Childcare

For information on how to request child care, please call Parent Central Services at +1(301)677-1104 or +1(301)677-1149 or +1(301)677-1618 or visit their webpage here.

Child Development Center Contact Information

CDC I
Ruffner Road, Bldg. 4725
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
DSN: (312)622-5205 Commercial +1(301)677-5201

CDC II (Temporarily Closed)
MacArthur Road, Bldg. 3100
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
DSN: (312)622-6002 Commercial: +1(301)677-6002

CDC III
Ernie Pyle Street, Bldg. 910
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
DSN: (312)622-1530 Commercial: +1(301)677-1530

CDC IV
85th Medical Battalion Ave, Bldg. 2410
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
DSN: (312)622-9438 Commercial: +1(301)677-9438

CDC Home
85th Medical Battalion Ave, Bldg. 2400
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
DSN: (312)622-9532 Commercial: +1(301)677-9438

More information about the Child Development Center

School Age Center Contact Information

School Age Center (SAC I)
Reece Road, Bldg. 1900
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
DSN: (312)622-1245/1298 Commercial +1(301)677-1245 or +1(301)677-1298

School Age Center (SAC II)
Ernie Pyle Street., Bldg. 909
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
DSN: (312)622-1437 Commercial +1(301)677-1437

More information about the Fort Meade School Age Center

Family Child Care (FCC) Contact Information

Family Child Care
1900 Reece Road, Bldg. 1900
Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
DSN: (312)622-4808/1149 Commercial +1(301)677-4808 or +1(301)677-1149

More information about the Family Child Care

How to Become an FCC Provider

Family Child Care Providers Needed

Do you love taking care of children? Interested in working from home? Become a certified Family Child Care Provider! Providers will receive valuable training such as: activity organization, USDA approved meal planning, designing learning environments, child development and becoming infant/child/adult first aid & CPR certified.

If interested please contact the Family Child Care office at +1(301)677-4808 or +1(301)677-1149.

Child Development Center (CDC): 6 weeks - 5 years (Kindergarten)

Full Day/Part Day/Hourly Care

Ages 6 weeks-Kindergarten*

CDCs are on-post child care centers that offer full-day, part-day and hourly care for children in nationally accredited environments.

Program	Description
Full Day	5 to 12 hours per day - services offered to children ages 6 weeks – 5 years old
Before and After Kindergarten*	Before and after school care provided for children attending Kindergarten. Full day care provided on school out days and during the summer following the Kindergarten school year
Hourly Care	Centers offer reserved and drop-off care on an hourly basis
Pre-Kindergarten/Strong Beginnings	Strong Beginnings is a Full Day program. Part Day Preschool is a 3 hour/day program 5 days/week that provides school readiness skills for children turning 4 years by 1 Sep

* In some communities, Kindergarten children may be located in the School Age Center

Family Child Care: 4 weeks - Grades 5/6*

In-Home Child Care
Ages 4 Weeks - 12 Years

Army Family Child Care (FCC) is available both on-post and in government leased housing by trained childcare providers who work as home-based independent contractors for CYS Services. FCC Homes provide full-day, part-day and hourly care for children in a home environment.

Why choose FCC?

FCC Providers:

Pass stringent background checks and inspections
Receive intensive training and support
Are regularly visited and undergo scheduled and surprise inspections

FCC Homes:

Offer programs designed to help prepare your child for school
Provide flexible hours to meet parents' needs
Offer a comfortable Family setting
Allow siblings to stay together
Allow younger and older children to learn from each other
Allow school-age children to remain in a neighborhood setting
Offer full-day, part-day or hourly options
May include 24-hour and long term care, evening and weekend care during TDY or short-term parental absences

MilitaryChildCare.com will connect you to the Family Child Care Office at the Army installation of your choice.

* Available at select communities and depending on school configuration

School Age Centers (SAC): Grades 1-5/6*

Army School Age Centers provide care during:

Before school and after school
School closures
Seasonal and holiday school breaks
Summer Camp
Hourly Care

Children have access to computer labs and can receive help on daily homework assignments. Programs are nationally accredited and utilize standard curricula through formal partnerships with nationally-recognized organizations such as 4-H and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).

* Depending on school configuration

Out-of-School Time Learning Opportunities - EDGE!
Ages 6-18**

Program	Description
Art EDGE!	Promotes learning by-doing and focuses on the development of lifetime skills through exposure to the arts. Art EDGE! activities increase creative development while building self-esteem
Fit EDGE!	Educates and encourage children and youth to incorporate a healthier lifestyle through physical activity and nutritional awareness programs
Life EDGE!	Imparts upon children and youth skills needed for life-long growth as well as the exploration of future career fields
Adventure EDGE!	Encourages children and youth to embrace the outdoors and nature while being exposed to activities that stimulate relaxation

Use WebTrac to search for, enroll, and pay for programs, or visit Parent Central Services. All participants must be registered with Parent Central Services.

**Available at select communities.

Babysitter Referral Services

Looking for a teen babysitter? CYS offers training following the 4-H babysitter curriculum in becoming a certified teen babysitter. Teen military family members in grades 7 and up looking to expand and market themselves for babysitting jobs can be placed on the babysitter's referral list with parent permission.

Military parents needing babysitters must complete a request form located at Parent Central Services. Once parents complete the required form, they will receive a list of babysitter information based on specified requirements (location, availability, etc.). After receiving a list of babysitters, parents can make arrangements directly with the babysitter. All arrangements and fees for care are between the parent and babysitter.

CYS Services offers Babysitting Referral Services for registered families. Babysitters on the referral list are 13 years or older, have certification in First Aid and CPR, and are trained in:

Developmentally appropriate play
Recognition of child abuse/neglect
Emergency procedures and interviewing

Stop by Parent Central Services or go back to the Register section to find out more information.

Alternative Child Care

CYS Services provides additional child care beyond the regular facility opening hours.

Volunteer Child Care in a Unit Setting (VCCUS) - CYS Services can help units to train volunteers to provide child care for unit functions

Volunteer Child Care in Unit Settings (VCCUS) VCCUS is a volunteer-based childcare program that allows for on-site care during meetings and events organized by military units, Army Community Service (ACS) groups or Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Through VCCUS, Parent & Outreach Services will provide training to volunteers from the military unit or organization. The program is designed to allow the exchange of free and temporary childcare services during unit sessions when the demand is high or when child development center services are not available. Parents and guardians of children in VCCUS must be attending the same function and must remain at the site while their child is under volunteer care.

Units interested in the VCCUS program should contact Parent & Outreach Services for more information.

Waiting List

It is sometimes necessary for families to be placed on a waiting list for child care if care is not readily available. The waiting period may be different for each program and age group. You may place your child(ren) on the waiting list by visiting MilitaryChildCare.com to create an account and establish your user ID for the child care system.

Waitlist Family Types and Priorities (PDF)

Parent Central Services/Parent and Outreach Services