Child Care

The Caserma Ederle Child & Youth Services (CYS) Program consists of:

• Parent Central Services (PCS)
• Child Development Centers (CDC)
• School Age Center (SAC)
• Middle School & Teen Program (Youth Center)
• Youth Sports & Fitness (YS&F)
• School Liaison Officer (SLO)
• SKIESUnlimited Instructional Programs

The CYS program in Vicenza is certified by the Department of Defense (DoD). All children of military and civilian ID card holders are eligible, aged 6 weeks to 18 years of age.

The USAG Italy - Vicenza Child & Youth Services (CYS) program consists of:

Child Development Centers (CDCs)

School Age Center (SAC)

Middle School and Teen Programs (Youth Center)

Youth Sports & Fitness (YSF)

School Liaison Officer (SLO)

SKIESUnlimited Instructional Programs

Parent Central Services (PCS)

It is imperative that persons requiring full time or Before &/or After school age child care create an account on the DoD's MilitaryChildCare website - https://militarychildcare.com - and place their children on the waitlists for care as soon as possible. Though the procedure involves placing children on a waitlist, waitlists for CYS programs are in effect infrequently.  Once on station, registration appointments can be made by contacting the Parent Central Services office. Parents are encouraged to conduct sports physicals stateside prior to coming to Italy and hand carry immunization records and important medical records while in route. Phone 011 39 0444 71 5820 (from US)/0444 71 5820 (within Italy) DSN 314-646-5820 (from US). Visit Webtrac or e-mail usarmy.usag-italy.id-europe.mbx.fmwr-vmc-pcs@army.mil for more information.

Families must register with CYS through Parent Central Services and attend a mandatory parent orientation at the center prior to starting care. Parent Central Services is your gateway to all Army CYS programs! Parent Central Services provide families a "one stop" location for all CYS by providing program, activities and event information on all CYS programs. Families must register for services, enroll in programs, have their records transferred to a new location, and pay for program participation at Parent Central Services. Other CYS programs offered by Parent Central Services include: referral services, special events childcare, as well as Parent Advisory Committee and Parent Education Classes.  Parent Education Classes are offered throughout the year in each program. Topics vary from nutrition, child development, health and family support. Parents who attend these classes may receive Parent Participation Points which can earn them 10% of their monthly childcare fee. Please check with Parent Central Services or your program for class dates and times.

Hours: Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Phone:  011-39-0444-71-5166/5167 (from the U.S.); 0444-71-5166 (from Italy); DSN 314-646-5166/5167

The CDC offers part-time and hourly childcare for ages 6 weeks - 5 years of age. To use services at CDC 398, children must first register with CYS Parent Central Services and parents must attend an orientation.

Child Development Centers provide a rich and stimulating, age-appropriate environment which supports children in the development of their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills.  Learning activities are provided through individual, small, and large group experiences. Teaching staff are highly trained to understand the ages and stages of child development and work to ensure that children's individual needs are being met. Teaching Strategies GOLD is used as its foundation for programming, planning, and assessment.

CDCs are accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Accreditation is a nationally recognized credential for a developmentally appropriate early childhood program. This credential recognizes programs that provide high quality care and education for young children.

CDCs follow USDA standards by providing healthy meals and snacks to ensure children's nutritional needs are being met, and the center provides breakfast, lunch and snack daily.

Hours: Monday – Friday from 06:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Phone:  011-39-0444-71-4449 (from the U.S.); 0444-71-4449 (from Italy); DSN 314-646-4449

CDC 703 offers full-time childcare for ages 6 weeks - 5 years of age; part-time and part-day programs for children ages 3 - 5 years of age; and a Kindergarten before and after school program for children in Kindergarten. There is also a Kindergarten full-time childcare program throughout the summer months with a transition period to SAC at the end of the summer prior to the start of school. CDC 703 also offers "Strong Beginnings" which is a pre-kindergarten program to ensure school readiness for the children who meet the age requirement of 4 years old prior to Sept. 1. The Strong Beginnings program operates similar to the DoDEA Vicenza Elementary's Sure Start school calendar.

Fees are established by the Department of Army and are based on Total Family Income. Parent Central Services (PCS) staff calculate fee categories at the time of enrollment in a program. Questions about fees may be directed to PCS.

Hours: Monday – Friday

• School Days: 6:00 – 8 a.m. & 2:30 – 6 p.m.
• School Out Days: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Phone:  011-39-0444-71-4443 (from the U.S.); 0444-71-4443(from Italy); DSN 314-646-4443

The School Age Center (SAC) is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation. The program serves children in grades 1st-5th grade. SAC's operating hours are Monday through Friday from 6:00 am-8:00 am and 2:30 pm- 6:00 pm on school days and 6:00 am-6:00 pm on school-out days. SAC offers hourly care on a limited basis. The program offers a variety of activities appropriate for school-age youth and families. Activities are designed to support this age group's curiosity, emerging need for self-direction and confidence, in an environment which is safe and suitable for exploration.  The facility is open and lively with designated space for computers, art, physical activity, games, group time, and individual space. The staff members who work at SAC have the unique qualities to be responsive and empathic to the needs of school-age children.  The program offers nutritious meals and snacks with a variety of choices following USDA guidelines.

To use services at CDC/SAC 703, children must be registered with CYS Parent Central Services.

Hours: Monday – Wednesday & Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Thursday from 1- 6 p.m.

Phone:  011-39-0444-71-5820/5821 (from the U.S.); 0444-71-5820/5821 (from Italy); DSN 314-646-5820/5821

All children must be registered through the CYS Parent Central Services (PCS) office in the Davis Soldier and Family Readiness Center (Bldg 108) before participating in a CYS program.

Registrations by appointment and walk-in. Please call PCS to schedule an appointment and a representative will ensure you have the correct paperwork to complete the process based on the ages of your children and the CYS programs your family is interested in using.

Items necessary for registration are:

• Copy of  sponsor PCS Orders
• Parent/Guardian(s) Home and Work information (Unit and CMR Address)
• Email Addresses (military/personal)
• Local Emergency Contacts/Release Designees (Two, other than parent/guardians; full name & number, with installation access)
• Immunization Records (required for Preschool Age and under, all Home-Schooled children and children in grades K-12 NOT enrolled in DoDEA Vicenza)
• Proof of Income (Leave & Earnings statements for all working members of household if interested in full/part-time childcare)
• Family Care Plan (due within 30 days of enrollment-single/dual military)
• Child's Health Assessment (provided within 30 days of registration

Registration Forms Include:

• Health Screening Tool (Health questionnaire)– DA Form 7725
• Health Assessment/Sports Physical (due within 30 days of registration. Note: Current Sports Physical required to participate in Youth Sports. Sports Physicals are valid for 1 year.)
• Total Family Income Form (required for all families with children enrolled in full or part day programs in 5th grade and below)
• Medical Action Plans (if applicable, required for children with allergies, asthma/respiratory condition, seizures, diabetes or special diet)
• Teen Registration Form (6th-12th grade)

Special Needs

The term “Special Needs” covers a very broad range when registering to use CYS programs. A special need could be a special diet due to a food allergy, needing an inhaler due to asthma, a speech delay or a physical or emotional disability.  During the registration process, parents fill out a health-screening tool for each child to help CYS determine if any special consideration needs to be made to ensure the safety of the child/youth while in CYS’s care. It is the goal of CYS to reasonably accommodate individuals with special needs in order to help them integrate into the program to the extent feasible.

Military families may request child care by visiting MilitaryChildCare.com. This Department of Defense website serves all military families seeking child care (including Child Development Centers & School Age Centers) and provides access to military-operated child care options world-wide. Families may search for and request care, manage their requests, and update their profile online, simplifying the process for finding child care.