Expanding access to childcare for military families in Bexar County includes innovative initiatvies. Early Matters San Antonio is proud to partner with Operation Child Care Project (OCCP) and the USAA Foundation to expand access to high-quality childcare for military families across Bexar County.
Bringing More Childcare Options to Military Families
The Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program allows eligible military families to use their childcare benefits with our approved community-based providers, giving families more choices beyond on-base care.
Through this initiative, Early Matters San Antonio is helping our approved local childcare providers navigate the MCCYN approval process, so that they can begin serving military families.
Providers who were selected to participate in the project receive:
- Step-by-step guidance through the MCCYN application process
- A completion bonus once approved to accept military scholarships
- Monthly stipends to reserve child care spaces for military families
- Additional funding to support extended operating hours for staff working outside traditional business hours
Meeting Families Where They Are
Military service doesn’t always follow a traditional 8-to-5 schedule. Many families need reliable childcare during early mornings, evenings, or other nontraditional hours.
To help meet that need, the project supports participating providers in extending their operating hours by up to two additional hours each day.. These expanded hours make it easier for military parents to access dependable, high-quality care that aligns with their work schedules while strengthening the overall child care system in our community.
Early Success in Childcare, Growing Impact for Military Families
The project is already showing promising results. To date:
- 6 of the 10 participating providers have completed the process to become MCCYN-approved providers.
- 8 of the 10 providers have begun offering extended-hour child care for military families.
- The remaining participating providers are expected to begin extended-hour services in the coming month.
Each new provider represents more options for military families and another step toward building a stronger, more responsive early childhood system in Bexar County.
Building for the Future
While increasing access today is the immediate priority, the work doesn’t stop there.
The Military Child Care Access Project is also focused on:
- Documenting lessons learned through a replicable playbook that can support future expansion.
- Continuing legislative advocacy that strengthens child care access for military families.
- Exploring opportunities to bring this successful model to additional providers throughout Bexar County.
Strong communities support the families who serve our country. By investing in child care providers, expanding access to military fee assistance, and creating more flexible care options, this partnership is helping ensure military families have the quality early learning opportunities they need—when and where they need them.
Early Matters San Antonio is grateful to the USAA Foundation, the Operation Child Care Project, participating child care providers, and all of the partners working together to make this important effort possible.
Together, we are creating a stronger early childhood system that better serves the children and families who serve all of us.
