Welcome  to the Fort Richardson Family Child Care Program

The Fort Richardson Family Child Care (FCC) program offers a variety of flexible care options that meet regular an mission-related child care needs to include full day, hourly, before/after school, extended care (overnight and weekend), special needs, and on and off-post care. Some providers obtain additional training and can offer 24-hour and long-term care during training exercises and mobility. This flexibility is an asset in meeting the diverse work hours and deployment of military members in our community.

FCC homes serve children 6 weeks to 12 years of age in a homelike environment that allows siblings to be in care together.  Parents pees are based on total family income and follow the DOD fee guidance as all our CYS programs. Providers participate in the subsidy program and USDA program. Our providers are located near both elementary schools on post which are within walking distance for the children. Some provider will provide transportation to and from school.

FCC provider applicants must attend a 40 hour orientation where they will receive training in child development, fire, health and safety requirements, caring for special need children, child abuse prevention,; positive guidance, environments, medications/communicable diseases, CPR/First Aid, and business practices. Before they provide care, they must pass inspections from fire, safety and health officials. Once providers are certified, they must complete a total of thirteen modules in child development, two modules on child abuse identification reporting and prevention and an additional ten special need care modules.

Background checks are conducted on all FCC applicants and family members age 12 and older who reside in the home. These background checks are completed annually. The FCC staff conducts interviews with the entire family so that everyone understands what is involved in opening their home for childcare. When they first enter the FCC program providers receive a Start Up kit which consists of items such as fire extinguishers, safety latches, door knob covers, first aid kit, locked boxes for medicine, outlet covers, CPR skill cards and diaper mat which helps defray their initial start-up costs.

After certification, providers receive on-going training, technical support, and unannounced inspections bye the FCC Director, Training Curriculum Specialist, and other proponents. Training and educational opportunities can lead to a Child Development Associate (CDA) or Home Accreditation by the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). A resource lending library is available to providers to check out toys, materials, equipment and age appropriate books for lesson planning, enhancing the child care environments and training requirements. The wide variety of materials available in the lending library allows the providers to offer a choice of developmentally appropriate equipment for the children. Providers are welcome to check items out of the lending library as often as they wish.