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In response to the growing childcare needs of military families north of the Eglin Test and Training Range, the Air Force has announced plans to build a new child development center (CDC) in Crestview, Florida.
The facility is expected to accommodate approximately 250 children from eligible families and is slated for completion by the end of 2028. The Crestview CDC project is part of a broader effort by the Air Force and Army Departments to expand childcare access near Eglin Air Force Base.
According to a press release, the Air Force has taken significant steps to increase childcare capacity over the past year. These measures include joining the Florida Apprenticeship Program to boost staffing at the Eglin CDC and opening two additional classrooms. Furthermore, the Air Force is restoring a CDC on Eglin AFB to provide care for more than 118 children.
In addition to these initiatives, the Air Force has more than doubled the number of Department of the Air Force-certified Family Childcare (FCC) homes, which now total 17 and can accommodate up to 102 children. Applications for another 13 FCC homes are being processed, potentially increasing capacity by 72 children.
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The Army has also taken steps to support military families with childcare needs. A Parent and Outreach Specialist has been hired to assist Army families, and a one-year pilot program will begin in Fall 2024 to provide hourly, part-time, and intermittent childcare support for up to 100 active-duty Army families.
To further meet the needs of military members, both services will collaborate with Eglin’s Child and Youth Programs to offer extended care hours as needed. Additionally, a local commercial childcare provider plans to open a new facility in Crestview by late 2025, further expanding childcare availability in the area.
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Air Force and Army Child and Youth Program leaders will continuously monitor and review data on current and immediate childcare needs. This information will be reported to Air Force and Army leadership every six months to ensure that existing measures meet demand or to identify if additional initiatives or resources are necessary.
The Air Force will acquire land for the Crestview CDC following the completion of the National Environmental Policy Act process, including signing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Record of Decision, expected in January 2025. A draft EIS is currently available for review and public comment until August 26, with a public hearing scheduled for August 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Boulevard, in Crestview.
Military families seeking childcare can request care through the military childcare website, militarychildcare.com, which provides comprehensive information on military-operated and military-subsidized childcare options worldwide. Families are encouraged to create a profile and enroll for care.
Families may contact AF Family Child Care at (850) 882-2994 or the Army Community Outreach Program Manager at (850) 882-3806 for additional assistance. The AF Community Childcare Coordinator and the Army Community Outreach Program Manager can help families find off-base care that accepts the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood fee assistance and assist with online applications on childcareaware.org.
For weekly childcare needs, families can use the Kinderspot app, which is free to download on iPhones and Android phones. CDC staff are available to assist families with signing up for available weeks of care.
