School Age Care provides a structured activity program for school-age youth who are 5 to 12 years of age. Programs may be offered before and after school and full day care during school holidays and summer vacations.

Authorized family members of active duty Air Force and Space Force members are eligible for care at School Age Care services.

School Age Care (SAC) offers childcare (Before and After School Care and Full Day Care) for children and youth from five to 12 years of age. SAC is located in a separate facility or in a separate space in the Youth Programs (YP) facility.

SAC promotes the cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, language, and physical development of children through programs and services that recognize differences in children and youth and encourages self-confidence, curiosity, creativity, self-discipline, and resiliency.

SAC offers activities and experiences based on the needs and interests of children or youth. Programming considers current knowledge of child and youth development, the unique challenges of military life and provides a safe place for exploration while creating a sense of belonging. Programs are structured and activities conducted support positive youth development. The SAC offers comprehensive programming that covers five core program areas: Leadership and Service, The Arts, Health and Wellness, Sports and Recreation, and Education.

Daily Schedules for SAC include:

• Physical fitness and/or outdoor play
• Activities in the five core program areas
• Independent choice
• Homework help or tutoring

Types of Care

• Full Day/Weekly Child Care: Provides up to 50 hours of weekly childcare (no more than 10 hours of care each day).
• Hourly Care: May be offered to support short-term needs on the installation.
• Before/After School Care: Provides care “Before” school starts and “After” school ends. Transportation to and from school may be provided.
• Give Parents A Break (GPAB): Sponsored by the Air Force Aid Society, GPAB provides childcare for eligible parents who are subject to unique stresses due to the nature of military life including deployments, remote tours of duty, and extended working hours.

Request Care

Military families will complete a Request for Care at militarychildcare.com, a Department of Defense website for military families seeking childcare. This site will allow families to search for and request care from a wide range of military-operated and military-subsidized childcare options across all Services. Families can expect standardized procedures for effective waiting list management, expedited placement of children and youth into available programs, and enhanced daily operations for programs.

Child Care Fees

Fees are based on the DoD and Department of the Air Force (DAF) annual fee policy and on total family income (TFI). Parent fees may not be adjusted more than once a year.

Accreditation

Accreditation helps families recognize quality programs and feel comfortable knowing that their youth are participating in a high-quality program that will prepare them for future success. All 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).

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.

All personnel (staff, contractors, specified volunteers) must obtain and maintain a Child Care Background Check in accordance with the Public Law.

Training

Training and Curriculum Specialist(s) (T&C) are assigned to each DAF Child and Youth Services Flight. The T&Cs are responsible for supporting the training needs/requirements for all personnel (staff, contractors, specific volunteers). Based on position, all personnel must complete orientation training prior to working with youth and annual training requirements. In addition, all staff must complete a set of competency-based training modules. The direct care staff are observed and debriefed on a monthly basis.

Department of Air Force Child and Youth Programs:
https://www.dafchildandyouth.com/

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

DoD Instruction 6060.02 - Child Development Programs:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/606002p.pdf

Apply for Child Care at MilitaryChildCare.com:
https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/mcchome#/

In addition, School Age Care programs on Air Force bases may be located on the Military Resource Locator Library on MyAirForceBenefits:
https://www.myairforcebenefits.us.af.mil/Benefit-Library/Resource-Locator