Family Child Care

Family Child Care (FCC) provides families with a wonderful alternative to large group childcare! FCC providers are licensed by the Air Force and provide high-quality childcare services in their own homes on base or nearby in the local community. Extensive training and direct oversight of each program assists providers in growing as professionals while offering care in a nurturing home environment.

• Click Here for Current FCC Provider Listing (.xls)
• Report of Unlicensed Child Care (.pdf)
• Unlicensed FCC Policy (.pdf)
• New Provider Information
• Information for Parents

What are the Benefits of Family Child Care?

• Small settings with personalized care
• Familiar home environment
• Mixed age groups allow children to learn from each other
• Parents who have more than one child can utilize one child care setting
• Accepts children with chronic health problems, including HIV positive children
• Flexible scheduling and fees
• Close relationships established between provider and family
• "Real life" learning environment

Care for

• Children as young as 2 weeks through 12 years old
• Night time or extended hours
• Children with chronic health problems, including HIV-positive children

Hours and compensation are negotiated between providers and parents. For a current listing of providers, contact the FCC coordinator at (850) 283-2266. A listing of providers is also available at the Family Support Center, Pediatrics Clinic, Child Development Center, and Youth Center.

FCC Special Programs

Subsidy Program

Subsidy is a program provided by the Air Force that "buys down" the cost of childcare for families with children enrolled in Air Force Child Development Centers or Family Child Care homes. Parents pay the same fees that they would pay if their children were enrolled in the CDC. Fees are based on total family income.

Extended Duty Child Care

This special child care program is designed to assist parents whose work schedules temporarily require child care beyond the hours of the CDC and school-age program. This additional care is provided in a specifically contracted licensed FCC home. Arrangements must be coordinated with the CDC and the FCC office. The FCC coordinator can provide detailed information about this service.

Child Care for PCS

Up to 20 hours of child care per child is available to assist families during the relocation process. This program is open to all ranks and is offered through the Air Force Aid Society. Care is arranged in a licensed FCC home. Contact the Family Support Center at (850) 283-4204 for more information.

Returning Home Care

Active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve members returning to their home stations after deployments of a minimum of 30 calendar days or personnel who routinely deploy on a short-term basis (cumulative of 30 days in a six month period) in support of contingency operations, we will receive 16 hours of child care per child (12 years and under) FREE. Child care is offered in the EDC homes. Each member may use no more than 16 hours of care per child per six-month period.

Child Care for Volunteers

Base volunteers may be eligible for free childcare during the times that they are volunteering.

New Provider Information

Are you interested in becoming a Family Child Care Provider? Are you willing to open your home and your heart to other children? Are you ready to learn new skills and establish yourself in a growing profession? We are looking for you!

The advantages

• Run your own business
• Be your own boss
• Earn extra money
• Stay at home
• Set your own hours
• Continuing education
• Support from the Family Child Care team
• USDA Food program
• Transferable Career
• Lending Library
• USDA Food Program
• Free Training

How to become a family child care provider:

There is a requirement to be a licensed in order to provide childcare in base housing. Contact the FCC office at 283-2266 to obtain an application packet. Complete and return the packet, and you are ready to attend an orientation class! Training in CPR, First Aid, child guidance, health and nutrition, and basic business operations will be provided during this class - once completed you will have all of the tools you need to get started running your own business!

Information for Parents

choosing Family Child Care: Tips When Selecting A Provider

• Ask to see the home, and don't be afraid to ask questions about things that interest you or concern you.
• Not every home will be a good match for you, your child, or the provider. Spend some time sharing information to determine if your goals and needs coordinate with the provider's program.
• Read the contract thoroughly. If there is something in the contract that you disagree with, discuss with the Provider. Make sure all changes are in writing. If they are not willing to make compromises, decide whether you can live with the decision and if you cannot, find another provider that better fits your needs.
• 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? Does your child seem comfortable in that setting?
• It is a requirement of the program that a signed contract between the provider and the parent is accomplished prior to care being provided. The contract will include hours of operation, fees, payment schedule, vacation policies, sick leave and absences, responsibility for alternate care, and a termination policy.

If for any reason you have issues or concerns about your provider or a prospective provider and the care he/she is providing, please contact the Family Child Care Coordinator at DSN 523-2266, or 850-283-2266.

Parent Responsibilities

Providers have specific guidelines to follow to become a licensed Air Force Family Child Care Provider. A part of this process is to ensure that they have all of the proper paperwork and documentation on each of the children, and that is where you, as the parent, come in. Prior to your child being admitted into a home, you must provide:

• Completed AF Form 1181, "Youth Flight Patron Registration", on each child.
• Completed AF Form 357 for dual/single military parent(s)
• Medical information for each child, permission to treat emergencies signed by the parent(s), child's allergies, chronic illness and other known health problems and immunizations (recorded on the AF form 1181)
• Signed permission from the parents for the provider to take children on field trips and in a vehicle.
• A daily sign-in/out record, complete with parents signature, dates and times, child(ren) were signed in/out of the program.