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Expanded Hourly Child Care Service – Call Center Talking Points

Child care provider in home

To help meet the growing and diverse needs of military parents, the Department of Defense is proud to offer an expanded child care service for members and their families. Through Military OneSource, military families now have free access to a national database of more than a million caregivers so they can find hourly, flexible and on-demand child care.

Background for expanded hourly child care service

Child care is a workforce issue that directly impacts the readiness and retention of the total force. Lack of child care options has been connected to challenges for spouse employment and increased stress.  Some evidence suggests it also impacts retention decisions.

The Department of Defense offers more options to support the need for hourly child care

As part of its ongoing commitment to help military families thrive, The Department of Defense is introducing a new way for military families to find child care for hourly, flexible and on-demand needs.

By expanding child care options, the Department of Defense helps:

  • Support the growing and diverse needs of military families
  • Increase the number of military families who receive support
  • Ensure force readiness and lethality

Benefits of the expanded hourly child care service

The nationally recognized online subscription service is:

  • Easy to access
  • Fee-free through Military OneSource for anyone eligible for Military OneSource services
    (visit MilitaryOneSource.mil to learn more)
  • Convenient and flexible

Parents can:

  • Access a database of more than a million care providers
  • Search at their convenience for care that meets their own needs and criteria
  • Find potential care providers
  • Check references
  • Review background checks
  • Interview, hire and pay providers on their terms

How can parents access the expanded hourly child care service?

The new caregiver search service is available 24/7/365 through Military OneSource. Parents can visit the Expanded Hourly Child Care Options page and click “Log in to access.” If they already have a Military OneSource account, they can log in. If not, they will need to create one. From there, they will be directed to Military OneSource Member Connect, where they will receive a unique member code and a link to the child care service site. Parents can then create their login and begin searching for child care. In the future, they can return directly to the child care service’s homepage to access care and search for providers.

Expanded hourly child care service complements existing programs

This online service is available in addition to existing child care options such as:

For more information about military child care programs, parents can visit the Military OneSource Military Child Care Programs page

 

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Meet Goals and Manage COVID-19 Stress With My MilLife Guide

Hand holding cell phone

Current as of Dec. 29, 2020

Military life offers its share of surprises. It can be a balancing act to juggle your daily duties and responsibilities before factoring in the “new normal” of COVID-19. You may feel drained – especially when you’re worried about loved ones and trying to keep up with changes due to the pandemic.

A new text-based service from the Military Health System and Military OneSource can help you get back on track. My MiLife Guide is like having a portable health and wellness coach, that will regularly send you texts, or  “GuideTips,” to support you as you take care of yourself and your family. These texts will lead you to proven resources developed for the military community.

How My MilLife Guide works

My MilLife Guide harnesses the expertise and resources of Military OneSource, the Military Health System and other government agencies, then delivers them to your mobile device. When you sign up for My MilLife Guide as a service member or a military spouse, you will receive targeted text messages four times per week during the eight-week program. You can sign up now by texting the following keywords to GOV311 (468311): “MilLife SM“ if you’re a service member or “MilLife Spouse” if you’re a military spouse.
My Life Guide example text
My MilLife Guide starts each week with a text asking you to set a small goal, such as accomplishing a task on your to-do list or going to bed 30 minutes early. During the week, you will receive three more texts with reminders, tips and suggestions for small, easy-to-accomplish tasks. The texts will connect you with free tools and resources exclusively for the military community. MilLife Guide can help with:

  • Stress management and overall wellness
  • Relationship stress
  • Sleep issues
  • Parenting
  • Personal finance
  • Career goals
  • Education
  • Health care
  • Non-medical counseling

My MilLife Guide connects you with resources, including:

  • Wellness apps and podcasts
  • Virtual health and well-being tools
  • Military OneSource specialty consultation information
  • Parenting resources
  • And much more!

Reclaim control over COVID-19 stress and focus on your well-being by signing up for the My MilLife Guide program. Text ”MilLife SM” to GOV311 (468311) if you’re a service member. If you’re a military spouse, text “MilLife Spouse” to GOV311 (468311).

Sign Up For My MilLife Guide

 

Stay up to date on all the latest information on COVID-19. For Department of Defense updates for the military community regarding the virus that causes COVID-19, view the following sites:

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The Department of Defense Offers Expanded Hourly Child Care Service

Military dad kisses baby girl

High-quality, affordable child care is critical for military parents. But the type of child care they need can vary widely. Some families need regular full-time care, other families need more flexible, on-demand services, and some families need both.

To help meet the growing and diverse needs of military parents, the Department of Defense is proud to offer an expanded child care service. Through Military OneSource, military families have free access to a national database of more than a million caregivers so they can find hourly, flexible and on-demand child care. Take advantage of it today. Whether you are looking for in-home child care, a nanny or a babysitter, the search service connects you to the child care resources you need.

The nationally recognized online subscription service lets you:

  • Search for care that fits your own needs and criteria
  • Find potential care providers and view their profiles
  • Check references
  • Review background checks
  • Interview, hire and pay providers on your terms

How to access the free online service

Use your Military OneSource account to set up your free access to the child care service. Log in to your existing account or create an account to get a unique subscription code and establish your child care service account.

For more information about the online caregiver search service, and to register, visit the Military OneSource Expanded Hourly Child Care Options page.

Existing child care options

The online search service is available in addition to existing military child care options such as:

  • Finding full-time, on-installation care through MilitaryChildCare.com
  • Receiving child care fee assistance for off-installation care through the Department of Defense community-based fee assistance program administered through Child Care Aware of America

Learn more about Military Child Care Programs on Military OneSource. You can also contact your installation child development center for information about on-installation programs

Questions? Contact Military OneSource

Have a question about the expanded hourly child care service or need help getting started? Military OneSource consultants are specially trained to help service members and their families set up accounts and get started researching child care options. Reach out 24/7 to schedule a consultation. Call 800-342-9647, use OCONUS dialing options or set up a live chat

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Resources for Military Parents As COVID-19 Continues

Child writing on whiteboard with mom looking on

Current as of Oct. 1, 2020

Parents are facing a variety of new and ongoing challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Virus conditions keep changing, and work and school schedules vary. It’s easy to feel stressed about making the best choices for your family, and bogged down by decision fatigue.

Military OneSource is committed to helping families thrive during these challenging times. Whether you are looking for official updates from government agencies, information about virtual learning, flexible child care, or tips for taking care of yourself and your family, we’ve got you covered. Check out the following resources.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resources

The CDC offers extensive resources for keeping families healthy as COVID-19 continues. The latest CDC guidance includes everything from school planning to preparing for daily activities such as running errands, playing sports, social gatherings and much more. Check out the CDC’s:

Department of Education resources

The Department of Education also offers a variety of resources to ensure students can continue to pursue their educational goals during the pandemic:

  • Resources for learning at home with links for activities from the Library of Congress, NASA, the Kennedy Space Center, the Smithsonian Institution and more
  • Pandemic relief measures in place through Dec. 31, 2020, for those who currently have Department of Education-held federal student loans

Distance learning and general wellness resources

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry provides a wide variety of resources for helping kids and parents. Links include guidelines for talking to kids about COVID-19, stress management for teens, support for parents of children with disabilities, online educational activities for kids and more.

The Department of Defense Education Activity also offers a comprehensive list of parent resources including:

  • Guidance on returning to school, with information on virtual learning options, health and safety, and frequently asked questions and answers
  • Extensive links for activities for students at home for children in prekindergarten through fifth grade, such as:
    • DODEA activities in math, science, social studies and language arts­­
    • Ideas for indoor and outdoor physical activities
    • Recipes and experiments from America’s Test Kitchen Kids
    • Programs such as EarSketch and ScratchJr that teach computer coding skills
    • Best Virtual Events with concerts, story times and classes to stream from home
    • SciShow and Sick Science! for fun science activities
    • Online museum tours, field trips, jigsaw puzzles and much more

Military OneSource resources

Learn about more COVID-19 resources on the Military OneSource COVID-19 page. Find information about a wide range of military family topics, including:

If you have questions about COVID-19 issues or any other aspect of military life, Military OneSource consultants are available to help 24/7/365. Call 800-342-9647, use OCONUS dialing options or schedule a live chat.

Understanding of COVID-19 continues to change, so check our Coronavirus Updates for Our Military Community page. Want to find the phone number for your installation’s housing office or Military and Family Support Center? Find those and more on MilitaryINSTALLATIONS, an online information directory for military installations worldwide. For updates and information specific to your location, visit your installation’s official website. You can also follow your installation’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram platforms.

For Department of Defense updates for the military community: