305th SVS child care coordinator addresses when to use CDC, FCC Providers Published Feb. 2, 2009 By Marilyn Binns 305th Services Squadron McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- What is the regulation for using a babysitter in military housing? The regulation states that if your child is being watched once in a while (less than 10 hours per week and not on a consistent basis), you may take your child/children to a babysitter. An example would be going to a movie or Christmas shopping. This would not be the case if your need was "consistent." For instance, you had an evening class or a part-time job two nights per week and you got a sitter every day for an hour so you could go to the gym. If your need is 10 or more hours per week, then you need to use the drop-in services of the Child Development Center or a Family Child Care Provider. What is a FCC Provider? An FCC Provider is a person who has been certified by the command to provide care in their home for children 4 weeks to 12 years old. These certified providers can watch six children, including their own children under the age of 8. The FCC program offers an inviting setting, with a family atmosphere, where your child can participate in quality developmental activities and be properly supervised by a trained professional. The FCC Provider is open to children of military personnel, DoD civilians and base contractors. There are subsidies for children less than 3 years of age, which allows their fee to be the same as the CDC. Licensed FCC Providers can be recognized by the FCC logo posted near or on their front door. Furthermore, anyone living in base housing who cares for children on a regular basis must be licensed or risk eviction. How does a person become a FCC Provider? To start, you and your spouse fill out a package of paperwork and submit it to the FCC office. The office will then do background checks on all members in your family 12 and older and schedule you for training. The training takes one full week and includes a physical. You then purchase insurance and set-up your space at home using our lending library. The FCC coordinator does a family interview and schedules home inspections by fire, safety and health departments. After all this is completed, your certificate goes through to the FCC Panel and then to the command to be signed. What are the real benefits of using a FCC provider? FCC Providers are flexible; they can be open when the CDC is not. With subsidy, you pay the same rate as you would in the CDC. They can care for all of the children in your family in one location. They have a small group ratio, so your children get more individualized care. They are trained with all the same trainings as the CDC employees and have monthly trainings to stay current. Healthy food is provided at no cost for your children. They also prepare lesson plans and do developmentally-appropriate activities with each child. For more information about the FCC program, call Marilyn Binns at (609) 754-5458.