R 161831Z OCT 12 ALCOAST 460/12 COMDTNOTE 1750 SUBJ: USCG CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER FY2013 FEE POLICY A. Child Development Services Manual, M1754.15 (SERIES) 1. This ALCOAST prescribes the fee policy to be used at Coast Guard child development centers during fiscal year 2013. 2. Fees for child care services provided by Coast Guard child development centers (CDC) shall be charged on a sliding scale based on Total Family Income (TFI). The TFI categories currently in effect for all operated CDC programs mirror the Department of Defense (DoD) Child Development Program TFI scale as follows: a. Category I 0 - 29,865 dollars b. Category II 29,866 - 36,264 c. Category III 36,265 - 46,930 d. Category IV 46,931 - 58,662 e. Category V 58,663 - 74,661 f. Category VI 74,662 - 86,343 g. Category VII 86,344 - 101,580 h. Category VIII 101,581 - 126,975 i. Category IX 126,976 and above 3. TFI for military personnel includes all pay and allowances listed on the members Leave and Earning Statement (LES), except for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). TFI will include the most recent minimum BAH with dependents rate for the senior military member in a household otherwise known as Non-Locality BAH RC/T rate (formerly BAH-II). The most recent Non-Locality BAH RC/T rates can be found at: www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm. The BAH rate for the duty station assigned is only to be used in locations where the senior military member receives less than the BAH with dependents RC/T allowance. To determine whether the BAH listed on the LES is less than Non-Locality BAH RC/T rate, compare the two to determine the lower allowance. The TFI definition applies to military members regardless of where they reside. 4. Income for non-military personnel shall be verified with the most recent copy of a W-2, Federal Tax Return, or earnings statement. 5. Families that do not disclose their TFI or refuse to show proof of income will be assessed the highest fee category on the sliding scale. 6. TFI shall be based on both parents LES and/or the most current Federal Income Tax Return. TFI shall be verified and the child care rate shall be determined prior to enrollment in the program and annually thereafter. For single parents or those who are legally separated from their spouses, only the income of the custodial parent shall be included in the TFI. Application for Department of Defense Child Care Fees, DD 2652, may be used in determining TFI. 7. The above definition of TFI is the same definition used to calculate TFI for military personnel who are recipients of Coast Guard child care subsidy administered by General Services Administration (GSA). 8. CDC patrons may pay the assessed amount of tuition for child care services on a monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly basis. 9. A child care fee agreement must be provided to all CDC patrons regardless of their TFI. The fee agreement must be signed by the parents and the CDC Administrator and must be maintained in a locked cabinet in the CDC Administrators office. 10. Late fees for untimely tuition payments may be assessed according to local installation policies. Late fees for delayed pick-up of children from CDC may be assessed if children are not picked up before the CDC close of business. There is no limit in time that a child may spend in the CDC within the hours of operation for that CDC. 11. Patrons of the CDC program who are community members permitted to use the CDC on a space-available basis are not eligible for the sliding scale fee and may not pay less than the highest fee in the sliding fee scale. 12. The management of a USCG CDC must provide a minimum of thirty days written notice to all patrons for any child care fee increase/adjustment. The increased fees must stay in effect for at least one full year before another tuition increase/adjustment is implemented by the CDC. 13. During extraordinary situations, commanding officers of those units with a CDC are authorized to grant exceptions to the fee policy and reduce the tuition rate when the situation severely impacts the familys need for care, their ability to pay, and the units mission requirements. Exceptions to the fee policy shall be given on a case-by-case basis. 14. The POC for this matter is Mr. Ken OMeara, Child Development Services Specialist, at 202-475-5160, or email: Kenneth.R.OMeara(AT)uscg.mil. You may also contact the Health, Safety, and Work-Life Service Center (HSWL SC) POC, Ms. Linda Smith by calling 757-628-4777 or email: Linda.L.Smith(AT)uscg.mil. 15. CAPT Joel L. Rebholz, Acting Director of Health, Safety, and Work-Life, sends. 16. Internet release authorized.