Military Child Care and Youth Programs

What it is

The Defense Department runs child care for military families in several ways:

• Child Development Centers (CDCs): On-base centers for infants through pre-K.
• Family Child Care (FCC): Care in the home of a trained, certified provider, often in base housing.
• School-Age Care: Before and after school and summer programs.
• Fee assistance: Helps pay for approved civilian child care when on-base care is not available.
• Child Care in Your Home: A pilot that helps pay for a nanny or in-home provider at certain bases with long waitlists.
• Youth programs: Youth centers, sports, camps and teen programs run by your installation.

Who gets it

Children of active duty members and DoD civilians, and of Guard and Reserve members on active duty orders, can use military child care. Spaces are limited. There is a priority system: single parents, dual-military couples and families where a spouse works full time often move up the list.

What it costs

On-base fees are based on total family income. Families are placed into income categories, and fees are reviewed each school year. Many bases offer a discount for additional children. Fee assistance for civilian care is also based on income. For FY2026, the total cap is $2,000 per child per month, including both your share and the DoD subsidy. A new pilot will raise the subsidy limit by 30% for children ages 2 and under in high-cost areas.

How to use it

• Request care on MilitaryChildCare.com as soon as you know you are moving or expecting. You can request care before you arrive at the new base or before your baby is born.
• Ask for fee assistance if you are waitlisted. Apply through Child Care Aware of America (or your branch's partner) and choose a licensed, approved provider.
• Look into FCC homes. They often have openings when the CDC is full, and fees are often similar.
• Check your youth center for low-cost sports, camps and drop-in care.

What people miss

• Get on the list early. Waitlists at some bases are months long. You do not have to wait until you arrive.
• Hourly care. Many CDCs offer hourly care for appointments or errands, sometimes free for families of deployed members.
• Respite care. Some programs give free hours of care for families of deployed members or children with special needs.
• New rules from the FY2026 NDAA. CDCs must tell parents within 24 hours if staff learn of suspected child abuse. The in-home pilot was extended through 2029.
• Kids need school help too. Every installation has a School Liaison who helps with school moves, records and special education. It is free.

Related

See EFMP for families with special needs and Military OneSource for parenting support. For moving with kids, see our PCS section.