If you're a military family stationed in California and looking for child care, welcome! This article covers the key resources available to you and explains how MyChildCarePlan.org fits into your child care search.
Important to know: Military child care benefits — like fee assistance programs and on-installation care — work through a separate system from MyChildCarePlan.org. Most providers listed on our platform are not contracted with the Department of Defense (DoD), so your military child care benefits may not apply to them directly. We want to make sure you find the right resources from the start.
Getting Started
Where should I start my child care search as a military family?
Your first stop should be MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) — the Department of Defense's centralized system for requesting all military child care, whether on-installation or off-installation.
MCC covers all service branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force.
👉 Start here: MilitaryChildCare.com
Through MCC you can:
Search for on-installation Child Development Centers (CDCs), Family Child Care homes, and School-Age Care programs at California installations
Request off-installation fee assistance through the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program to help pay for civilian child care providers who are contracted with the military
Track your placement status and estimated wait times
Manage requests for multiple children and programs at the same time
📖 MCC has a helpful FAQ page that answers common questions about registration, wait lists, eligibility, and more: MCC Frequently Asked Questions
For direct support with MCC, call 855-696-2934 or email [email protected].
Understanding Your Options
What types of child care are available to military families in California?
California has more than 20 military installations with child care programs. Take a look at this overview of what's available below.
On-Installation Care (through MCC):
Child Development Centers (CDCs) — Facility-based programs for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. These are nationally accredited and follow DoD safety standards with regular inspections. Available at most major California installations.
Family Child Care (FCC) — DoD-certified providers (often military spouses) who care for up to 6 children in their homes, on or near installations. They often offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
School-Age Care (SAC) — Before/after school and summer programs for children in kindergarten through 6th grade.
Off-Installation Fee Assistance (MCCYN):
If on-installation care isn't available or doesn't fit your needs, your branch may offer fee assistance to help pay for approved civilian providers. This is managed through Child Care Aware of America.
A newer pilot program that provides fee assistance for nannies or qualifying relatives who provide care in your home. San Diego is one of the eligible areas. Note: Au pairs do not meet CCYH provider requirements and cannot be hired through this program.
How do on-installation fees work?
Fees are based on your Total Family Income (TFI) using a sliding scale. Lower-income families pay less, and the DoD subsidizes the rest. You won't pay full market rate for on-installation care.
For the current fee schedule, check with your installation's Child and Youth Programs office or visit MCC.
Fee Assistance by Service Branch
Each branch runs its own fee assistance program. Here are the key links:
Army: Army Fee Assistance (AFA) — Administered by Child Care Aware of America
Navy: Navy MCCYN Fee Assistance — Also see Navy Child and Youth Programs
Air Force / Space Force: Department of the Air Force Fee Assistance — Administered by Child Care Aware of America
Marine Corps: Marine Corps Fee Assistance — Administered by Child Care Aware of America
Coast Guard: Coast Guard MCCYN Fee Assistance — For family support, email [email protected]
How fee assistance works: The program pays your provider the difference between a provider rate cap and your income-based parent fee. If your provider charges more than the cap, you pay the extra. Cap amounts vary by service branch, locality (standard vs. high-cost area), and full-time vs. part-time care.
For current fee schedules and provider cap details, visit the MCC Parent Fees page.
California-Specific Resources
Are there California state benefits I should know about?
Yes. California law excludes your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from income calculations for state-subsidized child care programs. This means your BAH won't count against you when applying for programs like:
California Alternative Payment Program
CalWORKs child care (Stages 1–3)
California State Preschool Program
This can make a real difference, especially in California's high-cost areas. Contact your local Resource & Referral (R&R) agency to learn about state subsidies you may qualify for.
👉 Find your local R&R agency: Call 1-800-KIDS-793 or visit MyChildCarePlan.org
💡 A note about R&R agencies: While every California county has an R&R agency that can help with general child care referrals, their familiarity with military-specific benefits may vary. R&R agencies near major installations are more likely to understand military child care programs. For military-specific questions, MCC and Child Care Aware of America are your best resources.
Wait Lists and What to Expect
I'm on a wait list. What should I know?
Wait lists for on-installation care are common, especially in high-demand areas like San Diego. Here's what helps:
Register on MCC as early as possible — ideally as soon as you receive PCS orders, even before you arrive in California.
Submit multiple Requests for Care — You can request care at multiple programs and installations at the same time.
Check your Anticipated Placement Time (APT) — MCC provides an estimated month and year for placement rather than a waitlist number. This updates in real time.
Explore fee assistance while you wait — MCCYN fee assistance for off-installation providers can bridge the gap while you wait for an on-installation spot.
Respond quickly to offers — When a spot opens, you typically have about 2 business days to accept.
How Can MyChildCarePlan.org Help?
MyChildCarePlan.org is California's child care search platform. While we are not part of the military child care system, you can use our platform to:
Browse licensed child care providers in your area to understand what's available near your installation
Research provider quality and read program details
Find your local R&R agency for referrals and information about California state child care subsidies
Keep in mind that most providers on our platform are not contracted with the DoD, so military fee assistance programs like MCCYN may not apply to them unless they have separately enrolled as an approved MCCYN provider through Child Care Aware of America.
If you find a provider you like on MyChildCarePlan.org and want to use military fee assistance, ask the provider if they are enrolled with Child Care Aware of America — or direct them to learn about becoming an approved MCCYN provider.
Key Contacts and Links
Resource | Contact |
MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) | militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil |
MCC FAQ | |
Child Care Aware of America | childcareaware.org/military-families |
Military OneSource | militaryonesource.mil/child-care |
ChildCare.gov | |
California R&R agencies | MyChildCarePlan.org |
Need Help?
If you have questions about using MyChildCarePlan.org or finding your local R&R agency, our team is here to help.
Chat: Available during business hours on MyChildCarePlan.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-KIDS-793 (English & Spanish)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM PT
For questions about military child care benefits, eligibility, or fee assistance, contact MilitaryChildCare.com at 855-696-2934 or Child Care Aware of America at 800-424-2246.
References
Last updated: February 2026