Help Support Our Families
Thank you for your interest in supporting our families’ child care needs. Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) administers the Department of Defense (DoD) Child Care in Your Home (CCYH) Fee Assistance Pilot Program that serves military families whose full-time child care needs are best met by a child care provider coming into their home. For qualifying families and providers offered enrollment, the CCYH Fee Assistance Pilot Program will provide fee assistance towards full-time in-home child care costs for a minimum of 30 hours to a maximum of 60 hours of child care weekly. Eligible families are responsible for finding and employing their CCYH provider to care for their child(ren). Care for CCYH is provided within the military family’s home. The pilot program is currently available in these locations:
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Fayetteville, NC
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Hawaii
- Jacksonville/Mayport, FL
- Las Vegas, NV
- National Capital Region
- Norfolk, VA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle/Tacoma, WA
If you have been contacted by or are already employed by a family active in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Space Force interested in the CCYH Fee Assistance Pilot Program, you may be eligible to participate. Please review the Child Care in Your Home Fee Assistance Provider Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and see below for detailed information concerning how to achieve eligibility and when to apply.
Providers interested in participating, please follow the steps below:
- Step One: Determine Your Eligibility
- Must meet eligibility criteria outlined by the Department of Defense (DoD)
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be eligible to work as a child care provider in the United States (U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident)
Providers may be a member of the military family (which includes a grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, first cousin, niece, nephew, etc.) but cannot reside with, or be financially dependent upon, the military family. Sponsors, spouses or legal guardians may not participate as the CCYH provider for their child(ren).
- Must hold a high school diploma or equivalent
- Must read, speak, and write English
- Must be willing to be employed by the family and accept all related tax implications
- Must be willing to complete required, initial trainings, and additional trainings as assigned
- Must be willing to complete and maintain favorable background checks (adverse information must be adjudicated)
- Fingerprint-Based FBI Criminal History Background Check
- State Criminal History Repository Check
- State Child Abuse and Neglect Repository Check
- State/National Sex Offender Registry Check
If you are able and willing to meet these requirements, you may be eligible to participate in the CCYH Fee Assistance Pilot Program. Understanding that final eligibility and approval are not guaranteed, those child care providers looking to get started on requirements while the families they are working for are on the MCC wait list, may review the additional information below. Final family and provider eligibility are subject to meeting program requirements. Please note: you might not be able to receive specific guidance from a program representative until your family is officially offered a space in the pilot program and, therefore, should review the information carefully if you wish to proceed.
- Step Two: Review and Complete Necessary Supporting Documents
- CCYH Provider Fee Assistance Application
- Provider W-9
- If applicable, copy of Employer Identification Number Certificate (instructions to obtain EIN)
- Child Care in Your Home Provider Agreement
- CCYH Provider Cost Verification Form
- Copy of Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certification
- Copy of FBI, State Criminal History, and State Child Abuse and Neglect Check Results
- Certifications of remaining required trainings
- Step Three: When to Apply & Submit Your Documents
Already working with a military family that has received an offer to participate in the CCYH Fee Assistance Pilot Program? Once the family indicates you as their CCYH provider to CCAoA, you will be connected with a program specialist to submit your application and documents, as well as address any program related questions. At that time, you will be enrolled in the training curriculum platform to complete required courses before working with families.
Do not submit your application if you are not working with a military family, or if the family you are working with has not received an offer yet. Providers may begin working on their Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification and background checks but, should be aware this would be at their own expense and does not guarantee CCYH approval.
- Step Four: Receive Approval with Completed Application
Once training is complete and all required documents are received, your application, background checks, and documents will be reviewed and processed for potential approval. You’ll hear from us a few days after you submit your application, and then if you’re approved you’ll know within 7-10 business days. If approved, you and the family will receive Certificates of Approval confirming that fee assistance may begin on the CCYH child care provided to that family’s child(ren).
Fee Assistance Approval
- When Will I Receive a Response from Child Care Aware® of America?
You will receive a response about the status of your application within 3-5 business days from the submission of your completed application and supporting documents.
- When Will I Receive Approval to Participate in the Fee Assistance Program?
You will receive an approval certificate within 7-10 business days of the completion of both the family and provider applications.
- When Are Fee Assistance Payments Made?
Fee assistance is paid to the provider at the end of the month within 7-10 business days of Child Care Aware® of America’s receipt of the completed attendance sheets. The family is responsible for any costs incurred prior to fee assistance approval and any remaining amount outside of fee assistance.
