Eligibility
Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Space Force service members are eligible to participate if they are (a) stationed in an eligible region 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.
Children ages 6 weeks - 5 years are eligible. School-age children (6-12 years of age) are eligible only when younger siblings are enrolled into the program. Children who age up to school age and no longer have a younger eligible sibling enrolled in the program may remain in the program until the oldest school age sibling turns 10 years old at which time fee assistance will end.
The pilot program has limited spaces available and is provided in the following regions:
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Hawaii
- Jacksonville/Mayport, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- National Capital Region
- Norfolk, Virginia
- San Antonio, Texas
- San Diego, California
- Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
Learn More About CCYH Requirements
To learn more about the unique requirements of the CCYH pilot program, watch this video. It covers such things as:
- You must locate your own provider and will be your provider's employer, which has tax implications,
- You must ensure your provider completes all required training and obtains a favorable background check, and
- You must agree to quarterly home visits to verify that quality care is being provided.
In addition, the video discusses:
- Resources to help you find a provider (Sitter City, local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs))
- Required documents for you and your provider
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 an eligible region 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.
Select a Provider or Enroll Your Provider in the Program
Select 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 Get Started
Requirements for the CCYH program are unique. Participating families must:
- Select their own provider
- Employ their selected provider, which has tax implications
- Understand the provider must complete all required training and obtain a favorable background check
- Agree to quarterly home visits to verify that quality care is being provided
Support is available to assist you! Read more below.
The monthly fee assistance amount paid for each child is based on your Total Family Income (TFI) category and will not cover the entire cost of child care. CCAoA will make the fee assistance payment directly to your selected CCYH provider.
The amount of fee assistance provided per child is based on:
- The fee you would pay if receiving care on the installation (based on total family income)
- The monthly rate charged by your provider
- The cumulative provider rate cap determined for the fee assistance calculation
You are responsible to pay your provider for all additional costs the fee assistance does not cover.
You are responsible for selecting 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. CCYH providers must meet the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
- Have the ability to read, speak, and write English
- Comply with applicable employment laws, to include income tax implications
- CCYH Providers may be family members
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.
Because you will employ your in-home child care provider, it's important that you negotiate and execute a contract. For more information on why it's important to have an agreement with your provider and what you should consider including, review The Importance of Creating Your Child Care Agreement handout.
If you receive and accept an offer for CCYH fee assistance, CCAoA will work with you and your selected provider so that they understand that they must complete the required training and background checks.
All providers must complete the required training before starting, including:
- CPR certification
- First aid certification
- Child abuse prevention training
- Safe sleep training
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
CCYH Resources
If you participate in the CCYH pilot program, you will have several unique responsibilities. Here you can find the resources needed to help you with each one.
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Child Care in Your Home Flyer
Read more about the DoD pilot program that helps eligible families pay for child care provided in their home.
CYF-Flyer-ChildCareInYourHome.pdf [PDF, 356.16 KB] -
Expanded Hourly Child Care Options
Visit Military OneSource to access a national database of more than a million possible in-home providers.
Expanded Hourly Child Care Options
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Tax Considerations for Household Employers
Read more about the possible tax requirements when you hire a provider to work in your home.
CCYH_TaxConsiderations_FactSheet.pdf [PDF, 141.32 KB] -
Free Military Tax Support
Visit Military OneSource to talk to a free military tax consultant or to access the free MilTax software.
Free Military Tax Support
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The Importance of Creating your Child Care Agreement
Learn more about why it’s important to have an agreement with your provider and what it should include.
TheImportanceofCreatingYourChildcareAgreement.pdf [PDF, 181.46 KB] -
Application Forms
Learn more about any required documents you’ll submit to CCAoA if you get an offer for fee assistance.
Application Forms
Questions?
Review the FAQs for more information and then contact Child Care Aware of America at 800.424.2246 for assistance.