The Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes the challenges military families face in securing affordable, quality child care. To alleviate some of this burden, the Air Force Child Care Assistance Program is designed to help eligible families manage the costs of community-based child care. This program focuses on bridging the gap between what families can afford and the actual cost of care, ensuring that children of Air Force personnel have access to enriching and safe environments.
Understanding how fee assistance is calculated is crucial for families looking to utilize this program. The assistance is determined by evaluating the difference between the monthly fee charged by a community child care provider and a parent fee that is based on the DoD Total Family Income (TFI) category. This parent fee is set according to locality and the type of care required. Importantly, the community provider’s fee considered for calculation must not exceed the program’s established community provider cap for that specific type of care.
Families have the flexibility to choose a provider whose fees might be higher than the community provider cap. However, in such cases, the financial responsibility is structured as follows: the family will be responsible for paying their determined DoD TFI parent fee, in addition to covering the extra tuition costs that go beyond the provider cap. It’s also important to note a minimum threshold for assistance. If the difference calculated between the community provider’s fee and the DoD TFI parent fee is less than $25 per month, a monthly fee assistance reimbursement will not be provided. This is because in such instances, the community provider fee is considered to be reasonably comparable to the DoD TFI parent fee. Another factor that affects assistance eligibility is the spouse’s employment status when a child is in full-time care. If a spouse is employed or enrolled in education on a part-time basis while the child receives full-time care, the family will only be eligible for a reduced amount of the full-time fee assistance rate.
It is vital for families to understand that the DoD TFI parent fees used for calculating assistance within this program are modeled on fees from similar DoD-sponsored child care services. This means that these calculated fees may not always precisely match the parent fee a family might directly pay for care at an installation-sponsored Child Development Center or Family Child Care.
For families residing within designated high-cost installation localities, the fee calculations will utilize established DoD TFI high-cost parent fees. All other families living outside of these identified high-cost areas will have their assistance calculated using the DoD TFI basic parent fees. This location-based adjustment acknowledges the varying costs of living and child care across different regions.
To get detailed information on the specific figures used for fee assistance determination, you can consult the FY24 Total Family Income Categories, DoD Parent Fees, High Cost Installations, and Provider Caps. This document provides a comprehensive breakdown of the income categories, parent fees, and locality designations that are currently in effect.
For any inquiries or clarifications regarding fees and the distinctions between high-cost and standard cost locations, Child Care Aware® is available to provide support and guidance. You can reach them directly at 1-800-424-2246 to speak with a representative who can assist with your questions.
For further resources related to payment policies and procedures under the Fee Assistance program, you can click here to access materials that detail the payment process and relevant policies. This can help families understand the administrative aspects of receiving and managing fee assistance benefits.
