The Cost of Care: How Military Families Are Spending Their Savings on Expensive Childcare

Child care: a simple phrase that comes with an increasingly heavy burden for military families across the United States. While military life is built on sacrifice, dedication, and adaptability, few consider the financial challenges that come with such a lifestyle—especially when it comes to child care. As Kayla Corbitt, founder of the Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), explains, many military families are facing a child care crisis that is forcing them to dip into their savings just to cover costs.

In her conversation with Business Insider, Corbitt sheds light on the eye-watering expenses military families incur, often draining their hard-earned savings just to ensure their children are well-cared for. But why is child care so expensive for military families, and what can be done about it? In this blog, we’ll explore Corbitt’s insights on the subject and the ripple effect that these expenses have on military families’ financial stability and mental health.

Why Is Child Care So Expensive for Military Families?

For many military families, child care isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Spouses often have to juggle the demands of raising children, working jobs, and managing households, especially when their service member partner is deployed or working long hours. Add in the frequent relocations, which can mean starting from scratch in a new community every few years, and finding consistent, affordable child care becomes a Herculean task.

One of the reasons child care costs are particularly high for military families is the lack of availability in many areas where they are stationed. On-base child care facilities are often in high demand, and long waiting lists can leave families scrambling for off-base options. According to Corbitt, off-base child care centers can be prohibitively expensive, sometimes costing upwards of $15,000 to $30,000 a year—comparable to private school tuition.

This forces many military families to make difficult decisions, such as pulling from savings or retirement accounts to pay for child care, sacrificing future financial security for their present needs.

The Impact on Savings and Financial Stability

Corbitt points out that military families are increasingly having to dip into their savings to cover the high cost of child care, and the financial toll is significant. For families who move frequently and have little to no family support in their new location, affordable child care becomes essential for maintaining a semblance of normalcy.

But when child care costs rival a mortgage payment, it’s no wonder that families find themselves draining their savings. For military families, these savings are often intended to serve as a safety net during transitions, emergencies, or for post-military life. Tapping into these funds for child care expenses can leave families vulnerable in the event of unexpected financial hardships or major life changes.

Corbitt emphasizes that the rising costs are putting undue stress on military families, many of whom already face a range of financial challenges due to the unique demands of military life. The choice between quality child care and financial stability is one that no family should have to make, yet it’s becoming an all-too-common dilemma for those serving their country.

Mental Health: The Hidden Cost of Expensive Child Care

Child care isn’t just a financial burden—it’s a mental health one, too. As Kayla Corbitt notes, when military families struggle to afford child care, it creates a ripple effect that extends beyond their bank accounts and into their emotional well-being.

For military spouses, in particular, the inability to find affordable, reliable care for their children can lead to feelings of guilt, anxiety, and helplessness. Many spouses are forced to put their careers on hold, or even leave the workforce entirely, because they can’t afford the cost of child care. This not only affects family income but also leads to a loss of personal identity and a sense of stagnation.

The constant worry about how to cover child care costs adds yet another layer of stress to an already demanding lifestyle. And while many military families are resilient, the compounding pressure of financial strain, long deployments, and child care uncertainty can lead to burnout.

Corbitt believes that addressing the child care crisis is essential to improving not only the financial health of military families but their mental health as well. When families have access to affordable, quality child care, it allows them to focus on their own well-being, career development, and family life without the looming stress of unaffordable expenses.

OCCP’s Role in Addressing the Crisis

So, what can be done? Corbitt’s Operation Child Care Project (OCCP) is working tirelessly to bring attention to the financial and emotional strain that child care costs place on military families. One of the key goals of OCCP is to advocate for better child care options, both on and off base, and to push for policies that provide financial relief to military families.

OCCP also focuses on educating families about available resources, such as child care subsidies, grants, and scholarships that can help reduce the financial burden. By creating a network of support for military families, OCCP aims to ease the pressure of child care costs and provide solutions that allow families to maintain both their financial stability and mental health.

Corbitt is also pushing for more public and private partnerships to address the shortage of child care options, particularly in areas where military families are stationed. By working together with local communities, businesses, and policymakers, OCCP hopes to create more affordable, accessible child care solutions for military families across the country.

Conclusion: Easing the Burden, Building the Future

Kayla Corbitt and the Operation Child Care Project are tackling one of the most pressing issues faced by military families today: the exorbitant cost of child care. As families are forced to dip into their savings just to cover child care expenses, the ripple effect on their financial stability and mental health is undeniable. But there is hope.

Through advocacy, education, and partnerships, OCCP is working to create lasting solutions that will ease the financial burden on military families and allow them to thrive both financially and emotionally. By addressing the child care crisis head-on, Corbitt and OCCP are helping to ensure that military families can focus on what matters most: building a strong future for themselves and their children.

Takeaways:

• Military families face high child care costs, with expenses sometimes reaching $15,000 to $30,000 annually.

• Many families dip into savings to cover child care, jeopardizing their financial stability and future plans.

• The mental health impact is significant, with military spouses feeling the strain of balancing career aspirations, family, and finances.

• OCCP advocates for affordable child care options, public-private partnerships, and financial resources to alleviate the burden on military families.

For the full story and more insights from Kayla Corbitt, check out the original article here.