Health, Safety and Work-Life (HSWL) Regional Practice Boston
Helping you balance your Work and your Life
Family Child Care Program
In addition to administering the Family Child Care Program, the Family Child Care Coordinator has information on local child care resources and the Coast Guard- and GSA-sponsored subsidies.
The Family Child Care (FCC) Program enables spouses or other family members of Coast Guard members to operate a child care business in their homes. The FCC Program provides cost-effective and convenient child care for members with greater flexibility than center-based daycare while providing a second source of income for the FCC provider.
ANY INDIVIDUAL OPERATING A DAYCARE (sometimes called babysitting) IN COAST GUARD-OWNED OR -LEASED HOUSING MUST BE CERTIFIED AS AN FCC PROVIDER. For these purposes, a daycare is any child care arrangement where parents drop their kids off at the provider's home. It can be full day, after school, 3 times a week, occasional, etc. If the individual providing the child care services does so for more than 10 hours a week, then their child care must be certified by the Coast Guard. Please contact the FCC Coordinator if you have questions.
In order to become an FCC provider, you must meet the following requirements:
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Must be at least 18 years old, a responsible, emotionally stable person capable of exercising good judgment in caring for children, and have the ability to speak, read, and write functional English;
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Must be a family member and an authorized resident in Coast Guard-owned or -leased housing.
Once you express an interest in becoming an FCC provider, you will need to do the following:
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Submit an FCC provider application;
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Have a physical examination including a tuberculosis screening test;
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Pass a background check which looks for history of child or spouse abuse and/or neglect;
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Become certified in CPR for children and infants and Standard First Aid (we can help you with this).
We are always looking for new Family Child Care providers! Please contact the Family Child Care Coordinator if you are interested. If you are operating a daycare in your home and you are not certified, please contact us so we can certify you.
Connecticut Dept of Public Health - List of licensed day care
Maine Health and Human Service - Search for licensed child care
Maine Resource Development Center Locations - for Maine Child Care Referral Information
Massachusetts Dept of Early Education & Care - List of referral agencies
New Hampshire Dept of Health & Human Services - Search for licensed child care
New Jersey Department of Children & Families - Licensed Day Care list
New York Office of Children & Family Services - Day Care Facility Search
Rhode Island Options for Working Parents (referral agency for State of RI)
Vermont Dept for Children & Families - List of referral agencies
Depending on the type of child care provider you use, there are two possible subsidies you may be eligible for. One is sponsored by the Coast Guard and is available to Coast Guard members who use a certified FCC provider. The other is sponsored by GSA and is available to Coast Guard members who use an FCC provider, federal or state-licensed provider. Please see below for details on each of these subsidies.
GSA - The purpose of this program is to keep the cost of child care to the same level as it would be if the member was using a military base child care facility. This subsidy is based on income level and Coast Guard members with a Total Family Income of $75,000 or less are eligible. Please see the GSA website for benefit table, forms, and more information.
Coast Guard - This program is available to parents using Coast Guard certified Family Child Care providers only. There are three categories: infant, special needs, and low income. The program is designed to have the provider reduce their rate by the amount of the subsidy and the Coast Guard will send the subsidy directly to the provider. Please contact the Family Child Care Coordinator for more information on this subsidy.
Useful Links:
Child Care Aware - National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agency website for finding child care nationwide
National Association for Education of Young Children
National Association for Family Child Care - Optional accreditation for FCC providers
Child Care & Nutrition - Information for parents and providers on nutrition for children
Contact: Maura Redy
Office phone: 718-354-4404
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