Tips for Picking a Child Care Provider

Some great tips for getting the right fit for your and your family with a child care provider.

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Learn more about the benefits of starting a career as a Child Care provider!

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Family Child Care

Wright-Patterson AFB Family Child Care recognizes the importance of providing high-quality child care to active duty and civilian parents working at Wright-Patt. Children ages 2 weeks to 12 years are engaged in developmentally appropriate activities in licensed homes on or within a designated radius of Wright-Patt. Family Child Care (FCC) is committed to ensuring children’s safety, health, and well-being, enabling parents to focus on their military mission with the knowledge their children are well-taken care.

Family Child Care (FCC) Providers undergo stringent certification requirements which include:

  • 15 FCC Virtual Lab School Courses
  • Monthly Unannounced Home Inspections
  • Yearly Background Investigations
  • Annual Training (24 Hours)

In addition, FCC providers must maintain ServSafe and CPR/First Aid certifications.

Become a Child Care Service Provider

Family Child Care is currently recruiting for full-time, part-time, and expanded child care.

Provider Perks:

Work from home

Set your own hours

Set your own rate

Providers Receive:

Free training

Materials and equipment on loan

Reimbursement for food

Programs & Services

Standard Care Options

  • Hourly Care
  • Full-time Care
  • Space Available Care (Drop-In Care)
  • Part-time Care
  • Night Care
  • Weekend Care

Subsidy

The Family Child Care subsidy allows parents whose children are on the waiting list for the Wright-Patterson AFB Child Development Centers (CDC) or School-Age Care Program (SAC) to pay the same weekly fee they would for the CDCs or SAC while their children are enrolled in the Family Child Care program.

Eligibility

Parents must be active duty or DOD civilians, and all other adults living in the household must be working or enrolled in school full-time. Children must be on the waiting list for the Wright-Patterson AFB Child Development Centers or the School Age Care Program. A completed AF FCC ECC request must be submitted.

Extended Duty Care

Extended Duty care is designed to assist families when extended duty hours exceed the normal operating hours of the facility where their child is currently enrolled in full-time child care.

UTA Child Care

Designed to provide child care for those members of the Guard and Reserves (CAT A and B) during their regularly scheduled, or properly rescheduled, drill periods. This care is for Training Periods and Unit Training Assemblies only. Individuals on active duty orders do not qualify for this. AF Form 40As must be provided for rescheduled drills.

Eligibility

Reserve or guard members assigned to an Air Force Guard or Reserve Unit/Installation and who have no other adult in the household available to provide child care are eligible for UTA Child Care. A completed AF FCC ECC request and AF Form 40As (when applicable) must be submitted.

Deployment/Remote Care

Eligibility

Active duty military members or reserve/guard members in active duty status who are assigned to or working at Wright-Patterson AFB are eligible for deployment/remote child care. Members must be deployed for a minimum of 30 calendar days. Personnel who routinely deploy on a short-term basis (cumulative of 30 days in a 6 month period) are also eligible.

Eligibility for deployment/remote care begins once orders have been received and concludes 60 days after returning from deployment.

A copy of deployment orders and a completed AF FCC ECC request must be submitted to receive deployment/remote child care.

Deployment/Remote Child Care is designed to assist families prior to, during, and after deployment.

Families are allowed:

  • 16 hours of pre-deployment care
  • 16 hours of care each month during the deployment
  • 16 hours post-deployment care

PCS Child Care

Sponsored by the Air Force Aid Society, PCS care provides 20 hours of child care per installation. PCS care can be used 60 days prior to leaving the current installation and up to 60 days after arrival at the new installation.

Eligibility

PCS Care is available to active duty members. A copy of PCS orders and a completed Child Care for PCS Certificate (obtained from the Airman & Family Readiness Center) must be submitted.

Selecting a Child Care Provider

The relationship between Provider and Parent should be viewed as a business, with your most precious asset involved.

  • Read the contract thoroughly.
    • If there is something in the contract you disagree with, discuss it with the Provider. Make sure any and all changes are in writing.
    • If the Provider is not willing to make changes, decide whether you still wish to use the Provider. If you do not, find another Provider that better fits your needs.
  • A contract between the Provider and the parent must be signed prior to receiving child care. The contract must include:
    • hours of operation
    • fees and payment schedule
    • vacation (both provider’s and child’s), sick leave, and absences
    • responsi­bility for alternate care
    • termination policy

Ask to see the home and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

  • Visit the home during child care hours.
    • Are the children playing happily?
    • Are they clean?
    • Are the children doing the activities that are posted on the schedule?
  • If you see something in a home that makes you uncom­fortable about leaving your child in that home, please call the FCC Coordinator. Our goal is to ensure that all homes provide quality care.

Family Child Care (FCC) Providers undergo stringent certification requirements which include:

  • 15 FCC Virtual Lab School Courses
  • Monthly Unannounced Home Inspections
  • Yearly Background Investigations
  • Annual Training (24 Hours)

In addition, FCC providers must maintain ServSafe and CPR/First Aid certifications.

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