The DoD Office of Community and Family Policy has announced that, effective October 1st, the YMCA Military Outreach Initiative providing no-cost respite child care to certain military families will be expanded to more locations.

The intent of theYMCA Military Outreach Initiative is to address the needs of families of deployed military personnel who live far from a military installation and require access to child development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programming. The Military Outreach Initiative offers free YMCA memberships to eligible military families and personnel who may not have access to a nearby military facility. Eligible military families and personnel include: family members of deployed National Guard and Reservists; active-duty Independent Duty personnel and their families as approved by their Military Service Headquarters; and relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel (note: eligibility is for Title 10 personnel only).
 
Part of the Military Outreach Initiative is to offer free respite child care services for children whose parent or guardian needs temporary respite from their role as primary caregiver in the absence of a deployed spouse. Originally, the respite child care service was only offered at certain YMCAs in nine states. Beginning October 1, respite child care will be expanded to licensed child care programs at YMCAs nationwide that choose to participate in the program. The respite care is provided at no cost for children age 12 and under, and includes up to 16 hours of care per month, per child.

To learn more about your eligibility for the respite care program, and to find a list of participating YMCAs, visit Military OneSource.