There are several programs that help military families pay for child care, wherever they are stationed. There are also other child care financial assistance options that military families can consider should those programs have waiting lists. Learn about these programs here.
Use MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC)
MCC provides information on military-run programs worldwide. Through MCC, military families can search the full range of military child care options that match their needs. Military families who would like to enroll their child in a military-run child care program must submit child care requests through MilitaryChildCare.com. Military-run child care programs use a sliding fee scale based on family income to help military families with the cost of child care.
Apply for Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood fee assistance
If you cannot access military-operated child care due to distance or waitlists, active duty service members (including reservists on active orders) may also be eligible to apply for child care fee assistance if they do not have access to on-base child care.
Select your branch of service below to learn more about its child care fee assistance program:
Air Force Fee Assistance Program
Marine Corps Fee Assistance Program
U.S. Coast Guard Fee Assistance Program
The Department of Defense is also funding a pilot program to provide fee assistance to military families for full-time child care in their own homes. Visit MilitaryChildCare.com to learn more.
Consider state or territory child care financial assistance programs
If military child care and military fee assistance programs have waiting lists, low-income military families may be eligible for child care financial assistance in the state or territory in which they are stationed. Select your state or territory on the “See Your State’s Resources” page and review the “Financial Assistance for Families” tab to find the child care financial assistance program in each state and territory.
Consider other military child care relief or respite programs
Military families may also consider other military family support organizations that sometimes provide temporary child care relief or respite programs to help military families with child care costs. Visit Military OneSource or the National Military Family Association to see if other child care financial assistance options are available.