Military Child Care Programs: Progress Made, More Needed
FPCD-82-30
Published: Jun 01, 1982. Publicly Released: Jun 01, 1982.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed military child care programs, pointing out some potential problems in the quality of the programs and identifying opportunities to reduce child care costs.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to periodically verify compliance with DOD standards. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to determine where appropriated funds are needed to correct unsafe or hazardous conditions. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to use uniform building design guides for child care facility construction where feasible. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to use family day care homes, with proper monitoring, as an adjunct to child care centers where feasible. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to use a variable fee structure, based on rank or total income, which accomodates the financial needs of lower-ranking personnel and hardship cases. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop DOD-wide minimum standards for the services' child care programs. These standards should address: (1) total group size; (2) caregiver/child ratios; (3) educational activities; (4) staff training; and (5) food services. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services, when it is not feasible to correct unsafe or hazardous conditions, to document and develop plans to overcome the problems of facilities which should be closed. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to provide, individually or on a joint basis, training programs for all child care staff. The training programs should make full use of the Ft. Lewis Project manuals and guides. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
Full Report
Topics
Child care programsDay care centersFacility securityMilitary cost controlMilitary dependentsNonappropriated federal fundsProgram managementSafety standardsMilitary forcesInfants