The Department of the Air Force Child Development and Youth Programs support Airmen and Guardians in balancing the competing demands of parenting and military service, particularly challenging in today's environment of higher operations tempo, increased mobilization, and longer periods of time away from home. The Department of the Air Force is committed to serving these Airmen, Guardians, and their families by reaching out and assisting them through robust Child, Youth and Family programs, wherever the member resides.

Children of Air Force Reserve Service Members on drill status may be eligible for Child and Youth Programs. As child care is a work force benefit, eligibility is contingent on the status of the sponsor as outlined in DoDI 6060.02 and DoDI 6060.04. The DoD funds child care services to support military-connected families while they serve. When you request child care for a military-operated child care program, MCC utilizes Priority for Care factors based on DoDI 6060.02 guidelines to determine if your family is eligible to receive child care as well as determine your child's priority to access care.

The Department of the Air Force Child and Youth Programs provide developmental activities that promote the cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, language and physical development of children/youth through programs and services. All children/youth are recognized for their differences and are provided activities that encourage self-confidence, curiosity, creativity, self-discipline, and resiliency while providing content learning for literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts and technology. Child Development Centers (CDC) and School Age Care (SAC) programs are nationally accredited. CDCs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and SACs are accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), a service provided by Social Current. These programs are managed at the installation level by the Child and Youth Programs Flight Chief. Click here for your closest location.

 Child Care Programs:

Child Care is offered through CDC, Family Child Care (FCC) homes, and SAC programs.

• Child Development Centers (CDC): Provide full-day, part-day, and hourly child care services for children six weeks to five years of age.

• Family Child Care (FCC): Provide full-day, part-day and hourly child care services for children two weeks to 12 years of age in homes that are licensed on base or through affiliation off base. Expanded child care provides care for service members who work outside of normal working hours, and respite care for families of children with special needs.

• School Age Care (SAC): Provides programs for children five to 12 years of age jointly with the base youth center. SAC offers care before and after school, full-day care on school holidays, and summer camps.

Expanding Affordable Child Care Programs:

• The Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) fee assistance program is funded by DOD and the U.S. Coast Guard to help eligible military-connected families access affordable child care when they cannot access military-operated child care due to distance or waitlists. With MCCYN fee assistance, a portion of your child care costs is paid to offset the costs of community-based care. This makes it easier for military-connected families to afford quality child care from local community providers.
• Child Care in Your Home (CCYH) is a DoD fee assistance pilot program that helps military families with the cost of full-time child care (30–60 hours per week) in their own homes. This program was designed to support families with nontraditional work hours, such as evenings, weekends, or rotating schedules. This pilot program has limited capacity, and we cannot guarantee that every family will receive an offer. To explore all your options, we recommend checking out other military-operated child care programs and Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) fee assistance, if available.

Youth Programs:

• Youth Programs (YP): Youth programs offer opportunities for positive youth development by supporting the skills, interests, qualities, and abilities of all youth. Individual programming varies to meet the needs of the installation. Youth five to 18 years of age are eligible. YP partners with national youth serving agencies to provide a wide range of programs and services for youth and staff, including: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, USDA/4-H and the National Alliance for Youth Sports.
• Sports and Fitness: Offers opportunities for sports, fitness, health and nutrition, outdoor recreation, and motor skill development. Examples of programs offered are sports teams, dance, and martial arts classes but program offerings vary by installation.

• See the Youth Programs fact sheet for additional information

Department of the Air Force Instruction 34-144: Child and Youth Programs
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi34-144/dafi34-144.pdf

For additional information on DAF Child and Youth Programs, visit: 
https://dafchildandyouth.com/

To request child care, visit Military Child Care (MCC):
https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome#/

Child Care Programs
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting/child-care/

Air Force Child and Youth Program Business Modernization System (AFSV-CYPBMS) Parent Portal:
https://parent.afcyp.com/

Family Eligibility and Priority Guidelines
https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome/family-eligibility-priority-guidelines