This is a sponsored blog post by Upwards. All opinions are 100% from Wives of the Armed Forces.
Securing reliable childcare has always been a challenge for military families. This comes as no surprise due to the varying schedules many have. It’s incredibly difficult to obtain childcare as is, let alone during nontraditional hours. You all know what I’m talking about – early mornings, overnights, holidays, unexpected missions etc. etc. the list goes on and on.
In August of 2023, the Department of Defense launched a new childcare program through Upwards to help military families secure childcare. This means Upwards provides you with a helping hand to take the heavy lifting off of you to find reliable childcare for when you need it. Depending on the branch, the cost of childcare may also be covered.
What is Upwards?
Upwards is the largest childcare network in the United States with licensed childcare providers in all 50 states. The organization works with families, childcare providers, governments, and employers to uplift the current state of the childcare ecosystem through a variety of programs to make childcare accessible to everyone.
Upwards has been entrusted with helping military families find and secure childcare at no cost for training. With most large, commercial daycare centers being closed on the weekends, Upwards has uniquely spearheaded and expanded a network of state-licensed and vetted family childcare providers who are eager to serve military families in their communities.
It’s okay for parents to wonder if a family childcare center is the right choice for their children so let’s address the common misconceptions.
Misconception #1: “Home daycares aren’t as safe as commercialized centers.”
All family childcare providers in the Upwards military childcare program have to be state-licensed. Additionally, all childcare providers have an additional level of insurance to ensure the safety and wellbeing of military children. The Upwards team is consistently monitoring these daycares through background and license checks to ensure the safety and wellbeing of military children.
You may be wondering, well, how can I find these state-licensed vetted childcare providers near me?
Families who need help in finding childcare don’t need to do anything other than take two minutes to sign up for the program. Upon signing up, the Upwards Care Navigators do all of the heavy lifting to find options that fit your training schedule and needs. We have an entire team dedicated to continuing the growth of our military childcare program everyday, so for the most up-to-date options in your area you can contact your Care Navigator.
Do you have a current childcare provider you’d like to be onboarding into the program? Many military families have been able to add their current providers into the program to support soldiers in their communities.
Misconception #2: “Home daycares don’t provide the same quality of education.”
Family Childcare Centers (FCCs) excel at personalized learning experiences due to smaller class sizes and more one-on-one time for a more individualized experience. On average, family child care homes (FCCs) provide care for 2-6 children per trained adult, depending on state regulations and the children’s ages. These providers use a variety of curriculum, from play-based to Montessori-inspired learning, giving you a wide selection of choice in your child’s education.
Upon receiving childcare options from an Upwards Care Navigator within the Upwards app, families can see profiles of the childcare providers including bios, curriculum type, and certifications to give you extra peace of mind when choosing the right fit for your family.
Misconception #3: “Home-based daycares won’t fit my schedule.”
A traditional center-based childcare center tends to operate under a schedule that fits the typical 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday schedule, leaving those working nights and weekends scrambling to find alternative options. On average, home-based daycares are open 12 hours a day and are able to accommodate earlier mornings, later nights, and weekends. This is particularly relevant for military families who start their day earlier on the weekdays or attend their weekend drills once a month and need an option that will allow them to drop off and pick up their children at the times that work best for them. Typically, this is 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. for training weekends.
Family childcare homes offer a safe, nurturing, and flexible option for military families — often with smaller group sizes, personalized care, and the same licensing and safety standards as larger centers. With the Upwards military childcare program, eligible military families have fully covered care for drill weekends, annual training, and emergency deployments, with no need to find or pay for care themselves. Upwards takes care of everything, including direct payments to providers. Additionally, all military branches receive free childcare search assistance, ensuring families can quickly locate vetted providers that meet their needs.
How Can I Get My Military Childcare Costs Covered?
At the time this article is published, the United States Army Reserves covered childcare program is available to those who either live or drill in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Central/Northern California.
As of February 2025, the U.S. Army National Guard covered childcare program is currently available to those who live or drill in Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
If your state or military branch isn’t eligible yet, we still encourage you to sign up! You’ll be the first to know when the program expands. In the meantime, you can take advantage of the Childcare Navigator benefit to get help finding care — a challenge in itself.
Check your eligibility, and sign up for the program here.
You can also contact our Upwards team directly at heroes@upwards.com. We’re here to help!
Meet Lauren
Lauren DeBauch is the Communications Specialist for Military Programs at Upwards. She focuses on community outreach to military branches across the country – highlighting the importance of covered childcare for service members. She also meets with military families to understand their childcare struggles and hear the impact the Upwards covered childcare program has on their lives.
