Stipend available to active duty Airmen, others

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Airmen here without access to an on-base child care provider may be eligible for off-base child care fee assistance, according to 66th Force Support Squadron officials.

The fee assistance program, available through Child Care Aware of America, was created to help active duty members in locating, selecting and offsetting the cost of private child care when not available on base.

“This program provides subsidies for eligible military dependents enrolled in quality commercial child care programs,” said Scott Craver, 66 FSS Child and Youth Services Flight chief. “The amount is based on total family income. Monthly payments are sent directly to the child care provider.”

Among those entitled to the fee assistance, according to the Child Care Aware of America website, include regular Air Force active duty members, Guard and Reserve personnel on active duty, survivors of combat fallen warriors, wounded warriors and Air Force dual-status technicians of the Guard and Reserve.

Prior to submitting an online application for the subsidy, personnel must first visit http://militarychildcare.com/ to request on-base care through the Child Development Center or Family Child Care Program.

Child Care Aware of America offers two programs to Airmen.

“The most commonly used program is the ‘Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood’ program, which is available to active duty Airmen at stateside installations, including here at Hanscom Air Force Base,” said Craver. “The other program, Operation Military Child Care, is available to Airmen that are deployed overseas.”

Craver encourages Airmen to visit the Child Care Aware of America website at https://usa.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/military-families/air-force/fee-assistance/ to determine further eligibility.

Airmen must provide a leave and earnings statement, military orders or an SF-50, spouse pay stub or, if a student, a school schedule, self-certification form, military installation information request form and provider application documents.

Approvals generally take between seven and 10 days.

Child Care Aware of America offers additional information on financial assistance and other resources available in Massachusetts. Visit http://www.childcareaware.org/state/massachusetts/ for further information.

“The 66th Force Support Squadron is committed to providing the highest quality care for our military dependents at the Child Development Center, School Age Care and through the Family Child Care Program,” said Craver. “When we’re not able to provide that care on base due to availability, there are resources available to help Airmen locate and pay for care off the installation.”

For further information, contact the Child Development Center at 781-225-6128 or by email at 66.FSS.CDC.CMB@us.af.mil.