Child Care

Child and Youth Programs is a comprehensive system of care that offers a wide range of programs to meet the needs of military families. The Child Development Center provides high-quality educational and recreational children’s programs that respect cultures and values for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age. There is no school age program at NAS Whiting Field, however there are various school age programs available through the Santa Rosa County community school system. For more information please call the Child Development Center, 850-623-7472/7367. To get on the waitlist for the Child Development Center visit militarychildcare.com.

The Whiting Field Child Development Center is located just inside the front gate on California Street in Building 36. The program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and offers developmental programs and activities for children 6 weeks through Preschool (or until the child enters Kindergarten). Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Snack are served daily. The NAS Whiting Field Child Development Center can be reached at 850-623-7472.

Hours of Operation -- The center is open Monday through Friday, 05:30 a.m. - 18:30 p.m. CYP Programs are closed for all federal holidays and are provided an advance notice of other necessary closures.

Costs -- DoD prescribes uniform fee regulations based upon Total Family Income (TFI). Upon enrollment fee categories are assigned per household. Hourly Care is provided at $8 an hour in full-hour increments.

Programs Offered -- Hourly care is a short term care option (not to exceed 25 hours in a week or 12 hours in a day) that families can book up to 30 days in advance if space in the child's age group is available.

Eligibility/Withdrawal -- Once a space is available, an offer is electronically made. Upon parental acceptance, parents are scheduled to come into the CDC for a tour, and to finalize registration requirements. Care may begin immediately following the completion of enrollment unless parents elect to pay to hold the space until they are ready to utilize it. Providing a withdrawal notice of 30 days or more in advance is a savings to parents and also allows the program to assist another waiting family in a more timely manner. A 10% discount is applied to your account when the advance notice is provided.

Enrollment -- To get on the waiting list families must sign up on MilitaryChildcare.com for each child. When a space becomes available the family will be given additional forms from the CDC to complete in order to secure the spot.

Priority Care -- Detailed descriptions of each military family type and corresponding DoD Priority are available on the Military Family Types and DoD Priority handout available at https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-content/militaryFamily TypeDoDPriorityHandout.pdf. it is important to remember that families are responsible for informing the CYP immediately if their military family type changes in any way after enrollment. If it is necessary to make space for a higher priority military child, we will notify you as quickly as possible (providing a minimum 45 days written notice) and providing alternative child care options. If this occurs, families may submit a new request for care on MilitaryChildCare.com.

Those applying for Priority 1 status (single or dual military) must also include a completed Family Care Plan, and provide a copy of Military page 2. Those applying for Priority 2 status (military w/ employed spouse) must include a spouse's verification of employment or an up to date school enrollment/registration documentation.

Waiting List -- MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) is a secure Department of Defense (DoD) website that helps families find information on military-operated or military approved child care programs worldwide. All requests for child care must be made through MCC. The Department of Defense (DoD) program makes it easier to find the child and youth care your family needs. Military and DoD civilian families can search for child and youth care options through a single website. Using MilitaryChildCare.com, you can find comprehensive information on child care program worldwide, conduct a customized search for the care you need, and submit a request for care at any time from any location.

First, families must request care through MilitaryChildCare.com for each child. MilitaryChildCare.com gives you access to a powerful search engine to locate a facility based or in home child care options. Search the system for child care options that best fit your needs and submit. Parents will receive an email every month from MilitaryChildCare.com which needs to be confirmed or updated in order for children to remain on the waitlist. No response will automatically remove you from the waitlist. It is recommended that parents use a personal email that can be checked while on leave or during a PCS. It is important to keep your email and phone number current so when an offer is made, programs may reach out to you.

For additional assistance, please call the Child Development Center at 850-623-7472.

School Age Programs

Naval Air Station Whiting Field (Education – Education – Public School)

There are no DoD schools on NAS Whiting Field or on any nearby installations.

Santa Rosa County District Schools:

Santa Rosa County District Schools has 19 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 7 high schools, there are also several private/parochial schools in the Pace/ Milton area. Milton also has one vocational/technical school. The graduation rate for Santa Rosa County District Schools is 90 percentile, and the school district has earned an “A” rating for the 2022-2023 school year.

NAS Whiting Field has a School Liaison (SL) to assist transitioning families with any K-12 educational issues that may arise while at NAS Whiting Field or during transition. The School Liaison also has information about post-secondary opportunities, homeschooling, and a plethora of educational resources to support our military children and families. For more information call 850-665-6105 or visit the NASWF SL website at School Liaison Program (navymwrwhitingfield.com)

School Registration Requirements:

Age requirements for Santa Rosa County District Schools are as follows:

• Kindergarten: The child must be at least 5 on or before 1 September
• First Grade: The child must be at least 6 on or before 1 September

For additional information on the SRCDS Registration Process, please see How to Register NEW Students for School - Santa Rosa County Schools (santarosaschools.org)also please contact the NASWF School Liaison at 850-665-6105.

School Zones:

School zones have been carefully defined to adhere to specific requirements. To find your zoned school in Santa Rosa County, visit Santa Rosa County, Florida - School Information (arcgis.com). School Choice options are available for active duty military families. To learn more about School Choice and Controlled Enrollment, visit School Choice/Transfer Request - Santa Rosa County Schools (santarosaschools.org).

Early Education Resources:

Early Steps is Florida’s Part C Early Intervention system that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers birth to thirty-six months who are at risk for or show developmental delays. Early Intervention is designed to support children and families in their daily routines as this is where children play and learn. To learn more https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/early-steps/index.html

Santa Rosa Early Steps Program assists families with children from 3 years old who have special needs. Santa Rosa District Schools serve children from 3 years of age to 5 years of age by September 1 in a full day school based program. Children receive services while in the Head Start and Voluntary PK classes. SRCDS also serves a large number of children who require speech. To receive these service. parents bring their child for therapy to the assigned elementary school or at TR Jackson Pre-K Center. https://trj.santarosaschools.org/en-US

Santa Rosa Head Start/ Early Head Start Programs promote school readiness for children from families with relatively small incomes to County wide registration takes place yearly. Ongoing registration for Head Start occurs daily in the ERSEA office located at the T. R. Jackson Pre-K School. A child must be three (3) years old on or before September 1 of the current year. Priority will be given to those students who are four (4) years of age on or before September 1 of the current year. Eligibility is based on: Income, Age, and Residence. Families must meet the federal or state income guidelines to be eligible. Children with special needs/disabilities are welcomed. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call 850-983-5720 or https://trj.santarosaschools.org/en-US

FDLRS/Emerald Coast Child Find provides screenings and services at no cost for families. They also help families get educational services through their local schools districts and refer children to the appropriate resources in their local school district for assessment or follow up. To learn more, see Child Find - FDLRS Emerald Coast

The Early Learning Coalition of Santa Rosa County seeks to assist parents by focusing on opportunities for the birth-to-kindergarten population to enhance their chances for educational success by participating in quality early learning programs that can better prepare children for school. The Early Learning Coalition is a 501©(3) organization created in statute in 1999  responsible for the provision of School Readiness child care assistance (subsidized child care) and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) services with federal, state, and local funding. The Coalition partners with the Florida Department of Education, Division of Early Learning, to deliver early learning services in Santa Rosa County. To learn more visit https://www.elcsantarosa.org/

For additional questions, please call your NAS Whiting Field School Liaison at 850-665-6105.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field (Education – Education – Adult Education)

Pensacola State College and University of West Florida (UWF) are within the local area. Additionally, the University of South Alabama is within an hour drive.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field (Education – College/Technical Training - College)

There are no college programs onboard NAS Whiting Field.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field (Education – College/Technical Training - Other)

Veteran Student Success Center, Pensacola State College - 850-484-2040

Pensacola State College Milton Campus - 850-484-4400

University of West Florida Military and Veterans Resource Center -  850-474-2550

Radford Locklin Technical College -  850-983-5700

Santa Rosa Adult School- Home - Santa Rosa Adult School (santarosaschools.org) or 850-983-5710

For additional questions, please call your NAS Whiting Field School Liaison at 850-665-6105

Additional School Resources:

Military Family Life Counselors:

NAS Whiting Field support the area schools by requesting Military Family Life Counselors or MFLCs.

The MFLCs provide non-medical counseling services to children and youth up to the age of 18 in groups and individually. They also offer support to families, staff and support personnel. Working with counselors can help with transitions, help improve behavior, and assist with a child’s performance, as well as help children make and maintain healthy relationships. To find the list of current MFLCs in Santa Rosa County Schools, go to NAS Whiting Field School Liaison’s website at School Liaison Program (navymwrwhitingfield.com)

Anchored4Life Program:

NAS Whiting Field CYP provides and supports Anchored4Life (A4L) Programs in numerous elementary, middle, and high school throughout Santa Rosa County District Schools. The A4L club provides opportunities for youth to acquire and maintain valuable life skills, which help to increase self-esteem, integrate empathy and integrity into daily activities, as well as help strengthen positive connection with others. To see a list of school offering an Anchored4Life program, please go to the NAS Whiting Field School Liaison’s website at School Liaison Program (navymwrwhitingfield.com)

Purple Star Schools of Distinction:

In 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law the Purple Star Campuses legislation, recognizing K-12 schools that provide identified support for the military child's transition and relocation within Florida. This program aims to help students as they relocate to new schools due to a parent’s change in duty station.

Most Santa Rosa County schools carry the designation of Purple Star School of Distinction. Purple Star designation recognizes schools that provide extra support for children of military families. To receive the distinction, the schools must do the following:

1. Publicize support for military students and families on the school’s website

2. Highlight annual military recognition events

3. Provide opportunities for active-duty military parents to volunteer at the school

4. Establish a military point of contact

5. Host a transition program in the school

6. Deliver professional development about military life to the teachers

7. Offer controlled open enrollment.

To see the list of schools who have earned the Purple Star School of Distinction, go to Purple Star Campuses - Santa Rosa County Schools (santarosaschools.org) for more information.

If you are looking for educational resources or have questions, please feel free to reach out to the NAS Whiting Field School Liaison at 850-665-6105 or at dawn.m.kaunike.naf@us.navy.mil

The Family Child Care Program offers child care by DoN certified FCC Providers within the Community and Navy Housing. Providers complete a 40+ hour initial certification training covering Navy policies and local standard operating procedures, CPR and first aid, safety and fire prevention, developmentally appropriate activities, and much more. Providers participate in monthly trainings and homes are inspected monthly by FCC Staff and annually by Fire and Health Departments. All providers and family members complete a background screening. Childcare is offered to children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age. Some homes offer drop in and extended hour services. For more information, contact the Family Child Care Staff at 850-458-6588.