AMA: Safety Planning for Military Families

At Operation Child Care Project™, we know that finding safe and reliable child care isn’t always straightforward—especially for military families on the move. In our most recent live session, we focused on safety planning for families who are navigating non-traditional child care options. With PCS season in full swing and licensed centers sometimes at capacity or unavailable, many families are turning to friends, neighbors, or community members for help. This live conversation was all about helping families feel equipped, informed, and supported in that process.

Our speakers—Sabrina Dalton, Case Manager; Maria Quinn, Child Advocate; and our Founder and CEO, Kayla Corbitt—shared guidance for planning safe care arrangements during transitions. We talked about the importance of assessing both physical and emotional safety, creating backup plans, and identifying immediate child care needs. These steps can help reduce risk and increase reliability when using care options outside of a traditional center or program.

We also explored how to identify a trusted caregiver. It is important to think about where the caregiver came from, their ability to handle emergencies, their approach to discipline, and whether they have experience with children. We encouraged families to ask for references and run background checks when possible. These extra steps may feel time-consuming, but they help ensure children are safe and supported in any setting.

When families need to act quickly, safety planning becomes even more important. Sabrina and Maria walked through how to assess the situation, prioritize what’s most urgent, and take immediate steps while still making time for follow-up actions like CPR training or establishing check-in routines. No plan is perfect, but thoughtful preparation goes a long way.

We also highlighted a pilot program that supports families using non-traditional child care. In this model, families communicate directly with helpers to set expectations and establish boundaries. While the program does not handle complaints, it does provide families with tools to find safe alternatives and address problems early. Part of that process includes setting up clear safety plans—like having emergency contacts, check-in systems, and exit strategies in place before care begins.

Another key takeaway from the session was the value of local support. We encouraged families to connect with their local resource and referral agency (RRA) to learn more about child care options and available subsidies. Programs like Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCN) can offer financial support for eligible families. And expanding your network to include college students, extended family, or members of your faith or social community can open up new options for care.

We closed our session with a reminder that access to child care is critical for military readiness. Whether it’s during deployment, training, or medical emergencies, reliable child care allows service members to focus on their duties. Leadership plays a big role here, too. Flexible scheduling and openness to alternative care solutions can reduce stress and costs for military families.

If you weren’t able to join us live, we invite you to watch the full recording and download the slide deck for a deeper look into the conversation. As always, our sessions are a space for learning, sharing, and supporting one another. We encourage you to reach out with questions, or to suggest topics for future live events. We are here to serve those who serve.

Watch the full session: YouTube Recording

Additional Helpful Links:

• Child Care Aware of America – Find Your Local RRA

• Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCN)

• Operation Child Care Project™ YouTube Channel

  
  
  
  

We look forward to continuing these important conversations. Thank you for being part of our community.