Military Child Care: Off-Base Financial Assistance and Wait Lists for On-Base Care
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) operates the country's largest employer-sponsored child care program, providing care to more than 210,000 children of military families in fiscal year 2019, according to DOD. Most of these children are cared for in subsidized child development centers on military bases, but some off-base child care providers receive subsidies on behalf of military families to reduce those families' costs for care. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (the Act) required DOD to assess and report on its financial assistance to these providers, as well as its efforts to reduce wait lists for on-base childcare. Specifically, the Act required DOD to assess whether the maximum amount of assistance provided to off-base providers should be standardized across the services, and whether the maximum amount adequately accounts for high-cost duty stations. It also requires the Secretary of Defense to take any steps necessary to reduce wait lists for on-base child care, and identify any additional resources needed to increase access to child development centers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1149469
Entities
People
- Kathryn A. Larin
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office