JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
Military families at Joint Base San Antonio will soon benefit from expanded child care options, including a new 41,000-square-foot Child Development Center currently under construction at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
According to recent Department of Defense releases, the center, expected to open in spring 2026, is part of a broader Department of Defense effort to improve access to affordable child care for service members.
In the meantime, JBSA is one of 13 DOD pilot installations offering expanded support through several new initiatives. These programs include in-home child care reimbursement, travel assistance for families relocating during permanent change of station moves and fee assistance for using off-base providers through the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood program.
“These programs can be an excellent option for parents who need reliable, flexible care but can’t get a CDC slot right away,” said Andrea Nicholas, community child care coordinator at JBSA.
In-home child care reimbursement
According to information on Military Child Care website, the Child Care in Your Home is a DOD fee assistance pilot program that helps military families with the cost of full-time child care (30–60 hours per week) in their own homes. This program was designed to support families with nontraditional work hours, such as evenings, weekends, or rotating schedules.
To qualify, families must be assigned to one of the pilot installations and register through MilitaryChildcare.com. Providers must meet DOD background check and training requirements.
PCS travel reimbursement for caregivers
A second pilot program offers travel reimbursement for families who must bring a temporary caregiver to their new duty station during a permanent change of station move. This benefit is available when military child care is not accessible within 30 days of arrival at the new location.
Reimbursement includes up to $500 for moves within the continental United States and $1,500 for overseas moves. Families apply through the Military Child care system, which generates a travel memo used to verify eligibility.
Off-base care through MCCYN
In addition to the pilot programs, JBSA families may also qualify for Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN), a long-standing DoD initiative that subsidizes the cost of using off-base, state-licensed child care providers.
MCCYN enables families to access high-quality child care in the local community while paying fees comparable to what they would pay at an on-base CDC.
Facility growth and future plans
According to the Air Force Installation & Mission Support Center website, the 41,000 square-foot facility at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston will accommodate more than 300 infants and children ages six weeks through five years old. It will also include amenities such as child-learning space, play and sleeping space, administrative support area, kitchen area, outdoor play areas, and supporting infrastructure and utilities.
Additional child development centers are planned for JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph in the coming years. For more information or to apply for care, visit MilitaryChildcare.com.