R 101932Z MAY 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 243/13
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING GUIDELINES FOR OFF BASE CHILD CARE FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20040624//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO P1710.30E CHILDREN, YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS.//
POC/B. SMITH/NF-5/UNIT:MFY3/-/TEL:703-784-9553//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  BACKGROUND.  USMC OFF BASE CHILD CARE FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ASSIST GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED ACTIVE DUTY MARINE FAMILIES WITH THE COST OF LICENSED OR ACCREDITED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. 
2.  CHANGES TO ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING FOR OFF BASE CHILD CARE FEE ASSISTANCE IN SUPPORT OF THE REF WILL ENSURE THE PROGRAM IS CONSISTENT, YET AFFORDABLE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF FUNDING.  FAMILIES CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED FOR OFF BASE CHILD CARE FEE ASSISTANCE MAY SEE A CHANGE IN ELIGIBILITY OR A REDUCTION IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEE ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. 
3.  PAYMENTS FOR OFF BASE CHILD CARE FEE ASSISTANCE ARE ADMINISTERED BY A NATIONAL PROVIDER, CHILD CARE AWARE OF AMERICA.
4.  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING GUIDELINES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A.  LIMITED TO GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED MARINES IN AN ACTIVE DUTY STATUS (LIVING OUTSIDE A 15 MILE RADIUS FROM A MARINE CORPS INSTALLATION WITH A CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM) BASED ON THEIR ADDRESS VERIFIED THROUGH DEFENSE ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY REPORTING SYSTEM.
B.  CHILD MUST LIVE WITH THE MARINE SPONSOR.
C.  SPOUSES MUST BE EMPLOYED FULL TIME (35 HOURS OR MORE PER WEEK) OR ENROLLED IN A FULL TIME EDUCATION PROGRAM AS DETERMINED BY THE EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND VERIFIED THROUGH APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION.
5.  WOUNDED AND FALLEN MARINE FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT CHILD CARE AWARE OF AMERICA TO DISCUSS SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
6.  ALL FAMILIES THAT QUALIFY (EXCEPT IN LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL AREAS) WILL RECEIVE A SUBSIDY NOT TO EXCEED 3,000 DOLLARS ANNUALLY (UP TO 250 DOLLARS PER MONTH) PER CHILD.
A.  ANY CARE OUTSIDE OF FULL-TIME CARE (PART-DAY/PART- TIME/BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL) WILL BE PAID AT 20 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL MONTHLY COST OF CARE FOR EACH CHILD.
7.  THESE ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES WILL NOT APPLY RETROACTIVELY. 
8.  IN CASES OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, A WAIVER MAY BE AUTHORIZED.  WAIVER REQUESTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO HQMC (MFY-3) USING AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION (AA) FORM.  ALL REQUESTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY ONE ENDORSEMENT FROM THE BATTALION COMMANDER OR EQUIVALENT.  EXAMPLES OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES MAY INCLUDE:
A.  URBAN TRAFFIC PATTERNS EXTENDING THE DAILY TRAVEL COMMUTE OF MARINE SPONSORS AND SPOUSES BEYOND ANTICIPATED TIME AND DISTANCE RATIOS.
B.  ENVIRONMENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES IMPACTING SAFETY OF CHILDREN SUCH AS SUSTAINED HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS.
C.  INSTALLATION CHILD CARE WAITLIST VERIFIED THROUGH APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION.
D.  ADDITIONAL EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE CONSIDERED.
9.  FAMILIES MUST RE-CERTIFY FOR ELIGIBILITY ANNUALLY.  PARTICIPATION IS BASED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.  WAITLISTS WILL BE UTILIZED IF FUNDING CONSTRAINTS PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION.
10.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MRS. K. J. LEWIS, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION (ACTING).//