Child Care Costs
CYS offers affordable child care and youth programs, with fees based on Total Family Income to ensure fairness and accessibility for military Families.
How Fees Are Determined
- Fees are based on Total Family Income, which includes pre-tax wages, salaries, and military allowances
- Parent fees are determined during the enrollment process prior to enrolling in a regularly scheduled Child Development Center (CDC), Family Child Care Home (FCC), School Age Care (SAC) or Youth Programs before school or camp, during annual registration.
- TFI includes all earned income, including wages, salaries, tips, long-term disability benefits, special duty pay, voluntary salary deferrals, basic allowance for housing, subsistence allowances and in-kind quarters and subsistence received by a service member, civilian employee, or spouse.
- If you are using Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) off the installation, you may apply for Army Fee Assistance (AFA), which reduces the cost of off post childcare when on post options are not available or accessible.
Support for Families
Families with more than one child in full-time care may qualify for fee reductions.
Deployment support and special programs for deployed service members' Families
Parent participation credits for parents who volunteer in CYS programs
Incentives for volunteer youth sports coaches
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, which lets service members and DoW Civilians set aside pre-tax income for childcare expenses
Support and Resources
- Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood: With MCCYN fee assistance, a portion of your childcare costs is paid to offset the costs of community-based care. This makes it easier for military-connected families to afford quality childcare from local community providers.
- Supportive fee adjustments offered through hardship waivers help Families manage childcare costs in difficult circumstances.