In 1996, the annual rate was below 40 percent compared to as high as 300 percent a decade ago. Most employees in the Military Child Development Program receive annual and sick leave plus other benefits such as health and life insurance. Four unannounced inspections are held each year, one of which is conducted by a higher headquarters and leads to DoD certification, the equivalent of state licensing. DoD also maintains a toll-free hotline for parents to report safety concerns. By meeting accreditation standards, the military has an outside evaluation source that is key to long-term quality child care.
Cost sharing creates affordable care.
Fees are established on a sliding scale, based on total family income. Parents pay about half the cost of care. In the child development centers, there is a dollar for dollar match of appropriated funds to parent fees. In family child care homes, the military provides indirect financial support through equipment lending libraries, low cost insurance options and free training, as well as direct cash subsidies in some locations as incentives to care for infants. The Navy has Memorandums of Agreement with the states of Texas, New York, and Oregon to provide training and technical assistance for off-base family child care providers.