About Us
Department of the Air Force Child Care offers world-class, accredited, flexible, child care programs designed to meet the developmental needs of children in healthy, safe, nurturing environments. We serve children ages two weeks to 18 years in a variety of center-based and in-home settings.
Department of the Air Force Child & Youth Programs
Services and Offerings
Child Development Centers (CDC)
Ages Six Weeks to 5 Years
The Department of the Air Force Child Development Centers are designed to provide a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for children and are uniquely designed to accommodate each child’s developmental level.
Programs
Ages Two Weeks to 12 Years
The Department of the Air Force Family Child Care Program offers parents a quality alternative to center-based child care. Family Child Care offers a small setting with personalized service, familiar home environments, mixed-age groups that allow younger and older children to learn from each other, and allows parents who have more than one child to utilize one child care setting.
Programs
Ages Six to 18 Years
The Department of the Air Force Youth Programs (YP) offer opportunities for positive youth development by supporting the skills, interests, qualities, and abilities of all youth.
Programs
Pre-K to 12th Grade
The Department of the Air Force Services School Liaison Program serves as the primary link between the installations, schools, and military-connected families. As the subject matter experts for educational support for Pre-K-12 students, they provide resources, build partnerships and advocate to help our students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, regardless of duty station, deployments, or transition status.
The Department of the Air Force Child and Youth Programs provide reasonable accommodations to support inclusion and participation of children and youth with disabilities. This includes children or youth with or at risk of disabilities, chronic illnesses, and physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions that require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children/youth in general.
Each installation must establish an Inclusion Action Team. The Inclusion Action Team is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of professionals. The purpose of the team is to assess reasonable accommodations for children and youth with identified developmental and/or medical requirements.
Eligibility
Child care eligibility is contingent on the status of the sponsor. Eligible patrons as outlined in DoDI 6060.02, including active duty military, DoD civilian employees, guard or reserve on active duty orders, active duty coast guard members, combat-related wounded warriors in an active duty status, Gold Star spouses of military members who died from a combat-related incident, those acting in loco parentis for the dependent child of an otherwise eligible patron, eligible employees of DoD contractors, and others who may be authorized on a space-available basis. In the case of unmarried, legally separated parents with joint custody or divorced parents with joint custody, children or youth are eligible for child care only when they reside with the eligible sponsor at least 25 percent of the time in a month. If granted child care during active duty status, children of combat-related wounded warriors may remain in child care until their dependent child reaches age twelve. Children of combat-related wounded warriors who are medically retired as a result of combat-related injuries may remain in the existing program until the child(ren) is (are) no longer age-eligible.
Accreditation
Child Development Centers
Accreditation helps families recognize quality early learning programs and feel comfortable knowing that their children are receiving a high-quality, research-based education that will prepare them for future success. All CDCs must be accredited by a national accrediting agency in accordance with 10 USC Ch 88 (Public Law) and DoDI 6060.02. With the exception of RAF Croughton and Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, DAF CDCs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC Accreditation assists CDC Staff to develop a shared understanding and commitment to quality. Research shows a direct correlation between high-quality early learning and children’s positive long-term outcomes in life, including increased educational attainment, healthier lifestyles, and more successful careers. RAF Croughton and Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base are accredited by National Accreditation Commission (NAC).
School-Age Care Programs
All School-Age Care Programs (SACs) must be accredited by a national accrediting agency in accordance with 10 USC Ch 88 (Public Law) and DoDI 6060.02. DAF SACs are accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).
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Child Care Fees
Fees are based on the DoD and Air Force annual fee policy and on total family income (TFI). Parent fees may not be adjusted more than once a year.
Child Care Priorities
Installations must follow priorities in accordance with DoDI 6060.02.
Department of Defense (DoD) Certification
The military equivalent of state licensing, DoD Certification represents verified compliance with standards regarding fire, health, safety, developmental programming, child abuse prevention, funding, and staff training. Our Child and Youth Programs are certified by DoD each year. As a result of the strict oversight and adherence to standards, along with the trained staff and quality curriculum, our programs have been recognized as a model for the nation.
Training
Training and Curriculum Specialist(s) (T&C) are assigned to each DAF Child and Youth Services Flight. The T&Cs are responsible to support the training needs/requirements for all personnel (staff, contractors, specified volunteers). Based on position, all personnel must complete orientation and annual training requirements. In addition, all staff must complete a set of competency-based training modules. Direct care staff are observed and debriefed on a monthly basis.
Background Checks
All personnel (staff, contractors, specified volunteers) must obtain and maintain a Child Care Background Check in accordance with the Public Law.