Family Child Care

It is important to note, most families receiving care through FCC are enrolled in our Subsidy Program. This program enables a family to pay the same price for care that they would at the CDC while the provider receives their requested fee. For example: If a family generates $51,000 total income per year, that family would pay $93 for weekly child care. However, the provider (running her own business) charges $200 per week. Does this mean the family must find care elsewhere? No. The Air Force will pay the provider the difference: $107.

If interested in applying for the Subsidy Program, please fill out the following forms and return to the FCC office in-person or through email: 5fss.fsyf.fcc@us.af.mil.

• Subsidy Registration Checklist (https://5thforcesupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AF-FCC-Subsidy-Registration-Checklist.pdf )
• Parent/Child Information Subsidy Form ( https://media.5thforcesupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/23112401/AF-FCC-Subsidy-Registration-Checklist-1.docx )

Family Child Care is the perfect choice for parents who want quality child care in a small group, home-like setting. The goal of the FCC program is to meet the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of children while providing a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment.

The Deployment Child Care Support allows families 16 hours for pre-deployment, 16 hours each month of the deployment, and 16 hours of post deployment. AF FCC Deployment Child Care Support may be used once the member has orders and ends 60 days upon return from the deployment.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Member of the Military Service
• Active Duty or Reserve/Guard Member in Active Status
• Assigned to or working on the installation
• Deployed in support of a contingency operation
• Deployed for a minimum of 30 calendar days or personnel who routinely deploy on a short-term basis (cumulative of 30 days in a 6 month period)
• Copy of deployment orders/PCS orders

PCS Care is designed to help relieve some of the stress felt by families in the process of a PCS move or transitioning from the military.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Member of the Military Service
• Active Duty
• Active Duty Member Retiring
• Copy of PCS orders or Transition Assistance Program Registration

Prior to receiving PCS care through FCC, the family must contact the Military and Family Readiness Center for a certificate. MFRC can be reached at 701.723.3950. This certificate is then emailed to our office and we schedule your care!

The EDC Program is designed to assist families when weekly parental workloads, due to extended duty hours, exceed the normal operating hours of the facility where they are already purchasing full-time care. Examples: mission-related duty, extended duty days, temporary shift change (not to exceed 3 working days), rapid mobilization, dual military or single parent deployment until alternate child care is arranged, federal holidays, installation wide down days when AF Child and Youth Programs are closed and parents are required to work, mandatory PT.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Member of the Military Service, Reserve/Guard member in activated status, or DoD Civilian
• Assigned to or working on the installation
• Must be scheduled to work – work must directly impact the mission
• No other adult in the household available to provide care

The MC is designed to provide overnight, weekend, and holiday child care for those members assigned to work for more than 24 hours in the missile field.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Member of the Military Service
• Active Duty or Reserve/Guard Member in activated status
• Assigned to work for more than 24 hours in the missile field
• No other adult in the household available to provide care
• Must be purchasing full-time care
• Copy of schedule

First and foremost, families will apply for and request child care through MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC).When the FCC Office is contacted for a care request either through email, in-person, or by phone; the Family Child Care Coordinator or Community Child Care Coordinator will first check MCC.com to verify the individual need of care.The FCC or CCC Coordinator will then reach out to all providers via their private communication system to ensure all providers are given information equitably and efficiently.

Are you interested in obtaining licensure to watch up to six children in your home? Are you a military spouse or new parent looking to help generate additional income? Are you retired, living on base, and have a heart to help Minot Air Force Base’s growing need for child care? In a mere four weeks, we can get you licensed and ready to go! If interested, please stop by our office to get started!

To operate an FCC home, applicants must meet numerous requirements. In addition to thorough background screenings performed by local base agencies, applicants are required to obtain liability insurance and must pass home inspections which include Health, Fire, Program, and Safety components. Applicants must also complete a two-week orientation training, part of which includes instruction on AF guidelines and certification in First Aid and CPR.

Certification through Virtual Lab School is highly beneficial to all FCC Providers. This training program covers the following fifteen early childhood functional areas: Child Abuse – Identification and Reporting, Child Abuse – Prevention, Positive Guidance, Safe Environments, Healthy Environments, Learning Environments, Physical Development, Cognitive Development, Communication and Language Development, Creative Expression, Self and Cultural Understanding, Social and Emotional Development, Family Engagement, Program Management, and Professionalism. The first three modules must be completed prior to licensure (during our two-week orientation training). The additional twelve modules are completed while the FCC Provider runs his/her business.

It is important to note, all modules are completed online and each module contains a certificate of completion. The benefit of this online platform is accessibility (as most providers complete work during their children’s naptime) and transferability, as the provider’s account may be accessed at an alternate base/location. The Family Child Care Coordinator assists the provider in his/her completion of these modules.

We live in a world where “mother” or “father” cannot be included on a resume, one household income falls short of providing all needs, and families are diverse. The Family Child Care Provider can maintain a business while watching his/her own children. Personally and professionally, the provider is able to be his/her own boss while working to assist his/her spouse in growing the family’s income. With regard to society, the Family Child Care Provider supports developmental growth in a homelike atmosphere or “family:” an American value.

Ways in which the Family Child Care Coordinator and Community Child Care Coordinator support the provider:

• Supplying care requests to whom the provider can reach out
• Reminding the provider of renewal dates for fingerprints, CPR, Insurance, etc.
• Providing monthly training
• Providing a monthly newsletter
• Determining “Provider of the Month” and bestowing a gift
• Inspecting the provider’s home monthly to ensure safety
• Providing curriculum resources
• Providing professional development opportunities
• Assisting with VLS FCC Certification

These are just some of the benefits! When a provider becomes licensed, he/she joins a group of over 24 providers who are dedicated professionals focused on personal and societal growth.

The FCC Panel, which includes the Deputy Mission Support Group Commander, 5th Force Support Commander, and Airman and Family Services Flight Chief, reviews all application packets. Those applicants who have successfully completed all requirements are recommended for licensing and are then forwarded on for final approval by the Mission Support Group Commander.

To ensure that high standards and quality are maintained in the FCC homes, each home undergoes unannounced observations by the Family Child Care Coordinator and Community Child Care Coordinator and the providers conduct self-assessments that are verified by the coordinators during their observations.

The FCC program also offers a Resource Center to all licensed providers. This center provides a variety of equipment, supplies, materials, indoor/outdoor toys, and games for use in FCC homes. This center benefits both the provider and the children in care by providing access to items that may otherwise be unaffordable.

Licensed FCC Providers participate in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Program which reimburses them for serving nutritious meals.
For more information about the USDA Food Program, please call our Food Program Coordinator at 723-2604.