Making it in the MilLife

There is a 30,000 space shortage at Child Development Centers within the military, according Mr. Robert Gordon, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community & Family Policy, at the Congressional Military Family Caucus launch last year.

Blue Star Families 2012 Lifestyle Survey found that 67 percent of unemployed military spouses who wanted to work, cited child care issues as a barrier to employment. And military families aren’t alone in their struggle to find affordable child care.

Today, MSNBC reported how child care costs are derailing women’s careers. State budgets are being slashed and recovery money is drying up, affecting thousands of families. According to the story:

Many of the cutbacks by states are a result of federal dollars drying up from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, said Blank.  [Helen Blank, director of leadership and public policy at the National Women’s Law Center] While President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget proposes $825 million to help states, many working family advocates expect a shortfall.

“The problem we continually face is as a country we’re not willing to put the resources into child care to make that available,” said Blank. “Families can’t afford it, and it’s an endless struggle for providers, families and policymakers.”

How much does childcare cost where you live? Does this affect your ability to find work?

Have you ever moved to a new duty station and had to go through the process of trying to find a new, reliable babysitter? It can take weeks and be a frustrating process.

Returning to work? Looking for a highly qualified and experienced nanny that can access the installation? It can be an overwhelming.

Going on vacation? Would prefer to leave Fido in the comfort of your home?  It can be challenging to find a dependable pet sitter.

These are few examples of how Sittercity can help.

Sittercity is the nation’s largest online source for local in home caregivers including babysitters, nannies, senior caregivers, pet sitters, housekeepers and tutors, and more with more than two million in-home caregivers across the nation.

Since 2009, the Department of Defense has funded Sittercity memberships for Army, Marine, Navy, and Air Force Families, including active duty, Reserve and Guard.

According to the Department of Defense, these paid memberships allow military families entry to a custom military portal where they can match up caregivers to their situation; gain instant access to caregiver profiles that include background checks, references and reviews; and find military-certified care providers as well as caregivers who are military-subsidized and authorized access to a military installation.

The membership is free. Servicemember and their families are responsible for the hiring and payment of the caregiver.

According to officials at Sittercity,  this program has helped more than 55,000 military families find the caregivers they need to meet their needs.

Don’t go it alone if you are in need of an in home caregiver. Take advantage of this benefit. You can activate your membership by going to http://www.sittercity.com/dod.