Child Care

If you are interested in a home setting for your child, the Family Child Care Coordinator can help you locate a licensed home child care provider. Obtain the Family Child Care Providers current information by calling the Family Child Care Office at 509-247-5336. Family Child Care providers receive extensive training and background screening, and homes are inspected monthly. Family Child Care homes are open to all DoD ID card holders, to contractors, and to retirees.

Parents must provide child's immunization record and provide information on any allergies or special needs, along with additional enrollment information to be filled out with the Provider. Although Family Child Care homes are private businesses, fees may be subsidized with Appropriated Funds. Fees for full day care are based on total family income. Families must provide proof of all family income (i.e., LES and/or pay stubs) for placement in proper fee category. All subsidy packages must go through the Family Child Care Office and cannot be done by the Family Child Care Provider themselves, although all Providers can accept subsidy.

Programs Offered:

• Care for families that need full-time, part-time, hourly, evening and weekend care - to include swing and midnight shifts.
• Care for all ages - infants through school-age.
• Childcare for PCS - active-duty Air Force families may receive up to 20 hours per child of free care; paid for by the Air Force Aid Society. Obtain certificate from the Airman and Family Readiness Center.
• Extended Duty Care - available free to any active duty member if in a qualified status and his/her family for evening, weekend, deployment, or base exercise child care; paid with Appropriated Funds, through Services. Space and hours are limited. Coordinate through the FCC Coordinator.
• Deployment and Returning Home Care - may be used to provide care for children of active duty members, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members going on or returning from deployments. Up to 16 hours of child care per child per month, for children 12 years and under; paid with Appropriated Funds, through Services. Coordinate with FCC Coordinator, must have copy of Deployment Orders or Letter in Lieu.
• Home Community Care (HCC) – available to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members during official UTA weekends and two-week annual duty. For dual parent families, the non ANG/AFR parent must be working. Obtain certificate from Family Child Care Coordinator.
• Military Spouse Appointment Child Care (MSAC) – designed to provide free child care for military spouses to attend approved appointments (Medical appointment/Workshops, AFRC, Chaplain, Family Advocacy and Medical Agencies Appointment/workshops, & Employment Opportunities to include job interview, initial job training/new employee orientation). Sponsor must be at work, on directed crew rest, or attend the appointment with the spouse. No adult in the household available to provide care.

Child Care Aware (http://www.childcareaware.org/military-child-care-assistance-programs/) - Helps parents by supplying valuable information on licensed child care in the (off-base) area and tips for selecting a child care provider. Can also assist with fees for some qualifying families.

There is one Child Development Center at Fairchild AFB. It is nationally accredited, DOD certified, and maintains quality standards of health and safety while promoting the development of each child. The CDC enrolls children ages 6 weeks through preschool. The CDC is located on base at 201 East Fairchild Hwy and can be reached by calling 509-247-2403/2408 or DSN 312-657-2403.

The care provided at the CDC is based on the belief that each child should be given an opportunity to develop his or her maximum potential through varied experiences with loving support. Each child is treated as a unique individual with a different rate of physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. The children learn through direct, concrete play experiences. The CDC uses the Early Learning Matters curriculum which includes age-appropriate activities that enhance cognitive, social, physical, social-emotional, and self-help development.

Eligibility

The CDC follows the current DOD policy for eligibility and priority.  Eligible patrons include active duty military personnel, DOD civilian personnel paid with either APF or NAF, reservists/guard members on active duty or during inactive duty training, retirees, and DOD contractors. Children with special needs are eligible to enroll in the program.

Availability/Priority Care

There may be a waiting list. The registration process is easy and only takes four steps:

• Step 1: Create an account at MilitaryChildCare.com. This will allow parents to take full advantage of the available benefits.
• Step 2: Search and request care. Parents will find information on facility-based or in-home child care options and may select one (or more) options. The program will contact requesters when space becomes available.
• Step 3: Manage requests from anywhere in the world - parents can change requests, change the date care is needed, and cancel requests that are no longer needed.
• Step 4: Update household information at any time - especially email and telephone numbers so that when an offer is made, parents can be reached quickly.

Priority for care is given to program staff, combat related wounded warriors, and single/duty active duty military/Coast Guard. Parents must enroll using the Child and Youth Programs Business Management Systems and provide the child's immunization record. Families with children who have special needs, including allergies, must complete a Special Needs Packet prior to enrollment.

Costs

The CDC program follows the current DOD fee structure. Fees are calculated on total family income, plus BAH-II. Families must provide proof of all family income (i.e., LES and/or pay stubs) for placement in the correct fee category.

Programs Offered:

• 1. Full-day Care - Monday through Friday, 6:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• 2. Wrap Around Care – For children enrolled in the various Pre-K and Transitional Kindergarten program at Michael Anderson Elementary School located on Fairchild AFB.  Transportation, if available, is offered by the school district.
• 3. Subletting – Those interested should search for availability on the Kinderspot App under Fairchild AFB.
• 4. Daily Drop-In Care – Dependent of space availability. Inquiries should be made up to 24 hours in advance.
• 5. Give Parents a Break - GPAB is funded for active duty AF members by the Air Force Aid Society and hosted one Friday evening per quarter. All registrations for GPAB must be received by 12 noon, the Wednesday prior to the event. Families are eligible for GPAB with a valid voucher.  Contact the CDC at 509-247-2403 for additional information.

There is one School-Age Care Program at Fairchild AFB. It offers Before and/or After School care, full-day care on school breaks, including summer breaks. The program follows the Medical Lake School District calendar and children attend Michael Anderson Elementary School. The program is nationally accredited, DOD certified, and maintains quality standards of health and safety while promoting the development of each child. Children play in classrooms that feature fine arts, science and math, recreational games, dramatic and imaginative play, and health and fitness.

The SAC program is for children entering kindergarten grade through age 12 and is located at 200 W. Castle St.  You may reach the program by calling 509-247-5601 or DSN 312-657-5601.

Eligibility

The SAC program follows the current DOD policy for eligibility and priority.  Eligible patrons include active duty military personnel, DOD civilian personnel paid with either APF or NAF, reservists/guard members on active duty or during inactive duty training, retirees, and DOD contractors. Children with special needs are eligible to enroll in the program.

Availability/Priority Care

There may be a waiting list. The registration process is easy and only takes four steps:

• Step 1: Create an account at MilitaryChildCare.com. This will allow parents to take full advantage of the available benefits.
• Step 2: Search and request care. Parents will find information on facility-based or in-home child care options and may select one (or more) options. The program will contact requesters when space becomes available.
• Step 3: Manage requests from anywhere in the world - parents can change requests, change the date care is needed, and cancel requests that are no longer needed.
• Step 4: Update household information at any time - especially email and telephone numbers so that when an offer is made, parents can be reached quickly.

Priority for care is given to program staff, combat related wounded warriors, and single/duty active duty military/Coast Guard. Parents must enroll using the Child and Youth Programs Business Management Systems and provide the child's immunization record. Families with children who have special needs, including allergies, must complete a Special Needs Packet prior to enrollment.

Costs

The SAC program follows the current DOD structure.  Fees are calculated on total family income, plus BAH-II. Families must provide proof of all family income (i.e., LES and/or pay stubs) for placement in the correct fee category.

Programs Offered:

1. Before and After School Program - Monday through Friday, 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Transportation to/from Michael Anderson Elementary School located on Fairchild AFB is available.

2. Camp - full-day program offered in summer and on school breaks, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3. Daily Drop-In Care - Space available basis; Inquiries should be made up to 24 hours in advance.

4. Give Parents a Break - GPAB is funded for active duty AF members by the Air Force Aid Society and hosted one Friday evening per quarter. All registrations for GPAB must be received by 12 noon, the Wednesday prior to the event. Families are eligible for GPAB with a valid voucher.  Contact the SAC program at 509-247-5601 for additional information.