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 to increase 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 on-post child development centers, school age centers, Family child care homes, 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
- Connect with your School Liaison to support any transition or permanent change of station.
- Defense Department Summer Camps provide new experiences for children and teens and to help them connect to other military-connected youth.
- Expanded Hourly Child Care Options and Resources offer available, flexible child care solutions through Military OneSource.
- Podcast on School Liaisons shares insights into how School Liaisons serve as a vital bridge between military-connected Families, educational institutions, and communities.
- State by State Resources for child care, financial assistance, health and social services and more.
- YMCA Military Outreach offers specialized services to help Families manage the unique challenges they face every day including no-cost fitness facility memberships and respite child care services for eligible active duty and their Families nationwide.
- AR 608-10 Child Development Services
- Execution Order 201-24: Implementation Guidance for Installations Response to Reports of Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth
- Memorandum for Military and Civilian Families on Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth (PSB-CY)