SUMTER, S.C.- Military families across the Palmetto State can now access a new resource for childcare fee assistance. The Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood-PLUS (MCCYN-PLUS) was officially launched in South Carolina during a press conference on August 1, 2024 due to the efforts of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) Division of Early Care and Education (DECE), the South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs (SCDVA) and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Watch our latest News Minute detailing MCCYN-PLUS HERE.

Helping to ease the process of finding high-quality childcare, MCCYN-PLUS offers assistance with paying for childcare services to qualifying military and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian families when childcare is unavailable on an installation or when families do not live close to an installation. South Carolina is the 15th state in the nation to offer access to MCCYN-PLUS.

DSS officials state that the original Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood program allowed families to choose childcare facilities, off base installations that were nationally accredited. Since 2021, the number of childcare centers and family childcare homes that have accreditation has decreased significantly nationwide, to 9% of childcare centers and 2% of family childcare homes. 

"South Carolina has a long and proud tradition of standing with our military community, and through the MCCYN-PLUS program, we continue to build on our reputation as one of the most military-friendly states in the country," said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.

During the press conference SCDSS Director Michael Leach stated, "Today's announcement marks the culmination of over 18 months of work by staff at DSS, South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Defense to add South Carolina to the list of states. Military families across South Carolina will now be able to choose the installation, childcare off installation, childcare facilities that are participating in ABC Quality, the state's rating and improvement system."

Interested childcare providers who are not currently enrolled in ABC Quality are encouraged to begin the sign-up process. "Together, we can give those who protect and defend our country the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children are safe and thriving while in someone else's care," said Leach.

With an emphasis on simplifying the childcare search process, Shaw Air Force Base Colonel Kevin Hicok shared, "Today, with the introduction of the Military Childcare in your Neighborhood, Plus program, we are making that process a little bit easier for them. Like many of the communities with high turnover, our base works hard to ensure we have spots available at our on-base childcare facilities. We rely heavily on our fantastic team of folks of family childcare providers to provide in-home childcare, off base for our members and their families. But the waitlist for those spots is sizable and an issue, and the mission doesn't stop. [...] many of our service members also use off base childcare options. But we're optimistic that the military childcare, in your neighborhood plus will provide even more quality childcare options for military families to use."

SCDVA Secretary Todd B. McCaffrey commented on South Carolina's commitment to military families and how launching MCCYN-PLUS showed the state's progress in addressing concerns from the military community.

"As we meet with military installation commanders across the state, they routinely articulate the three issues of most concern to their families the quality of public-school education in the state, accessibility to off base and affordable housing, and finally, accessibility to quality childcare. The Governor, his cabinet, the General Assembly continue to work these issues toward solutions, and we see progress that reinforces this state's longstanding commitment to our active-duty military presence, which continues today. We're here to further highlight the progress that South Carolina has made on one of these fronts access to quality childcare for military families."  

Families can choose eligible licensed childcare and family home programs that have at least a B+ rating through ABC Quality, South Carolina's quality rating and improvement system. Currently, there are about 200 approved providers across the state. To learn more about MCCYN-PLUS visit HERE.