Article Display

Family child care seeks providers for in home care

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ashley L. Gardner
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  
The Family Child Care office located in the Child Development Center annex, is currently seeking individuals to train as in-home child care providers.

The FCC is a profession for spouses who want to be self-employed and work from home. Providers are licensed to care for children ages two weeks to 12 years old. Providers also offer flexibility for parents who need extended child care hours and will adjust their programs to meet the needs of their customers, including overnight and weekend care.

There are nine programs dedicated to help parents during the hours the CDC is closed, when parents work temporarily extended or additional shifts to support the mission. The different programs include, Extended Duty Care, Deployment Care, Returning Home Care, Home Community Care, and various other programs developed to meet the needs of parents during a transitional period. 

The FCC program also acts as a liaison for parents unable to utilize the CDC because of its hours of operation.

Currently only one affiliated provider offers in- home child care to our military families. The FCC needs approximately 12 individuals to become an in-home provider who are able to complete a week of certification training to include: first aid, CPR, child abuse, positive guidance, developmentally appropriate practices, food handlers, medication administration, health, fire, and safety.

"I love working with these children every day," said Patricia Washington, Family Child Care provider.

Washington explained to parents that she knows how difficult it can be to have small children while working everyday. She cares for the children as if they were her own, keeping them in a safe and healthy environment, and hopes the FCC program will license more providers, she said.


Currently, training is being offered to spouses of active-duty or retired military member Oct. 27-31.

"There are several ways this can benefit the providers," said Fran Knox, 20th Force Support Squadron Family Child Care Coordinator. "The individuals who are signing up for the program are able to stay at home with their own children, operate own business, set own hours and earn extra income.  All training you earn will transfer with you to other Air Force installations."

There are several criteria an individual must meet in order to become an in-home childcare provider. They must be at least 18-years-old with a high school diploma or GED, read and write English, pass a background check and willing to follow Air Force policies.

For more information contact Fran Knox at (803)895-1212.