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Child Care in Your Home

Introduction

Child Care in Your Home (CCYH) is a DoD fee assistance pilot program that helps military families cover the cost of full-time child care (30-60 hours per week) provided in their homes. Designed to support families with nontraditional work schedules, care can be provided every day of the week and during nontraditional hours such as evenings and weekends, or on rotating schedules.

Requirements are unique. Participating families must:

  • Locate their own provider
  • Employ their selected provider, which has tax implications
  • Ensure the provider completes all required training and obtains a favorable background check
  • Agree to quarterly home visits to verify that quality care is being provided

Eligibility

The program is offered in the following five regions:

  • National Capital Region
  • Hawaii
  • San Diego, California
  • Norfolk, Virginia
  • San Antonio, Texas

Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Space Force service members are eligible to participate if they are (a) stationed in one of the five regions and (b) single/dual active duty or Guard/Reserve on active duty with a full-time working spouse or spouse enrolled full-time in a postsecondary educational institution.

How to Get Started

    Create an Account

    Select “Create an Account” at the top of the page. Once you create an account, you will set up a Household Profile that stores key information about your family and allows you to conduct a customized search for military child care and fee assistance programs.

    Search for and Request Care

    Use “Find Child Care” to identify all programs that meet your needs. Search for care and if you are stationed in one of the five eligible regions and meet the family eligibility criteria, CCYH will be included in the search results, and you can request CCYH fee assistance for each of your children.

    Wait for an Offer

    MCC will send you an offer for fee assistance based on funding levels. Keep your email address up-to-date in your Household Profile so you do not miss these important notifications.

    Complete an Application

    If you receive an offer for fee assistance, you will receive a notification from MilitaryChildCare.com with instructions on how to accept the offer and complete an application in the Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) fee assistance enrollment portal. Complete the application and submit your supporting documentation within five business days of accepting the offer.

    Locate a Provider or Enroll Your Provider in the Program

    Locate your in-home care provider, review the information on tax requirements from CCAoA, and submit your selected provider's eligibility documentation in the CCAoA fee assistance enrollment portal.

Resources to Help you Navigate the CCYH Program

The CCYH fee assistance program is unique! But support is available to assist you.

Determine How Much Fee Assistance You May Receive

The CCYH program provides a maximum monthly fee assistance amount per child. The payment is made directly to the in-home child care provider. You are responsible for paying your selected provider your portion of the fee. The amount of fee assistance provided per child is based on:

  • The fee you would pay if you received care on the installation (based on your total family income).
  • The monthly rate you negotiate with your selected provider.
  • The maximum monthly fee assistance amount per child, based on your total family income.

Find a Provider

You are responsible for finding your own in-home child care provider. To search for a provider, you may use the expanded child care service available at no cost through Military OneSource. Providers must be U.S. citizens and

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Read, speak, and write English
  • Complete all training and background check requirements 

Understand the Tax Implications of Hiring a Provider

You will be considered your provider's employer. To learn about the tax implications of being an employer, contact Military OneSource tax consultants. If you receive and accept an offer for CCYH fee assistance, CCAoA will also provide you with information on tax requirements. You can also read the Tax Considerations for Household Employers fact sheet.

Negotiate a Contract with Your Provider

Because you will employ your in-home child care provider, it's important that you negotiate and execute a contract. 

Ensure Your Provider Completes Background Screening and Training Requirements

If you receive and accept an offer for CCYH fee assistance, CCAoA will work with you and your selected provider to ensure they complete the required training and background checks.

All providers must complete 32 hours of self-paced training that includes:

  • CPR certification
  • First aid certification
  • Child abuse prevention training
  • Safe sleep training
  • Additional training, such as care for children with special needs, if needed

All providers must successfully complete the minimum background check requirements, including:

  • Fingerprint-Based FBI Criminal History Background Check
  • State Criminal History Repository Check
  • State Child Abuse and Neglect Repository Check
  • State/National Sex Offender Registry Check

Questions?

For assistance, contact Child Care Aware of America at 800.424.2246