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Child Care & Youth Programs

Army Quality of Life

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Child Care & Youth Programs

The Army provides quality and affordable care for children ages six weeks to 18 years of age and is investing in initiatives that have increased Army families access to child care. Each year, Child, Youth & School Services supports more than 226,000 children and youth through a system of both on- and off-post options.

Programs include nationally accredited on-post child development centers, nationally accredited school age centers, Family child care homes that includes care outside the typical duty day, and youth programs along with youth sports and fitness. The Army also offers school support services and community-based programs along with deployment support. Parent and Outreach Services provides registration, enrollment, records management and payment services at CYS Services’ “one-stop” locations on installations.

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Expand List item 1403Collapse List item 1403  Army Programs & Resources
  • Child Care Fee Assistance is helping Army Families find affordable childcare that suits their unique needs.
  • Child Development Centers are on-post child care centers that offer full-day, part-day and hourly care for children in nationally accredited environments.
  • Family Child Care is an option offered in homes on post by authorized Military Family members and qualified civilians working as independent contractors.
  • Parent & Outreach Services offers registration, enrollment, records transfer, parent education classes and babysitter referral services for Families with children up to 18 years old.
  • School-Age Centers for ages 6-12 years offers before and after school programs, weekend activities during the school year, and summer care and camps during school vacations.
  • Youth Centers offer comprehensive, supervised program options and affordable, quality, predictable services that are easily accessible for eligible youth in grades 6 through 12.
  • Youth Sports & Fitness Programs offers developmentally appropriate opportunities for children and youth, ages 3-18 years, to be engaged in individual and team sports, competitions, skill building clinics and nutrition and health classes that foster development of life-long healthy habits.
Expand List item 1404Collapse List item 1404  Getting Started
Create Your Account
  • MilitaryChildCare.com is the DoD’s single online gateway for Families seeking child care. This site provides Families with information on all military-operated and military-subsidized child care options worldwide.
  • Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood provides fee assistance to eligible military families using nationally accredited child care providers in the community.
Understand the Costs
  • Army Fee Assistance Program helps offset the cost of child care for Families based upon total Family income and working status of both parents.
Expand List item 1405Collapse List item 1405  Additional Resources
Expand List item 1406Collapse List item 1406  Policies