inclusion practices for children with special needs, family communication and involvement).

National Accreditation

Beyond the internal DoD certification, there is an additional layer of quality assurance mandated by federal law (10 U.S. Code Chapter 88) and DoD policy. Most CDCs and SAC programs are required to achieve and maintain accreditation from a DoD-approved independent, national accrediting organization.

National accreditation signifies that a program meets a higher standard of quality that typically exceeds the minimum requirements set by state licensing agencies. The accreditation process is rigorous, involving a period of program self-study and improvement based on the accrediting body’s standards, followed by an external validation visit and review by the accrediting agency. Earning accreditation demonstrates a commitment to continuous quality improvement and research-based practices, which studies have linked to better long-term outcomes for children.

The DoD approves several national accrediting bodies. Commonly used agencies include:

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): Often used for accrediting CDCs.
• Council on Accreditation (COA): Often used for accrediting SAC programs and youth programs.
• National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)
• National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC)
• National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC): Specifically for accrediting FCC homes.

Other DoD-approved accrediting organizations exist as well, sometimes including specific state accreditation bodies or those focused on particular educational philosophies like Montessori or faith-based schools (provided they also meet state licensing requirements). While accreditation is mandatory for most CDCs and SACs, it is often encouraged for FCC providers, and achieving it can sometimes qualify providers for higher subsidy rates or program participation.

Family Child Care Specific Standards

Given that FCC providers operate out of private homes, specific standards and oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure quality and safety comparable to center-based care.

Certification: Providers must be certified by their installation’s CYS/FCC office. The process involves thorough vetting, including family interviews, comprehensive background checks on the provider and all household members over a certain age (12 or 18 depending on context), and detailed home inspections covering fire safety, general safety, health, and sanitation. Only the most qualified candidates are recommended for certification.

Monitoring: Certified FCC homes are subject to regular, at least monthly, unannounced monitoring visits by FCC program staff. These visits serve to ensure ongoing compliance with standards, observe provider-child interactions, and provide mentoring, resources, and support to the provider.

Training: FCC providers receive extensive initial orientation training covering essential topics like child development, health and safety protocols, CPR and First Aid, child abuse identification and prevention, curriculum planning, appropriate guidance techniques, and business practices. They are also required to complete ongoing annual training to maintain and enhance their professional skills, often paid for by the service branch (e.g., Army CYS).

Quality Alignment: DoD standards for FCC providers are designed to be robust and are often more stringent than minimum state licensing requirements. Providers are expected to meet high professional standards, similar to those for staff working in CDCs or SAC programs.

Staff Qualifications and Background Checks

Across all DoD child care programs (CDC, FCC, SAC, and even the in-home providers in the CCYH pilot), stringent requirements are in place for staff and provider qualifications and background screening.

Training: All personnel involved in direct care receive initial orientation training and are required to complete ongoing professional development relevant to their roles and responsibilities. This ensures staff are equipped with current knowledge in child development and safety practices.

Background Checks: Comprehensive background checks are mandatory for all individuals who work or volunteer with children in DoD programs, including CDC/SAC staff, FCC providers, and all adults residing in an FCC home (typically age 18+, though some sources mention age 12+ for FCC homes). This multi-layered screening process typically includes:

• Fingerprint-based FBI criminal history checks.
• Checks of state criminal history repositories.
• Checks of state child abuse and neglect registries.
• Checks of state and national sex offender registries.

All background checks must be favorably adjudicated before an individual can have unsupervised access to children. This rigorous screening process is fundamental to protecting the health and safety of children in care.

The combination of DoD certification, mandatory national accreditation for centers, stringent inspections, specific FCC oversight, and comprehensive background checks and training for all caregivers creates a system designed to provide military families with reliable, high-quality child care they can trust, regardless of where their service takes them. This consistency is vital for families navigating frequent moves and allows them to focus on their mission, knowing their children are in safe and nurturing environments.

The Starting Point: Finding and Applying via MilitaryChildCare.com

Navigating the various DoD child care options might seem complex, but the DoD has created a centralized online portal designed to be the single starting point for almost all military child care needs: MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC).

Introducing MilitaryChildCare.com: Your Central Hub

MilitaryChildCare.com serves as the official DoD website for military members, DoD civilians, and other eligible families seeking child care. It functions as a global database and request system, providing a single online gateway to find information about and request placement in military-operated programs (CDCs, FCC homes, SAC programs) as well as military-subsidized options like fee assistance through Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) and the Child Care in Your Home (CCYH) pilot program.

The system is designed to simplify the often-stressful process of finding care, especially during relocations. It allows families to:

• Access comprehensive information about different program types and specific facilities worldwide.
• Conduct customized searches based on location, child’s age, type of care needed, and other criteria.
• Submit requests for care online, anytime, from anywhere in the world.
• Manage existing requests and update family profile information.

Getting Started: Creating Your Account and Household Profile

Using MCC involves two initial steps:

1. Create an Account: Visit the website and register to create a unique username and password.
2. Set Up Household Profile: This is a crucial step where you enter and maintain essential information about your family. This data is used by the system to determine your eligibility for care and your priority on waitlists. Information required typically includes:
   • Sponsor’s details (name, contact information, service branch, status – e.g., Active Duty, DoD Civilian).
   • Spouse’s details (if applicable), including their employment status (working full-time/part-time, seeking employment, student, non-working). Specific definitions apply, for example, DoD generally considers full-time employment as 30+ hours per week or 100+ hours per month.
   • Information for each child needing care (name, date of birth).
   It is vital to keep your contact information, especially your email address, up-to-date in your profile, as MCC uses email for critical notifications about waitlist status and offers for care.

Searching for Care

Once your profile is set up, you can use the “Find Child Care” feature to search the MCC database. You can filter your search by:

• Location (specific installation, city/state, address)
• Child’s age
• Type of care desired (CDC, FCC, SAC, full-day, part-day, hourly, before/after school, MCCYN fee assistance, CCYH fee assistance)
• Date care is needed

Search results will display programs matching your criteria, providing details about each program, contact information, and potentially an “Anticipated Placement Time” (APT) estimate for certain types of care like full-day CDC or FCC slots.

Requesting Care and Understanding Waitlists

After identifying programs that meet your needs, you can submit requests for care directly through the MCC website.

Submitting Requests: You should submit a separate request for each child for every program you are interested in. You can request care at multiple programs, even across different service branches or locations. Families with PCS orders can typically submit requests for their gaining installation as soon as they have their orders, allowing them to get on waitlists in advance. You can also create requests for unborn children.

Waitlist Management: MCC manages the waitlists for participating programs. Your position on any given waitlist is determined by two main factors:

1. DoD Priority: Assigned based on your family type (determined by sponsor status and spouse status, if applicable) according to DoD Instruction 6060.02.
2. Date Care Needed (DCN): The date you specify in your request that you need care to begin.

DoD Priority System: Military child care programs are required to prioritize enrollment based on family type to ensure that families whose sponsor’s duties are deemed most critical to the military mission have preferential access to limited child care spots. While the specific definitions can be detailed, the general hierarchy prioritizes families with higher levels of direct military/DoD involvement and need.

Table 1: DoD Child Care Priority Categories (Generalized)

(Note: This table provides a simplified overview. Specific definitions and sub-priorities exist within DoDI 6060.02 and Service-specific guidance. Your exact priority is determined by the system based on your MCC profile.)

It is crucial to understand that waitlists are not strictly “first-come, first-served.” A family with a higher DoD priority who submits a request later might be placed ahead of a family with a lower priority who requested care earlier, provided the Date Care Needed is the same or earlier. Therefore, keeping your Household Profile accurate, especially regarding spouse employment or student status, is essential for correct priority assignment.

Receiving an Offer

When a space matching your request becomes available and your family is next in line based on priority and DCN, the program will contact you via email (sent from MCC) with an offer for care.

Offer Response Time: You typically have a very limited time window (often just 24-72 hours) to respond to the offer – either accepting or declining it. Failure to respond within the specified timeframe will result in the offer being automatically declined, and your request for that specific program may be removed. This highlights the importance of regularly checking the email address associated with your MCC account.

Accepting an Offer: If you accept the offer, the program will provide instructions for the next steps, which involve completing the enrollment process.

Declining an Offer: If you decline an offer, you may remain on the waitlists for other programs you requested. However, declining an offer for a specific program might impact your standing on the waitlist for that particular program or type of care, depending on local policies.

Tips for Success with MCC

• Register Early: Create your account and submit requests as soon as possible, especially if you have PCS orders or know you will need care in the future.
• Keep Your Profile Updated: Ensure all information, especially your email, phone number, sponsor/spouse status, and Date Care Needed, is accurate and current. Report any changes promptly.
• Request Multiple Options: Don’t limit yourself to just one program. Request care at all suitable CDC, FCC, and SAC programs at your location to increase your chances of receiving an offer. Also, consider requesting MCCYN fee assistance if eligible.
• Check Email Regularly: Be vigilant about checking the email address linked to your MCC account, including spam/junk folders, to avoid missing time-sensitive offers.
• Follow Up: While MCC is the primary system, if you have specific questions or concerns about wait times or program availability, it can be helpful to contact the Child and Youth Services (CYS) or Resource & Referral (R&R) office at your installation directly.

MilitaryChildCare.com is an indispensable tool for military families seeking child care. By understanding how it works and using it effectively, you can significantly streamline the process of finding and securing the care your family needs.

Affordability: DoD Fee Policy and Fee Assistance

The DoD recognizes that child care costs can be a significant financial burden for families. To help manage these expenses, the DoD implements a standardized fee policy for its on-base programs and offers substantial fee assistance programs to help families afford quality care in the civilian community when on-base options are unavailable.

DoD Fee Policy for On-Base Programs

Fees for full-time care in DoD-operated Child Development Centers (CDCs), School Age Care (SAC) programs, and certified Family Child Care (FCC) homes are not flat-rate. Instead, they are calculated on a sliding scale based on the family’s Total Family Income (TFI). This policy aims to make care more affordable for families with lower incomes while still requiring all families to contribute to the cost of care.

Calculating Total Family Income (TFI): TFI generally includes all earned income of the military member and their spouse (if applicable), including wages, salaries, tips, long-term disability benefits, voluntary salary deferrals, and certain allowances like Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) or Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA). Specific rules define what is included and excluded, and families are required to provide documentation (like Leave and Earning Statements (LES), pay stubs, tax forms) to verify their income annually or when income changes significantly.

Fee Categories: Based on the calculated TFI, families are placed into one of several fee categories. The DoD sets specific income ranges for each category and corresponding weekly fees for full-time care. There are currently 9 fee categories, with Category 1 representing the lowest TFI range and lowest fee, and Category 9 representing the highest TFI range and highest fee. These fee ranges and weekly rates are updated periodically (usually annually) by the DoD.

Fee Structure: Fees are typically charged weekly for full-time care (defined as up to 50 hours per week in CDCs/SACs). Part-day programs and hourly care have separate fee structures, usually based on hourly rates or specific program costs. Families with multiple children enrolled in full-time care may receive a discount (often around 15-20%) for the second and subsequent children.

Cost Comparison: While families pay a portion of the cost, these fees are substantially subsidized by the DoD. The actual cost of providing high-quality care (including qualified staff, facilities, curriculum, oversight) is much higher than the parent fees charged. The TFI-based fee structure ensures that the government subsidy provides the greatest benefit to families with the lowest incomes.

Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood

Recognizing that demand for on-base care often exceeds capacity, the DoD established Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN). This program provides fee assistance (subsidies) to help eligible military families offset the cost of child care obtained from approved civilian providers in the local community when they cannot access care in DoD facilities. MCCYN is administered by a third-party organization, currently Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA), under contract with the DoD.

Eligibility for MCCYN: Eligibility criteria are specific and families must meet all requirements. Generally, MCCYN is available to:

• Active Duty military members (including eligible Guard/Reserve members on active duty orders).
• DoD civilian employees.
• Surviving spouses of military members who died in active duty.
• Other specific categories as defined by the DoD.

Crucially, the family must have applied for on-base care through MilitaryChildCare.com and be formally placed on the waitlist for installation-based care (CDC, FCC, or SAC). Fee assistance is typically granted when the family cannot secure a space in a DoD program within a reasonable timeframe or if no DoD-operated programs are available in their geographic area.

The spouse (if applicable) must typically be employed (full-time or part-time) or actively seeking employment, or be enrolled as a student (full-time or part-time), similar to the requirements for priority placement in on-base care.

The chosen civilian provider must meet specific quality standards and be approved to participate in the MCCYN network.

Eligible Provider Requirements: To receive MCCYN fee assistance, families must use a civilian child care provider that meets certain quality criteria. Generally, the provider must:

• Be licensed by the state and/or local government to operate legally.
• Meet specific health and safety standards, including annual inspections and background checks for all staff.
• Ideally, be nationally accredited by a DoD-approved organization (e.g., NAEYC, COA, NAFCC). Providers who are nationally accredited often qualify for higher subsidy amounts (sometimes referred to as MCCYN-PLUS or Tier 1). If not nationally accredited, they must still meet baseline state licensing requirements (sometimes referred to as MCCYN Basic or Tier 2/3).

How Fee Assistance Works: MCCYN does not typically cover the entire cost of civilian care. The program provides a monthly subsidy payment designed to bridge the gap between the family’s calculated DoD parent fee (based on their TFI category) and the community provider’s actual rate, up to a specified cap set by the DoD for that geographic area.

Calculation: Fee Assistance = Provider’s Rate – Parent Fee (based on TFI category). However, this amount is capped. The maximum assistance amount cannot exceed the provider’s rate, nor can it exceed the DoD provider rate cap established for that location and quality level (accredited vs. licensed-only).

Parent Responsibility: The family is responsible for paying their calculated TFI-based parent fee directly to the provider. They are also responsible for any portion of the provider’s rate that exceeds the maximum MCCYN subsidy amount.

Payment: The MCCYN subsidy is usually paid directly from Child Care Aware® of America to the approved child care provider on behalf of the family.

Applying for MCCYN: The process typically starts by submitting a request for care through MilitaryChildCare.com. If determined eligible for fee assistance (e.g., due to waitlist status), families will receive instructions on how to proceed with the application through Child Care Aware® of America. This involves selecting an eligible provider, completing the CCAoA application, and submitting required documentation (proof of eligibility, income verification, provider information, etc.).

Child Care in Your Home Pilot Program

Recognizing the challenges some families face in finding center-based or FCC care, particularly those in remote locations, with unique work schedules, or with multiple young children, the DoD launched the Child Care in Your Home (CCYH) pilot program in 2024. This program offers fee assistance for families to hire a qualified nanny or in-home caregiver to provide care in the family’s own residence.

Eligibility: The CCYH pilot is currently limited to specific geographic regions and eligibility criteria mirror those for MCCYN (e.g., Active Duty/DoD Civilian sponsor, spouse must meet work/school requirements, family must be on the waitlist for installation care or reside where installation care is unavailable). Families must apply through MilitaryChildCare.com to determine eligibility.

Provider Requirements: Unlike MCCYN providers who operate licensed facilities, CCYH providers work in the family’s home. However, they are still subject to stringent requirements. The chosen in-home provider must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident authorized to work.
• Be able to read, speak, and write English.
• Pass comprehensive background checks (FBI fingerprint, state criminal, child abuse/neglect, sex offender registries) identical to those required for staff in DoD centers.
• Complete required DoD training modules.
• Obtain CPR and First Aid certification.

Fee Assistance Structure: Similar to MCCYN, CCYH provides a monthly subsidy to help offset the cost of the in-home provider’s wages. The family pays their TFI-based parent fee, and the subsidy covers the difference between that fee and the provider’s wage, up to a location-specific monthly cap established by the DoD. The family is responsible for paying the provider directly and any amount exceeding the subsidy cap.

How to Apply: Interested and potentially eligible families must first create a request for the CCYH pilot program through MilitaryChildCare.com for their location. If eligible, they will be directed to Child Care Aware® of America to complete the application process, which includes finding a provider who meets the requirements, submitting documentation, and managing the employment relationship (families act as the employer).

The combination of the TFI-based fee policy for on-base programs and the robust fee assistance offered through MCCYN and the CCYH pilot demonstrates the DoD’s commitment to making quality child care accessible and affordable for military families, supporting both mission readiness and family well-being.

Support for Children with Special Needs: Inclusion Action Teams and EFMP

The Department of Defense is committed to inclusive practices, ensuring that children with special needs have access to the same high-quality child care opportunities as their typically developing peers, whenever possible and appropriate for the child’s needs. This commitment is supported through specific policies, dedicated personnel, and coordination with the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).

Inclusion Philosophy and Practice

DoD child care programs operate under the principle of inclusion, aiming to integrate children with disabilities or special needs into regular program settings alongside their peers. The goal is to provide reasonable accommodations and support services that allow the child to participate successfully in the program’s activities, fostering development and a sense of belonging.

Non-Discrimination: DoD policy prohibits discrimination against children based on disability. Programs must make reasonable modifications to their policies, practices, and procedures to accommodate children with special needs, unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the program or pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be mitigated.

Individualized Support: Recognizing that each child is unique, the approach to inclusion is individualized. Support strategies are tailored to the specific needs of the child, as identified through collaboration between parents, program staff, and relevant specialists.

The Role of the Inclusion Action Team

A key component of supporting children with special needs in DoD child care is the Inclusion Action Team (IAT). Every installation offering child and youth programs is required to have an IAT (or a similar multi-disciplinary team structure that fulfills this function).

Purpose: The IAT’s primary role is to ensure that children with physical, developmental, emotional, learning, or behavioral challenges receive the support they need to participate successfully in DoD child care and youth programs.

Composition: The IAT is a multidisciplinary team composed of various professionals who can contribute expertise relevant to the child’s needs. Team members typically include:

• Parents/Guardians (essential members)
• Child and Youth Program staff (e.g., directors, trainers, lead caregivers)
• Installation Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) representative
• Medical personnel (e.g., pediatricians, nurses from the Military Treatment Facility)
• Educational specialists (e.g., Early Intervention Services (EIS) providers, school liaison officers, special education teachers)
• Mental health professionals (e.g., counselors, psychologists)
• Other relevant specialists as needed (e.g., occupational therapists, speech therapists)

Process: When a child enrolling or currently enrolled in a program is identified as potentially needing accommodations or additional support (either through parent disclosure, staff observation, or EFMP notification), the IAT process is initiated.

1. Information Gathering: The team gathers information about the child’s needs, strengths, and challenges from parents, medical records (with parental consent), educational assessments (like Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)), and program staff observations.
2. Meeting and Planning: The IAT convenes (with parental participation) to discuss the child’s needs and develop a written Individualized Child Action Plan (ICAP) or equivalent plan. This plan outlines specific, reasonable accommodations, support strategies, necessary staff training, and any modifications needed to enable the child’s successful participation.
3. Implementation and Monitoring: Program staff implement the strategies outlined in the plan. The IAT monitors the child’s progress and the plan’s effectiveness, meeting periodically (or as needed) to review and revise the plan.

Confidentiality: Information shared within the IAT process is confidential and handled according to privacy regulations (HIPAA, Privacy Act).

Coordination with the Exceptional Family Member Program

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) plays a critical role in supporting military families with special needs, including coordinating care and services across assignments. There is close collaboration between EFMP and DoD Child and Youth Programs (CYP).

Enrollment: Families with members (children or adults) requiring specialized medical or educational services are typically required to enroll in EFMP. This enrollment helps ensure that the military considers the family’s special needs during the assignment process, attempting to assign the service member to locations where necessary resources are available.

Information Sharing (with Consent): EFMP enrollment can facilitate communication between medical/educational providers and the child care program’s IAT, ensuring that the program is aware of the child’s needs (with parental consent). The installation EFMP Family Support staff often serve as liaisons and advocates for families navigating the child care system and other community resources.

Resource Connection: EFMP staff can help families identify and connect with appropriate resources both on and off the installation, including specialized therapies, educational support, respite care options, and support groups.

Respite Care: EFMP often coordinates or provides information about respite care programs specifically designed for military families with children with special needs. These programs offer short-term breaks for caregivers, funded by the individual military services (e.g., Army EFMP Respite Care, Air Force EFMP Respite Care).

By utilizing the Inclusion Action Team process and coordinating closely with EFMP, DoD child care programs strive to provide supportive, inclusive environments where children with special needs can thrive alongside their peers, easing the burden on military families and supporting overall mission readiness. Families are encouraged to proactively communicate their child’s needs to program staff and engage with the EFMP and IAT processes to ensure appropriate support is in place.

Our articles make government information more accessible. Please consult a qualified professional for financial, legal, or health advice specific to your circumstances.