Child Care

If you are interested in a home setting for your child, the Family Child Care (FCC) Coordinator can help you locate a licensed home child care provider. There are approximately 5 licensed homes on base, with more in training. Obtain the Family Child Care Providers current information by calling the Family Child Care Office at (509)-247-5336 or by emailing Nancy Keeton @ nancy.keeton@us.af.mil. 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. Single military parents and dual military couples must provide a copy of AF Form 357, Family Care Certification. There is additional enrollment information to be filled out with the Provider: including Parent Contract and AF Form 1181. Although Family Child Care homes are private businesses, fees may be subsidized with Appropriated Funds. Fees for full day care range from $70 to $160 per week, based on total family income, plus BAH-II for Subsidized Care. For non-subsidized care the fees range from $160 to $200 per week. Families must provide proof of all family income (i.e., LES and/or pay stubs) for placement in proper fee category; families who do not provide proof of income will be in the highest 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:

POC: Nancy Keeton

•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.

•Care for children with special needs and for mildly ill children.

•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 (EDC) - 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 (CDC) at Fairchild AFB. The CDC has space for 250 children, ages 6 weeks through Preschool. There is a waiting list for all ages. 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 curriculum includes age-appropriate activities that enhance cognitive, social, physical, and self-help development. Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network -- Helps parents by supplying valuable information on licensed child care in the (off-base) area and tips for selecting a child care provider.

There is one Child Development Center (CDC) at Fairchild AFB. It is nationally accredited, DoD certified, and maintains high standards of health and safety while promoting the development of each child. The CDC has space for 250 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 Fairchild AFB Child Development Center 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 curriculum includes age-appropriate activities that enhance cognitive, social, physical, and self-help development.

Eligibility

Eligible patrons include active duty military personnel, DoD civilian personnel paid with either APF or NAF, reservists on active duty or during inactive duty training, and DoD contractors. Children with special needs are eligible; the environment, staffing, and activities may be modified to permit their participation.

Availability/Priority Care

There is a waiting list for all ages. 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.

(Single parents and dual DoD parents have the highest priority. Active duty and DoD civilian employed (or full-time student) parents have higher priority than other families. Active duty members on a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move who need hourly care have priority for vacant full-day and hourly care spaces 7 days prior to their departure from the base and 7 days after arrival on a new base.)

Parents must provide child's immunization record. (Single military parents and dual military couples must provide a copy of AF Form 357, Family Care Certification.)

Costs

There are nine fee categories for full-day care (range is from $60-$160 per week), based 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 proper fee category; families who do not provide proof of income will be in the highest category. (Some families may qualify for subsidies through the state; contact Working Connections Child Care at 509-227-2400.)

Programs Offered:

•Full-Day Program – up to 10 hours per day, Monday through Friday.

(•Part-Day Enrichment Program – designed to meet the needs of two-year olds and 3-5 year olds (summers only).) This form of care is no longer offered through the CDC.

(•Hourly Care – space-available only. Reservations taken up to 1 week in advance.)

•Parents Night Out - once per month. ( quarterly for now)  Space is limited; advance reservation and payment is required. This program is available to any DoD ID card holder.

•Give Parents a Break - free Air Force Aid Society sponsored respite program offered once per month ( quarterly for now). Space is limited; advance reservation is required. Qualifying families are those active-duty Air Force families who: have a parent deployed, single parent, have a child with special needs, multiple children (more than four) or on a case by case basis. Referrals are made by the Airmen & Family Readiness Center, the Chaplain's office, Unit First Sergeant or Commander, or Mental Health.

(•Deployed Give Parents a Break – free Air Force Aid Society sponsored respite program offered four hours once per month in conjunction with Parents Night Out for families who have a deployed parent.   Referral (see above) and advance reservation is required.)

(•Transportation to/from school is available for Kindergarten children.) We do not have kindergarten children in our program. We do have Preschoolers, and some of the do attend public school programs, we do not provide transportation for these services.

There is one School-Age Care Program (SAC), located in the Youth Center, 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. It is nationally accredited, DoD certified, and maintains high standards of health and safety while promoting the development of each child. Children play in classrooms that feature arts and crafts, 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. The Youth Center is located at 200 W. Castle, and may be reached by calling 509-247-5601 or DSN 312-657-5601.

Eligibility

Eligible patrons include active duty military personnel, DoD civilian personnel paid with either APF or NAF, reservists on active duty or during inactive duty training, retirees, and DoD contractors. Children with special needs are eligible; the environment, staffing, and activities may be modified to permit their participation.

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.

Single parents and dual DoD parents have highest priority over other families. Parents must provide child's immunization record. Families with children who have special needs, including allergies, must complete a Special Needs Packet prior to enrollment.

Costs

There are thirteen fee categories for care based 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 proper fee category; families who do not provide proof of income will be in the highest category (remove this line-all families are required to submit TFIs and can’t opt out). Some families may qualify for subsidies through the state; contact Working Connections Child Care at 509-227-2400. Fees are due weekly prior to the care being offered. Families can learn more about the breakdown of fees by contacting the Youth Center at 509-247-5601 or DSN 312-657-5601.

Programs Offered:

1.Before and After School Program - Monday through Friday, 6:30 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Transportation to/from Michael Anderson Elementary located on Fairchild AFB is available.

2.Camp - full-day program offered in summer and on school breaks, 0630-1800; children may not be in care over 10 hours per day.

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

4. Give Parents a Break (GPAB)/Parents Night Out (PNO) – GPAB and PNO are held simultaneously one Friday evening per month. All registrations for GPAB/PNO must be received by 12 noon, the Wednesday prior to the event. Families are eligible for GPAB with a valid voucher. GPAB is funded for active duty AF members by the Air Force Aid Society. Contact the Youth Center at 247-5601 for additional information.