The mission of the Department of the Air Force Child Care Fee Assistance Programs is to assist DoD military personnel in balancing the competing demands of the accomplishment of the DoD mission and family life through delivery of a system of quality, available and affordable programs and services for eligible children and youth birth through 12 years of age.

Children and youth of active duty service members who are stationed at an installation that has been pre-identified as fee assistance eligible or do not live near a DOD installation with a Child and Youth Program are eligible for Child Care Fee Assistance Programs. For child care eligibility see the Child Development Centers fact sheet, School Age Services and Care fact sheet  and Child & Youth Services (CYS) fact sheet.  Children who are survivors of Combat Fallen Warriors are also eligible.

Many active duty service members live in communities where military child care or youth programming is unavailable or where there are long waiting lists for on-base options. To meet this need, the Department of Defense has partnered with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and National Youth Organizations to refer military families.

Military Child Care (MCC) - Provides child care fee assistance for eligible families whose children (birth - 12 yrs.) are enrolled in licensed off-base community-based care programs. MCC helps Military families locate licensed child care options where they reside and allows them to pay reduced child care fees based on their total family income. Licensed Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Providers are available in all 50 states. For eligibility requirements and fee assistance application instructions, please contact the Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) at 800-424-2246 or https://www.childcareaware.org/about/contact/. Visit Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) for more information.

Child Care Fee Assistance Total Family Income Categories, Parent Fees and Provider Caps

Department of the Air Force Child Care Fee Assistance Programs available:

Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) - Provides off-base child care options for active duty families who have children aged birth-12. MCCYN helps Department of the Air Force families locate and enroll in quality nationally accredited programs in the community where they live and allows them to pay reduced fees.

Click here to locate a qualifying program and child care provider in your local area.

Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood – PLUS (MCCYN-PLUS) - MCCYN-PLUS is a pilot program in select locations throughout the country that implements a state Quality Rating and Improvement System for non-accredited, licensed center-based child care programs with the intent to improve the quality of child care. MCCYN-PLUS is only approved if nationally accredited care is not available.

Application Process - To make a request to participate in the Department of the Air Force MCCYN program for Community Child Care Fee Assistance, please follow the steps below:

Create an Account on MilitaryChildCare.com: If you do not already have an account, select "Create an Account" at the top of this page. Once you create an account, set up a Household Profile so you can search for care at any time from any location.

Search for and Request Care: MilitaryChildCare.com allows you to search the full range of military child care options. Search for care, and if it is available, submit a request for MCCYN for each of your children. Review the list of MCCYN providers to find participating providers in your area.

Wait for an Offer: You will receive an offer for care if space becomes available but no more than 30 days before the date you need care. Keep your email address up-to-date in your Household Profile so you do not miss these important messages.

Choose a Provider: While you wait for an offer, start looking for a provider. Choose a provider from the MCCYN Provider List or select a preferred one from your community. Your selected provider must meet the requirements and apply to participate.

Complete Registration and Upload Required Documents: If you receive an offer for MCCYN, you will receive a notification from MilitaryChildCare.com with instructions on how to accept the offer, complete your registration, and upload eligibility documents.

Once your application and supporting documents have been received and reviewed, CCAoA will contact you regarding your eligibility, as well as the next steps in the application process.

You will be notified via email when an opening becomes available for your child/children. DO NOT submit or upload any supporting documents to your fee assistance account until you receive an offer. Commonly required documents are:

• LES/CLES
• Orders for all Deployed and Activated Guard/Reservists. Deployed and Activated Guard/Reservists must submit a current copy of their orders to verify eligibility.
• SF-50 or Personnel Action Request Form for all Department of the Air Force Dual Status Reserve Technicians. Please supply your current year SF-50 form and most recent drill LES.
• Spouse pay stubs, school schedule, or Looking for Work Form (one time use and valid for 180 days)
• Self-certification Form
• Provider Cost Verification Form
• Provider Documents: All eligible providers for the assistance program must have a state child care license, a state inspection report dated within the last 12 months, an acceptable employee background check for all staff, and a complete provider fee assistance application, and must meet additional high quality accreditation standards. Applications for fee assistance will not be processed until the selected provider meets all program eligibility requirements and has submitted a complete application.

If you are unable to find a provider that meets the MCCYN or MCCYN-PLUS (in pilot locations only) requirements contact a specialist at CCAoA for Enhanced Referral assistance.

An Enhanced Referral creates a customized child care search for your family taking into consideration the parents’ work and home addresses, transportation route to and from work, hours of care needed, ages of the children, and the provider’s eligibility for the fee assistance program. Military sponsors who receive an Enhanced Referral will also be provided with the option to use providers who are in the Department of Defense preferred provider network.

Child Care Aware Fee Assistance:
https://www.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/military-families/air-force/fee-assistance/

Administration for Children and Families Website:
https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/get-help-paying-for-child-care/child-care-financial-assistance-for-military-families

Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) Fee Assistance Program:
https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome/mccyn/air-force