FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS — The Army is transitioning to a new single portal Department of Defense website designed to make it easier for Soldiers to find the childcare they need.
In March 2016, select Army garrison families will begin to use www.MilitaryChildCare.com as their website to search for and request child care services where they are or where they are planning to move.
“The vital function of this website is to simplify the child care search process, helping patrons make better informed decisions about their child care needs,” said Theresa Sanders, the Installation Management Command Child, Youth and School Services Outreach Services Program Manager. “The DOD has worked hard to develop a system which allows patrons to create their own account, search and request care, manage requests and update their profile from the convenience of their home,” she said.
Using MilitaryChildCare.com, parents can find comprehensive information on child care programs worldwide, conduct a customized search for the care they need, and submit a request for care at any time from any location, Sanders explained.
Web services were first tested in pilot programs throughout the military branches including U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii.
Soldiers and Families at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Forts Belvoir, Campbell, Detrick (Forest Glen and Frederick), Drum, Knox, Lee and Meade, Watervliet Arsenal and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall will gain access to the site in March.
Each garrison is working directly to notify the families affected and assist in the implementation of the DOD website rollout.
“We expect the implementation of this new website to be seamless,” said Sanders. “Those families already receiving child care services will continue to receive those services without interruption. Those whose name is already on a waiting list will be entered on the new website.”
More details will be available at Parent Central Services at each garrison.
According to officials at the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, the Army will continue its rollout in June with 28 new garrisons, including: Forts Benning, Bliss, Buchanan, Bragg, Carson, Gordon, Hamilton, Hood, Jackson, Leavenworth, Leonard Wood, McAlester, McCoy, Polk, Riley, Rucker, Sill, Stewart; Detroit, Picatinny, Pine Bluff, Redstone and Rock Island Arsenals; Anniston and Tobyhanna Army Depots; Carlisle Barracks; West Point; and U.S. Army Garrison Miami. Specific dates of access will be announced locally so that all Soldiers and care-givers will be aware of the timing of the change and how it will impact their family.
Garrisons in Europe are scheduled to follow in September, including Ansbach, Baumholder, Brussels, Garmisch, Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels, Kaiserslautern, Liverno, Schinnen, Shape, Stuttgart, Vicenza and Wiesbaden.
The final wave of garrisons is planned for December 2016: Forts Greely, Huachuca, Hunter-Liggett, Irwin, Wainwright; Joint Base Lewis-McChord; Sierra Army Depot; Dugway and Yuma Proving Grounds; White Sands Missile Range; U.S. Army Garrisons Daegu, Presidio of Monterey, Kwajalein Atoll, Japan and Yongsan; and Camps Humphries and Red Cloud.