Military Child Development Program: Background and Issues
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DOD) operates the largest employer-sponsored child care program in the United States, serving approximately 200,000 children of uniformed servicemembers and DOD civilians, and employing over 23,000 child care workers, at an annual cost of over $1 billion. DOD's child development program (CDP) includes accredited, installation-based, government-run, full-time pre-school and school-aged care in its Child Development Centers (CDCs), and subsidized care in Family Care Centers (FCCs). DOD also subsidizes care in private child care centers outside of military installations through the Fee Assistance program. Child care services are part of a broader set of quality of life benefits that make up the total compensation package for military personnel and certain DOD civilians. The Department has argued that these child care benefits help support its recruiting, retention, and readiness goals and that there is generally a high level of satisfaction among servicemembers who use DOD childcare services. Military family advocacy groups have largely supported existing child care benefits and have also called for expanding awareness of, access to, operating hours for, and improvements or enhancements of other aspects of military child care services. Military service members, surviving spouses, and DOD civilians are generally eligible for CDC services. DOD contractors, military retirees, and other federal agency personnel are eligible on a space-available basis. The services maintain a priority list with active duty single parents, dual military couples, and wounded servicemembers typically eligible in the highest priority category. Child care fees are subsidized and based on total family income with a progressive fee structure. Average fees for military CDCs tend to be lower than the average fees for civilian day care providers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 19, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1169687
Entities
People
- Kristy N. Kamarck
Organizations
- Library of Congress