F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Finding trustworthy and reliable childcare can be challenging for servicemembers, and the 90th Force Support Squadron’s Community Child Care Coordinator has been actively working toward finding and licensing new family childcare providers for the Airmen of the Mighty Ninety.
However, there is a risk of unauthorized people providing childcare on base, according to Joyce Cisneros, 90 FSS Community Child Care Coordinator.
It is important to ensure that anyone on base providing childcare is licensed and authorized to provide that care, said Cisneros, for the safety of the kids as well as due to regulation.
According to Air Force Instruction 34-144, occupants providing unauthorized childcare residing in government owned and privatized housing is prohibited if providing care for more than 10 cumulative hours a week. Those found in violation of the instruction risk being reported through the active duty member’s chain of command, as well a notification of the Housing Management Office, as unauthorized child care can be seen as a violation of the lease agreement, said Cisneros.
There are circumstances noted in the instruction that would not be considered unauthorized childcare:
Those include:
- Individuals who occasionally provide care for a friend or neighbor less than ten hours per week.
- Teens doing evening or weekend baby-sitting for families.
- Childcare provided in the parent’s own home.
- Parent cooperatives that provide childcare for other parent’s children on an exchange basis and no fees are involved.
- Temporary full-time care during a parent’s absence or deployment by the person listed on the AF Form 357, Family Care Plan
- Reports of violations will be reported to the 90th Force Support Squadron Community Child Care Coordinator, Child and Youth Services Flight Chief, Force Support Commander, and active duty Member’s First Sergeant. The Housing Management office will be contacted for those who are not certified and are suspected of providing childcare on a regular basis. Additionally, the active duty member may be in violation of their Housing Lease Agreement.
Though the rules are specific regarding unauthorized care, there are pathways for individuals to become an authorized childcare provider on base.
Those interested in becoming an FCC provider or learning more about the program can contact the community childcare coordinator at 307-773-3317.