Welcome to the Fort Riley Family Child Care Program!
We want to be your child’s “Home Away From Home”.
The Fort Riley Family Child Care (FCC) program, as outlined in Army Regulation 608-10, Child and Youth Services, provides flexible options for child care, thus making it an essential component for meeting the Army’s military mission.
FCC homes offer high quality care provided by a military family member in both on-and off-post homes. FCC providers have extensive training and are regularly monitored and inspected by the FCC director and other CYSS staff. In addition on-post homes are inspected by post fire, safety, and preventive medicine professionals and off-post homes are inspected by off-post licensing agents through their county Health Departments. These inspections are conducted to ensure that homes are maintained in a safe and sanitary manner providing the healthy, wholesome environment that the Army requires for your children.
FCC homes offer developmentally appropriate activities and guidance; follow child abuse prevention practices; undergo initial and annual background checks for the provider, the provider’s sponsor, and anyone in the home 12 years or older; and follow the USDA food program guidelines for providing healthy meals and snacks.
FCC homes can provide additional services, such as extended hours and long-term care, to include overnights and weekends; transportation to and from school if required; before-and after-school care, and hourly and part-time care, in addition to regular full time care. A Family Child Care home can be an extension of your own family setting, and can individualize care to meet the special needs of your child. FCC homes take children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age, making it possible for all siblings to be cared for in the same home. This is especially advantageous during school vacations and half-days. Your FCC provider has the autonomy to plan special activities, celebrations, and field trips that interest your child, and are approved by you. All children who attend FCC must be registered with Fort Riley CYSS before being enrolled in an FCC home.
The Family Child Care program selects only those individuals who are “most qualified” for acceptance into the program. An applicant must pass background checks through the DA Criminal Investigation Division, Provost Marshall’s Office, Drug and Alcohol, DA Social Work Services, and On-Post Housing. Those who are selected to become FCC providers must attend 40 hours of training in home safety, fire prevention, food sanitation, menu planning, food principles and nutrition; CPR and First Aid, Child Abuse Identification and Prevention, Special Needs, Parent and Public relations, Character Counts, Business Practices, and Positive Guidance. Additionally, providers must complete ongoing training in child development and guidance, to become fully certified and maintain their certification.
Only after a provider has undergone the required training and inspections, are they given the FCC certificate and allowed to display the FCC “House and Rainbow” flag in their front window. The FCC symbol is your assurance that your children are getting care from a post-certified provider. Anyone offering care in on-post quarters, over 10 child hours per week, must be certified. Anyone providing care above the 10 child hours per week without FCC certification is considered unauthorized care and subject to losing their housing privileges.
FCC is always looking for military spouses who are interested in a career in child care. Operating an FCC home, either on- or off-post, can be a viable and portable career for the military family member. To help a provider get started, all training, equipment, toys, and supplies necessary to start a childcare home are available, free of charge. Those who live off-post, must first be licensed with the state of Kansas, and then must work with the Ft. Riley FCC staff to meet the military requirements. By completing the required training, an FCC provider may qualify to receive the Child Development Associate (CDA), which is a nationally recognized childcare credential. An FCC home may also earn national accreditation by the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).
Affordability for childcare in an FCC home is guaranteed. FCC homes participate in the Army FCC subsidy program, and follow the same fee schedule as the Fort Riley Child Development Center and School Age Services program. This makes FCC homes a competitive alternative to other childcare services on post and in the surrounding communities. We hope you will consider FCC—you will be glad you did!!
FCC providers are independent contractors. Some providers will transport or walk children to and from school or pre-school. Headstart, Special Needs and Early Childhood program busses will pick up and drop off at FCC homes. The FCC office will always attempt to make placements that are convenient for before and after school considerations.
Parents are always welcome to visit their child’s “FCC home” during business hours and are encouraged to participate in field trips and other program events. The CYS Parent Advisory Council meets monthly and all parents are welcome to attend. Please contact your FCC director or provider to see how you can become involved in your child’s FCC experience. We hope to have the pleasure of assisting you in making your child care decision and look forward to serving you here at Fort Riley in our FCC Program.
Take a virtual tour of FCC Provider homes at http://www.armyfcc.com/. Contact Parent Central office at 239-9885 or the FCC office at 239-4313 for your USERNAME and PASSWORD and instructions on how to log in to your account.
Family Child Care
Bldg. 6620, Normandy Dr.
Hours: Mon-Fri:
8:00am-5:00pm
Phone:
(785)239-9892 / (785)239-4313
