Childcare

(301) 677-7712 or DSN: 923-7712 Email: sumij@meade-emh2.army.mil

Child Development Services (CDS) is comprised of center-based, quarters-based and supplemental child care programs. With the help of Training and Curriculum Specialists, the center caregivers and home care providers furnish a variety of age-appropriate experiences and learning activities for all children. Through creative play, the children learn social, negotiating and problem-solving skills, concentration, and use of their imagination.

Information about child care services is available through Central Enrollment Registry in Building 3176, on Ernie Pyle Street.

Hours of operation for registration are: Walk-ins, 7:30 a.m. to noon, and by appointment, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required for all CDS programs. Parents/guardians are requested to bring a valid military/DOD civilian ID and an up-to-date shot record at the time of registration. Sponsors planning a PCS move to Ft. Meade can call the Central Enrollment Office to receive information about available child care or to place their children on the waiting list. Unborn children can also be placed on the waiting list.

CDS center-based system consists of two 303 capacity centers offering developmental child care services for children ages six weeks to 12 years, to include full-day care up to 11 1/2 hours per day, and hourly care for children attending on an intermittent basis, up to 25 hours per week.

The following services are available:

• Full-day childcare for children six weeks to 5 years old,
  Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Hourly care for children six week to 12 years old,
  Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Part-day program for children three and four years old.
  Sessions are two-and-a-half hours, Monday through Friday.
  Morning and afternoon sessions are available.
  The program runs from September through May.
  Registration for the 98-99 school year begins April 15th.

• Summer Camp is available from mid-June to late August for school-age children completing kindergarten through third grade. The program offers full day child care plus camp activities such as swimming, field trips, sports, games, and crafts. Registration for this summer begins April 29th.

• CDS quarters-based system (Family Child Care Homes) offers in-home child care for children four weeks to 12 years. Care is provided by adult family members in government quarters that have been certified for program participation by CDS. Care is provided for up to six children. Child care subsidies are currently available. FCC offers a child care subsidy program (subject to funding availability).

Providers are also eligible for Military Family Child Care Accreditation. An extensive Resource Library is available for use by certified providers. Further information can be received by calling the Family Child Care Office at (301) 677-6314/6348.

Supplemental Programs and Services (SPS) offers Central Enrollment Registry for all CDS programs. This system also offers Short Term Alternative Child Care (STACC) for meetings and functions, teenage baby sitter referral, and information about establishing parent co-ops.