Changes to Child Development Center Fees at Altus AFB

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Seidl
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Driven by Department of Defense directions, the fee schedule for Child Development Centers world wide is set to change.

"It means much the same as every year. A recalculation of total family income based off of earning statements to determine the new category. For some this may not change their category and in some cases, particularly in the lower categories, it may even drop them down one category based on the wider category range. For families who fall in one of the new categories, 7-9, this will represent an increase in weekly fees," said Anthony Raas, chief of the 97th Air Mobility Wing Family Support Flight.

The adjustments to child care fees are intended to provide a more equitable policy by raising the income cap on each fee range. This will allow many families to move into lower categories and increase the number of families in the lowest fee category. Three new fee ranges have been added for families earning more than $85,000 to address the disparity of income of families in the current category 6.

The new fee schedule is set to take affect at Altus on October 2.

These revisions represent the first adjustments in fee policy since School Year 2004/2005 after an in-depth study of the fee policy in 2008.

"The fee change is not optional and will be implemented at the Altus AFB Child and Youth Center as it will be at every other DoD Child and Youth Program world wide," said Raas.

"I am committed to our program and the mission that the Air Force has in maintaining the highest quality child and youth programs. The new fee policy is a means of balancing costs of care not quality of care. Our programs will continue to provide a truly safe, healthy, nurturing and developmentally rich environment for children. Providing great care is what we do...we won't stop short of excellence in our programs," said Raas.

No changes are currently announced for fee changes at the Youth Center or Family Child Care services.

For more information or to determine what fee category your family might fall in, please contact the CDC, 481-7502 or http://altusfss.com/youth-family/child-development-center/