Become an affiliated childcare provider

Anyone who is a spouse of an active duty member who lives in privatized housing 18 years and over with a high school diploma may operate an Air Force ( AF) licensed in-home child care business. . All AF licensed Family Child Care (FCC) homes must register with Balfour and Beatty Company (BBC) as operating a personal business in their home. Family Child Care is far from a simple baby sitting service, a provider can become a child care professional with the United States Air Force (USAF) Family Child Care Program. The Family Child Care Program and forms are now standard throughout the AF.

The AF FCC is always seeking qualified providers to provide superior quality child care to military and civilians on base to support the mission. For next to nothing, a provider can own a business, set your own hours, stay at home with your children, and best of all help other children develop and learn by creating a caring and loving environment. FCC providers and their families must be honest, reliable, and committed to support the Altus Air Force Base mission. The FCC program offers extensive training in health, safety, and fire through briefings, CPR/First Aid training, menu planning through the USDA program, lesson planning and much more. In addition to the training, a provider has access to the AF Resource Center which allows a provider to set-up your family child care program in your home. The Resource Center offers free equipment and learning tools on an on-loan basis. The Resource Center is fully equipped with a wide range of age appropriate items to include games, toys, safety, art supplies, portable cribs, child furniture and general day-to-day supplies. An AF licensed provider may take his/ or her experience to another base without going through another training period.

Unlicensed family child care on base and liability

BBC housing residents providing child care in their home for 10 hours or more per week on a consistent basis must be AF licensed. AF licensing for Family Child Care providers is done through the FCC Coordinator and approved by the 97th Mission Support Group Commander. 
AF licensed FCC providers are required to purchase at least $300K in liability insurance to protect them if an accident or incident occurs in the home. Every licensed provider’s insurance policy is reviewed by legal before they are allowed to operate. An individual providing care without a license or liability insurance may be held financially liable if a child is hurt, injured, or dies while in their care.

The Air Force is not legally responsible for those caring for children more than 10 hours a week on a consistent basis. If someone is reported as providing child care illegally in privatized housing, the FCC Coordinator and the Flight Chief will visit the home that has been identified as providing unlicensed child care. If the child care continues, a letter from the 97th Mission Support Group Commander will be sent to that address. The Wing Commander has the authority to revoke housing privileges to protect the welfare, safety, and moral of military members and their families.

There are many benefits to having a licensed family child care provider care for your children. Licensed providers are trained in child abuse prevention, CPR, first aid, medication administration, and are required to complete 18 AF Family Child Care Modules, plus maintain 24 hrs of training per year. FCC providers are monitored regularly. They are subject to fire, safety, USDA and health inspections. Also the Family Child Care Coordinator makes unannounced monthly inspections at the provider’s home at different times of the day. The FCC Coordinator also visits often during a one month period to do observations for modules, to disperse newsletters, and just to keep the lines of communication open.

The Family Child Care Coordinator, Ms. Laurie Salafia is always seeking quality providers for Family Child Care. She realizes that there is a need for Extended Duty Care and shift care at Altus AFB, but we need reliable and quality providers willing to provide this type of care, so illegal care and liability don’t become an issue. All training, equipment and supplies are provided by the Air Force, so don’t be afraid to start your own business in your very own home! If anyone is interested in becoming a FCC provider, please call Laurie Salafia @ 481-6931 or stop by the office inside the CDC for more information.