MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. – October 7, 2015 — Family center providers around the Department of Defense are launching a brand new tool for service members seeking child care. MilitaryChildCare.com is a state of the art website that provides access to comprehensive information about military operated child care options around the world. The service will be available in the Tri-command area later this month.
?This website will be used throughout the military in all branches so hopefully families will begin to learn how it works,? said Ashley Utsey, the family child care director for Marine Corps Community Services South Carolina. ?It will be the first place to go when you are looking for care at any base you move to.?
Service members new to Beaufort may not be aware of all the programs and services available to them or they may be overwhelmed with choosing a provider that fits their needs. The system will also help inform the transitioning families.
?When families move into the area and are looking for care, they are going to be able to go online and see information about all of our centers,? said Utsey. ?Whether it?s Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island or Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, they will be able to see where the openings are.”
There are currently two child development centers in the Tri-command, one on the air station and one on Parris Island. There are also alternative programs like Family Child Care.
?Our family child care providers on Laurel Bay will have profiles on the website as well. They are spouses who run child care programs out of their homes for parents who want a more intimate setting for their kids.?
All of these programs and more will be featured on the website along with imagery, driving directions and schedules to make it easier for parents to make their decision.
?Each center in the Tri-command is putting a profile online, including pictures of their facilities, specific information about the services they provide, and availability,? said Utsey.
According to MilitaryChildCare.com, users of the website can make a profile that stores their basic information about their family type and child data. With this profile you can conduct a customized search for a wide range of child care options. By improving and simplifying the child care search process, the website helps parents make informed decisions about child care needs.
?Right now, families have to go to the resource and referral office to get the information they need,? said Utsey. ?With this website, the process of choosing a child care provider can be faster.?
The site will also expedite a child?s placement in a program or class. The system will help MCCS staff stay up to date on all requests from parents to cut down on waitlist time.
?We are excited to update our process and bring our child care options directly to the families who need them,? said Utsey. ?This is a 21st century update to military family services.?
Although the website is still being updated with information from the Tri-command area, families can still log on and create their profile and learn more about the functionality of MilitaryCildCare.com.