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Imagine navigating the unpredictable world of military life—endless relocations, long deployments, and constant uncertainty. Now, add the challenge of finding reliable child care into that mix, and you’ve got a recipe for stress. In a recent episode of the Mission Milspouse Podcast, Kayla Corbitt, founder of the Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), shares how her organization is tackling the critical issue of child care for military families head-on.
Military families face unique challenges that most civilians don’t even think about. Whether it’s securing a spot in an on-base Child Development Center (CDC) or managing the financial strain of off-base care, the search for quality child care is often exhausting and frustrating. During her interview, Corbitt explains how OCCP is working to alleviate the burden for military parents, offering practical solutions and hope for families who have been struggling with this issue for far too long.
The Child Care Crisis for Military Families
Corbitt starts by acknowledging what every military parent already knows: finding child care as a military family is no walk in the park. Military families move constantly—on average, every two to three years. That means each time they settle into a new home, they have to start from scratch when it comes to finding child care. And for families relying on base CDCs, the waitlists can be agonizingly long.
Corbitt shares that many military families end up waiting months for a spot to open up in the CDC, all while juggling the challenges of daily life without reliable care. For parents who work, study, or need time to manage the household while their partner is deployed, this lack of child care is more than an inconvenience—it’s a serious disruption to their lives.
The Financial Burden: When Off-Base Care Becomes the Only Option
When families can’t secure a spot in a CDC, they’re forced to turn to off-base care options, and that’s where the financial strain really kicks in. Corbitt emphasizes that the cost of child care off-base can be astronomical, often costing families thousands of dollars a month. For military families already dealing with the costs of relocation, deployments, and other financial stressors, paying for off-base care can feel impossible.
Corbitt points out that many military spouses are forced to make a difficult choice: either stay home with the kids, giving up their own career opportunities, or pay the high cost of off-base care, which can eat up a significant portion of their household income. This choice shouldn’t have to be so hard, and that’s where OCCP steps in to provide solutions.
The Emotional Toll on Military Families
It’s not just about money and logistics. Corbitt is quick to remind listeners that the child care crisis has a profound emotional impact on military families. Military spouses, often acting as solo parents during deployments, carry the full weight of raising children while also managing the household. Without reliable child care, this load becomes even heavier.
Corbitt explains how this emotional strain can lead to burnout, isolation, and even depression among military spouses. They’re often left feeling overwhelmed, unable to focus on their own self-care, or to pursue personal and professional goals. The lack of child care doesn’t just affect the parents—it also impacts the children, who might not receive the consistent, quality care they need to thrive.
Corbitt highlights the importance of reliable child care as a lifeline for military families. It’s not just about giving parents a break, it’s about providing them with the stability and support they need to maintain their well-being and ensure their children’s development.
OCCP: Offering Hope and Solutions
The good news? Operation Child Care Project is stepping in to fill the gap. In her interview, Corbitt outlines how OCCP is addressing the child care crisis with practical solutions tailored specifically to the needs of military families.
Advocating for Policy Changes: One of the major focuses of OCCP is advocating for policy changes that would improve access to child care for military families. Corbitt and her team are pushing for more funding for CDCs, which would help reduce wait times and expand capacity on military bases. OCCP is also working to secure subsidies that would make off-base care more affordable for families who need it.
Building Partnerships with Child Care Providers: Another key element of OCCP’s strategy is building partnerships with local child care providers near military bases. Corbitt explains that OCCP is working to create networks of trusted providers who understand the unique needs of military families and can offer flexible, military-friendly care options. These partnerships help ensure that families have access to reliable, high-quality care, even when on-base options aren’t available.
Providing Financial Assistance: Corbitt also emphasizes that OCCP offers direct financial assistance to families struggling to cover the costs of child care. Many military families are unaware of the financial resources available to them, and part of OCCP’s mission is to educate families about the grants, scholarships, and subsidies that can help ease the financial burden of child care.
Supporting Child Care Providers: OCCP isn’t just focused on helping families—they’re also committed to supporting the child care providers who serve military families. Corbitt talks about how OCCP is providing training and resources to ensure that child care providers are equipped to meet the emotional and developmental needs of military children. By investing in quality care, OCCP is helping to create a stable, supportive environment for both parents and children.
The Impact of Child Care on Military Retention
Corbitt makes a compelling point about how child care impacts not just individual families but the broader military community. She explains that when military families struggle to find reliable care, it can affect their long-term commitment to military life. Families who face constant child care challenges may be more likely to leave the service earlier than planned, which can impact retention rates.
That’s why child care isn’t just a family issue—it’s a military issue. By providing better child care options, OCCP is helping to support military readiness and retention, ensuring that families can thrive while their loved ones serve.
Real-Life Success Stories
Throughout the interview, Corbitt shares inspiring stories of families who have benefited from OCCP’s efforts. One story involved a military spouse who had been waiting for months to get her children into a CDC. With her partner deployed and no family nearby, she was feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Through OCCP, she was able to connect with a local child care provider who offered flexible, affordable care. This gave her the time she needed to focus on herself and manage her household without constantly worrying about her children’s well-being.
These stories illustrate the tangible difference OCCP is making in the lives of military families. By providing the support they need, OCCP is helping families not just survive military life but thrive in it.
A Lifeline for Military Families
Kayla Corbitt’s interview on Mission Milspouse Podcast highlights the ongoing child care crisis facing military families, but more importantly, it showcases the incredible work that OCCP is doing to address the problem. Through advocacy, financial assistance, and community partnerships, OCCP is giving military families the tools and resources they need to navigate the challenges of child care with confidence.
Military families shouldn’t have to choose between financial stability and quality care for their children. Thanks to the work of OCCP, more families are finding hope, relief, and the support they deserve.
Takeaways:
Military families face unique child care challenges, including long waitlists for on-base care and high off-base costs.
Child care is essential not just for logistics but for the emotional well-being of military families.
OCCP is advocating for policy changes, community partnerships, and financial assistance to make child care more accessible.
Quality child care impacts military retention, helping families stay committed to military life and reducing stress.
OCCP is making a real difference, providing families with resources and support to thrive.
For more insights, listen to the full episode of Mission Milspouse Podcast featuring Kayla Corbitt here.
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