Child & Youth Services

***Upwards Child Care Pilot Program is temporarily suspended until further notice***

Family Programs Child and Youth Services (CYS) Division is our focal point to ensure Army Reserve Children and Youth are well served as they grow to adulthood amid the unique challenges of Army Reserve Family life. CYS leverages child, youth, military, community and national resources to meet the needs of our Families where they reside.

Family Programs Child and Youth Services Specialists provide: Information, referral support, outreach and resources to Soldiers, Family members, command teams and Civilians based on their specific needs.

Did you Know?

Army Child Care Fee Assistance was created to provide authorized Reserve and Active Duty personnel assistance in locating, selecting, and offsetting the cost of civilian child care when on-base child care is not available or a viable option for the service member and their family. The program available through Child Care Aware® of America provides subsidies for eligible military dependents enrolled in quality commercial childcare programs throughout the United States.


Child Care Aware® of America authorizes subsidy amounts based on Total Family Income (TFI) for those eligible Army families and supplies monthly payments directly to the prospective childcare provider. The Army Fee Assistance Subsidy is the difference between what the Sponsor would pay for on-post childcare and the community-based childcare provider's rate, up to a provider rate cap of $2000 per child per month. Learn More: https://www.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/military-families/army/afa-program/

The National Military Family Association offers a variety of camp experiences to meet the needs of military families wherever they are in the world. Our Operation Purple® programs are designed for all military families to create opportunities to enhance well-being through connection.

Learn more at: Operation Purple

 

Our Military Kids awards up to $300 per child (ages 3-18) to fund the extracurricular activity of their choice while a parent is deployed or activated stateside with the National Guard or Reserve.

This grant program is made possible solely through the generosity of foundations, corporations, and individual donations.

Children of the National Guard and Reserves - Deployed or Stateside Activated
Program Grant Application

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is a legally binding and enforceable agreement that was developed by the Council of State Governments National Center for Interstate Compacts, the U.S. Department of Defense, national associations, federal and state officials, state departments of education, school administrators, and military families. It is designed to ease the educational transitions of military children as they transfer between public and Department of Defense Education Activity schools in the areas of enrollment, placement and attendance, eligibility, and graduation.

The children of active-duty members of the uniformed services, National Guard and Reserve on active-duty orders, commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), and members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired for one year are eligible for assistance under the Compact. The Compact also covers students of members who perish while on active duty for a period of one year following their death.

For more information, visit www.mic3.net.

Camp Corral is a free summer camp designed for children of wounded, ill and fallen military heroes. Its mission is to transform the lives of these children by providing camp, advocacy and enrichment programs that help them build coping skills, increase self-confidence, and make friends. The camp offers a unique experience that includes adventure, social interaction, and life skill developments, ensuring that children feel supported and valued as part of a military family.

For more information, visit https://www.campcorral.org/.     

Camp Southern Ground was founded by Grammy Award-winning artist Zac Brown with a single purpose of putting more good into the world. As an inclusive camp, we serve children ages 7-17, from all socioeconomic backgrounds, races and religions, with programs that challenge, educate, and inspire. During summer, Camp Southern Ground hosts campers for week-long residential camps. We bring together typically developing children, children with neurodevelopmental differences, children from underserved areas, and children from military and veteran families. We believe that by including as many children as possible, we create a stronger community that can learn and grow together. For the remainder of the year, it becomes a place where veterans and their families find community, direction, purpose, and support.

For more information, visit https://campsouthernground.org/.

Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Youth

United Through Reading strengthens military families’ literacy, emotional bonds, and well-being through the power of reading together at every age, no matter the distance.

Impactful conversations about the challenges military-connected children face. Here are a few Conversation topics that you may want to check out:  Perspective as an educator on social, emotional and academic needs of National Guard and Army Reserve children.  Visit https://militarychild.podbean.com/ to listen to these PODCAST conversations and many more or visit the APP Store to download  Podbean Podcast App & Player.  For more information visit : https://www.militarychild.org, and https://www.facebook.com/MilitaryChild/

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Expand List item 3549Collapse List item 3549  Military Services for Families with Dependent Children

 

Family Programs can provide information on military Child and Youth programs, referral support and resources to Soldiers and Family members, command teams and civilians based on their specific need.

To receive assistance please contact:

Military OneSource (MOS) provides relevant and responsive information to support military and their Families, and is available to assist you with live support 24/7, 365 days a year. Contact MOS staff to receive assistance by calling at 1-800-342-9647 or go to www.militaryonesource.mil.

 

 

Expand List item 3550Collapse List item 3550  Childcare Solutions for Soldiers on Title 10 Orders

 

Childcare Solutions for Soldiers on Title 10 Order for more than 30 days with dependent children 6 weeks to 12 year old may be eligible to participate in the military childcare services based on meeting program criteria.
 

MilitaryChildCare.com

is an online resource to help military families find

an array of military-operated and military-subsidized child care options for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 12 years. MilitaryChildCare.com is a "single gateway" for families to enter as they request child care. Families can customize their search, put their children on waiting lists and monitor requests for placement.

DoDI 6060.02 Child Development Programs: Although child care supports working parents, it is not an entitlement and parents must pay their share of the cost of child care.

 

 

Expand List item 3551Collapse List item 3551  Military Childcare Options

 

Child Development Centers (CDCs) are facility-based child care programs that typically provide care for children ages six weeks through five years from Monday through Friday during established hours.

 

School Age Care (SAC) Programs are facility-based programs that typically provide care to children enrolled in kindergarten through age 12 from Monday through Friday during established hours . SAC programs typically provide care before and after school and during school holidays and summer vacations.

 

Family Child Care (FCC) or Child Development Homes (CDH) are home-based child care programs offered by certified providers who care for children in their homes on or off of an installation. Each provider operates an individual program supported by an FCC/CDH office that provides training and oversight.

FCC/CDH providers typically offer a flexible schedule to support parents of children ages four weeks through 12 years who need child care from Monday through Friday during established hours, on weekends, or during extended duty hours.

Go to MilitaryChildCare.com to create an account, search and request care or contact the help desk at 1-855-696-2934 if you need help personalizing your families' search.

 

You may contact the Military Installation Childcare Services Directly.  To find the contact information for the installation go to www.militaryonesource.mil, bottom of page and search my name of installation to find the program contact information.
 

Expand List item 3552Collapse List item 3552  Army Fee Assistance for Respite Care (AFA)

 

AFA offers respite childcare (no-cost, hourly childcare) to support Families of Deployed, Wounded Warriors, Survivors of Fallen Warriors, Army Recruiters and ROTC Cadet Cadre (trainer). Respite care up to 16 hours per child, per month.  Respite care for deployment status may be authorized for 30 days prior to deployment, and for an additional 90 days after the sponsor returns.

 

Contact Child Care Aware of America® (CCAoA) for more information on available programs, eligibility requirements, required documentation and how to apply.  All questions on eligibility and new applications for AFA should be addressed to CCAoA.

 

Learn more at: childcareaware.org  or call 1-800-424-2246  to speak to a representative at Childcare Aware or Email: msp@usa.childcareaware.org

 

Expand List item 3553Collapse List item 3553  YMCA Military Outreach Initiative and Respite Childcare

 

At participating YMCAs, locations offer service members and their Families FREE access to their fitness centers and respite childcare services through the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Military Outreach Initiative. The Military Outreach Initiative gives service members and military Families extra support and access to vital resources that promote youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

 

Deployment can be a stressful and uncertain time for our nation’s servicemen and women and their Families. YMCA is proud to offer memberships and respite child care services to eligible military Families and personnel to give them extra support during this difficult period. It’s our way of giving back to those who dedicate themselves to serving our country. Respite childcare is provided at no cost for up to 16 hours per child, per month, and is available for infants up to age 12 (or youngest/oldest ages permitted) at participating YMCA locations.

Learn more at:  www.ymca.net/military-outreach.

Expand List item 3554Collapse List item 3554  Our Military Kids

 

Supporting the children of our nation’s deployed Army Reserve Families. Army Reserve Families sometimes have trouble accessing support services from military installations. During deployments, these Families may lose income when their military member leaves a civilian job to accept a military position overseas. The loss of income and lack of resources can create gaps that are hard on Families.  Our Military Kids, fills these gaps with a simple grant program that pays for children’s activities.

Our Military Kids’ grants have a limit of $300 per award and can cover up to six months of participation in a single activity. The organization sends a check directly to the service provider of your choice, paying for an activity that helps renew your child’s spirits and relieve the anxiety and worry they can experience while a parent serves in a war zone.

To apply, please note all of the following criteria:

  • The Reserve service member must be deployed overseas (OCONUS);
  • The deployment must be at least 180 days;
  • There must be at least 60 days remaining on the orders at the time of application;
  • The child must be at least 5 years old, but not older than a senior in high school (children become ineligible once they have graduated high school);
  • The child must be a dependent of the service Soldier. 

Learn more at: ourmilitarykids.org/ 
To apply for the grant on-line: https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/apply/.

 

Expand List item 3555Collapse List item 3555  Childcare Solutions for Soldier in a Troop Program Unit (TPU) Status

 

Military OneSource and Child Care Aware of America® can help determine your childcare service needs and factors to consider when selecting a provider, and can connect your Family to national and local childcare and school-age services providers and resources within your community based on your need. 

Child Care Aware of America®

Looking for child care? There are over 400 local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies across the United States. Your local CCR&R can help Army Reserve Families find child care options near your home or work.  To find your local agency go to childcareaware.org/ccrr-search-form/ or call 1-800-424-2246 to speak to a representative at Childcare Aware or Email: msp@usa.childcareaware.org.

Each state operates a childcare financial assistance program, your local CCR&R can help connect to this program to see if you meet the criteria to participate or connect to other local resources based on your need.


Military OneSource is available to assist you with live support 24/7, 365 days a year. Contact MOS staff to receive assistance in finding childcare and resources in your local community by calling at 1-800-342-9647 or go to https://www.militaryonesource.mil/.

 

Expand List item 3556Collapse List item 3556  Military Services for Families with Dependent Youth

 

You may contact the Military Installation Childcare and Youth Services Directly.  To find the contact information for the installation go to installations.militaryonesource.mil/, and follow the search prompts. (Note: select “program or service” from the “I’m looking for” drop-down menu)

 

Expand List item 3557Collapse List item 3557  Boys & Girls Clubs of America:  Mission Youth Outreach

 

Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the U.S. Armed Forces partnered to help children of military Families face the unique challenges of military life. Today, this enduring partnership continues to provide children of military personnel with critical youth development programs and activities, giving Families the vital support they need. In addition, one-year, no-cost memberships are provided to children of the approximately 70 percent of Families who live outside military installations.

 

Learn more at: www.bgca.org/about-us/military/mppp

 

Expand List item 3558Collapse List item 3558  Operation Purple Camp

 

Does your family have a service member returning from a deployment, gearing up to deploy, or finding a new normal after an injury? Let us help your child prepare and cope. When your military kid attends Operation Purple Camp (OPC), they'll thrive in an environment with fully trained counselors and camp staff experienced in helping children adapt and overcome the stressors of military life.
 

Learn more at: Operation Purple Camp

 

 

Expand List item 3559Collapse List item 3559  Tutoring and Homework Help

 

Tutoring and homework help can be a great benefit for all students, especially youth who experience the unique challenges of military life. It offers more personalized learning and reinforcement, and may help students improve academic performance, strengthen work and study habits and improve attitudes toward learning or the subject area. With the availability of online tutoring, students can receive assistance at their convenience and fill the gaps in academic shifts between different schools regardless of location.

Free On-Demand Tutoring for Army Reserve dependent children through tutor.com. This program provides on-demand, online tutoring and homework help at no cost to eligible service members and their dependents. With live, expert tutors available 24/7, military-connected students can receive academic help at their moment of need—anywhere they have an internet connection.  

Learn more at: military.tutor.com/home 

 

Expand List item 3560Collapse List item 3560  eKnowledge SAT or ACT Test Prep Programs

 

eKnowledge is entering its 14th year assisting military Families. The Project waives the complete $350 course price for the SAT or ACT Test Prep Programs, so you pay only the cost of delivering the program: There is a student fee of $19.99 for the cost of streaming, support and materials for the Standard All Access Program, and $39.99 for the Premium All Access Program.

Learn more at: www.eknowledge.com/usar

 

Expand List item 3561Collapse List item 3561  Army Scholarship Foundation & Scholarships for Military Children programs

 

The Army Scholarship Foundation offers scholarships for undergraduate education for dependent children of US Army Soldiers and spouses of active duty enlisted US Army Soldiers. Dependents and spouses of active duty Reserve members along with survivor children are eligible to apply for this scholarship. 

Learn more at: https://armyscholarshipfoundation.org/

The Scholarships for Military Children program will award 700 scholarship grants, each for $2,000 to military youth. For more details go to your local commissary or the website:

Learn more at: militaryscholar.org.

Gratitude Initiative (GI)
GI is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit whose mission is to honor the service and sacrifice of our military and law-enforcement families by providing essential education programs and scholarships to help their children succeed in college, career, and life.

Learn more at: gratitudeinitiative.org

 

Expand List item 3562Collapse List item 3562  Military Kids Connect (MKC)


MKC is an online community for military children (ages 6-17) that provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children dealing with the unique psychological challenges of military life.
 

Learn more at: https://militarychild.org/

Child Care Pilot Program

The pilot program will be offered to all eligible U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with children under 14 years of age; regardless of rank or unit and if you live or drill within: Kansas and Missouri: Kansas City and surrounding areas and in Illinois and Iowa: The Quad cities and surrounding areas.

For more information please visit: https://upwards.com/benefits/military

 

Child Care Pilot Program FAQs
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Expand List item 4908Collapse List item 4908  

 

 

 

Expand List item 4906Collapse List item 4906  Are meals available for child during care?

 

The soldier will be responsible for establishing meals plans with the provider.

 

Expand List item 4912Collapse List item 4912  Are providers required to have insurance in the event an incident occurs with a child?

 

Yes. Providers are mandated to have $500,000 of liability coverage in the event an incident occurs with a child.

 

Expand List item 4911Collapse List item 4911  Can providers administer medication to child(ren)?

 

Yes. Providers can administer medication. It’s a screening requirement for providers to maintain a certification in first aid and infant/child Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Expand List item 4904Collapse List item 4904  Do special needs children qualify for the Child Care Program?

 

Yes. Special needs children qualify for the program. Soldier MUST annotate special need(s) of child.

 

Expand List item 4905Collapse List item 4905  How long is child care service available?

 

Child care service is offered for 12 hours per day. (Soldier is responsible for establishing hours with provider.)

 

Expand List item 4916Collapse List item 4916  How much money do Soldiers save by using the Child Care Program?

 

Soldiers enrolled in the program will save $384 during a two-day BA weekend.

 

Expand List item 4915Collapse List item 4915  How soon will I know if I’ve been accepted into the Child Care Program?

 

You will be assigned a care matchmaker when you register on the app who will connect you with a caregiver in your area.

 

Expand List item 4910Collapse List item 4910  What locations can Soldiers apply for child care service?

 

The pilot program will be offered to all eligible U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with children under 14 years of age; regardless of rank or unit and if you live or drill within:
Kansas and Missouri: Kansas City and surrounding areas.
Illinois and Iowa: The Quad cities and surrounding areas.

 

Expand List item 4914Collapse List item 4914  What’s the number of available child care spaces/slots for children?

 

There is currently not a cap on spaces, but if interest continues there maybe a need for a cap, so I would suggest signing up early.

 

Expand List item 4907Collapse List item 4907  Who will be allowed to pickup/drop-off child?

 

Pickup/drop-off of child is at the discretion of the Soldier. The Soldier may plan with the caregiver to have designated person pickup/drop-off child.

 

Expand List item 4909Collapse List item 4909  Will the Child Care Pilot Program extend beyond Kansas City and The Quad cities?

 

The program is anticipated to expand.

 

What people are saying...
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Expand List item 4983Collapse List item 4983  CPT Kendrick Nunnery

 

"The program is excellent. I would recommend it and would love for the program to be implemented nationwide."

 

Expand List item 4980Collapse List item 4980  CPT Lindsey Taylot

 

"Please keep this program! Many of us who have families and are dual military are struggling. This helps alleviate some of that burden for routine care. The customer service from the platform is also top notch!!"

 

Expand List item 4975Collapse List item 4975  CPT Sontaya Golliday

 

"I’ve had a good experience this far with the program. My care coordinator has been extremely helpful, engaging, and responsive. With a husband who has more than one job and frequent weekend obligations either with work or his business, this service helps to eliminate stress when conflicts occur during BA weekends. It’s particularly helpful that the childcare provider we were connected with is conveniently located near my home and in route to my unit. The only suggestion I’d make is ensuring that when childcare providers enter the program that they understand fully and are ok with the sometime unpredictable and/or inflexible schedules associated with duty. An example would be during a BA weekend, provider reached out and asked if I would be able to pick the children up earlier at a time that would have been prior to the end of the duty day and final formation. I was able to make it work, but that simply would not always be the case with the nature of our jobs and particularly in my position as Commander, which makes me the last one out many times wrapping up admin for close out. Overall, I think it is an incredibly useful program that we have benefitted from "

 

Expand List item 4979Collapse List item 4979  CPT Swafford, Fredarion

 

"This program is great it’s very helpful"

 

Expand List item 4974Collapse List item 4974  SFC Jeremy Thode

 

“Absolutely an amazing program needs to be kept and more widely available to all soldiers in all states. The program coordinators are very flexible and do their best. They work with you to attain and keep child care at all times of the day. The program works well with local providers and is willing to adapt and add providers as needed to meet soldiers' needs Cannot speak highly enough of this program"

 

Expand List item 4978Collapse List item 4978  SFC Joseph Brady

 

"Our provider is amazing. Our kids love her kids and they absolutely loved going. Please start this program in Indiana "

 

Expand List item 4977Collapse List item 4977  SGT Charlotte Lawrence

 

"This has been the biggest blessing for my family and my service! Thank you! "

 

Expand List item 4981Collapse List item 4981  SGT Cheyenne Cleggett  

 

"So grateful for this program "

 

Expand List item 4985Collapse List item 4985  SGT Macaulay Grace

 

"Eases the stress of looking and paying for child care"  

 

Expand List item 4976Collapse List item 4976  SPC Beth Boardley

 

"Great program and easy to use."  

 

Expand List item 4984Collapse List item 4984  SPC Justin Nichols

 

"Frankie and the upwards program have been a huge blessing for our family. Prior to drill weekends, my wife would have to call into her job or take the kids with her, which isn’t ideal. With the help of Frankie, our kids have been in quality care, and we are able to be at ease knowing they are being taken care of while we are working."  

 

Expand List item 4982Collapse List item 4982  SSG Jessica Millican

 

"Very easy program to use, hope that it expands to all states!"  

 

Contact Us:

 

Email Us!

List of Family Programs Directors and Coordinators

National Suicide Prevention Call or Text : 988

Support specialists are available at Military OneSource: 1-800-342-9647

Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support for the DoD Community Toll-Free: 1- 877-995-5247

OCONUS Veterans/Military Crisis Lines
Europe: 844-702-5495 or DSN 988
Pacific: 844-702-5493 or DSN 988
Southwest Asia: 855-422-7719 or DSN 988

External Link Disclaimer
The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Army Reserve of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Army Reserve does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided consistent with the mission of this website.

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