Operation Just Cause... ...for as long as it takes
By Linda D. Kozaryn
WASHINGTON -- Fees at military child care facilities willincrease by about 1.6 percent for the 1999-2000 schoolyear, DoD officials announced June 29.
Depending on their total family income, DoD families willpay $39 to $114 per child per week during the coming schoolyear. This represents a weekly increase of $1 to $3 perchild.DoD family policy officials review child care feesannually. Based on this review, DoD plans to adjust itsfees using the inflation rate of 1.6 percent included inthe president's fiscal 2000 budget, according to Carolee Van Horn, a Family Policy Office specialist here.The fee covers only a portion of the actual cost of childcare, Van Horn said. Appropriated funds authorized by Congress pay the remainder.
"Regardless of income, all parents receive some subsidysince the government pays a portion of the cost for all,"she said. DoD views child care as critical to overall missionaccomplishment, according to Linda Smith, Office of FamilyPolicy director. "The mobile military lifestyle can bestressful for young families," she explained. "On average,military families move every 2.9 years. They do not havethe stability of neighbors or nearby family to help themwith child care responsibilities." Increased deployments and separations make military lifeeven more demanding, Smith said. "By providing child care,we are helping military members balance the competingdemands of the military mission and familyresponsibilities. We strongly believe this contributes toreadiness and the retention of a highly skilled workforce."
In 1998, Van Horn pointed out, the average DoD weekly feewas $70. For that, a child each day received up to 11 hoursof care, breakfast, lunch and two snacks. Nationally, theaverage weekly fee for comparable center care ranged from$100 for infants to $85 for pre-schoolers.How much parents pay for military child care is based onthe family's total income. This includes all earnings --wages, salaries, tips, long-term disability benefits andvoluntary salary deferrals. It also includes servicemembers' combat pay, housing and subsistence allowances,and the value of meals and lodging furnished in-kind tomilitary personnel residing on military installations. Installation commanders set fees within ranges establishedby DoD. They can adjust fees within the range based onlocal cost of living conditions, Van Horn said.
Commanderscan also use an optional high-cost fee range if qualifiedchild care providers earn higher wages in the local labormarket, she added. Installation child development centers may begin chargingthe following fees anytime between Aug. 1 and Oct. 1. Category Total Family Income Range of Weekly Fees Per Child Optional High Cost Range
Commanders may offer a 20 percent fee discount for eachadditional child from the same family. Hardship waivers maybe granted for families in unique financial circumstances.
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American Forces Press Service
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