FAIRCHILD – Military families across Washington State can expect to see more childcare options following a Feb. 7 agreement between the Department of Defense and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to expand an existing program.
The Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program has been in effect nationally for several years. But Washington state will now be the fourth state to use the new MCCYN-PLUS pilot program.
According to Quality Recognition and Improvement System Government and Partnerships(QRISGP) Liaison Charlotte Campbell, one of the significant changes happening with the expansion is that military care providers won’t need national accreditation through the MCCYN-PLUS program.
“Nationally accredited childcare facilities are few and far between,” Campbell said. “This will open the door for other providers to sign up for the expanded program.”
A childcare provider must sign on with the state’s Early Achievers program to qualify for MCCYN Plus.
“The Early Achievers program is part of DCYF. It has communicated with approximately 5,000 childcare providers to ensure they are aware of the MCCYN-PLUS expansion and how to sign up to participate,” said Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Military Spouse Liaison Olivia Burley said. “DCYF has worked closely with the Department of Defense on this expansion and we are hopeful childcare providers that are part of Early Achievers will sign up to help expand childcare availability for military families in our communities.”
There are 232 licensed childcare providers in Spokane County, according to QRISGP System Administrator Rachael Brown-Kendall. Approximately 168 of those providers can sign up to serve the military community because they have already signed up in the Early Achievers program.
The conversation to consider MCCYN Plus started when the Department of Defense called the DCYF last July to discuss the possibility of trying the pilot program across Washington.
“Washington is identified as a high priority state. We acted quickly because we have a lot of military families here,” Brown-Kendall said. “We are really trying to help the families and providers access the resources they need.”
Natasha Allison, Force Support Squadron Child and Youth Services Flight Chief for Fairchild Air Force Base, has worked with many local families needing childcare programs.
“The hope is that Fairchild families will be able to find the quality care they deserve once this program launches at full capacity— have many family members that have been on the childcare waitlist for over 365 days,” Allison said. “Fairchild is so grateful for the supportive local community. It’s exciting that long waitlists will soon start to shorten as daycare providers sign up for the partnership.”
Military families, according to Burley, typically need resources that fit the military lifestyle.
“Moving every two to three years due to military orders means families have to restart their search for childcare providers,” Burley said. “While the service member has guaranteed employment when the family relocates, the military spouse usually has to launch a new employment search, which impacts eligibility for on-base childcare waitlists and program offerings. Lacking childcare often makes it difficult for military spouses to work or even find employment.”
Finding childcare providers is not limited to military families in the Spokane area.
“This partnership opens up a phenomenal opportunity for business owners to continue to do what they love (watching children) and help increase the number of quality early care and education programs for military families, “Allison said. “Unfortunately, there is a nationwide shortage of providers, and families across the country are experiencing this dilemma. However, military members are often additionally impacted no matter where they are stationed. Their mission must be supported 24/7.”
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