Families throughout Naval District Washington (NDW) will have access to a new Department of Defense (DoD) website called MilitaryChildcare.com (MCC) beginning March 15.

MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) is designed to simplify and improve the child care request for care process.

It provides a single online gateway for families to access military-operated or military-subsidized child care options worldwide across all services. The site enables families to create a household profile, conduct child care searches, submit requests for care, and manage their requests at any time and from any location.

"Parents can fill the paperwork online one time and apply to several centers simultaneously," said Naval Support Activity Annapolis Child and Youth Programs Director Patricia Curtis. "They can update family changes without leaving their home and at their convenience whether it be day or night. Parents will feel more secure about releasing their personal information to the secure website."

The new DoD site, which is being introduced worldwide in phases, offers a more streamlined approach to finding and requesting care, expedites placement through a standardized request process and waitlist management tools, and provides reports that help programs better plan for future placement needs.

Through MilitaryChildCare.com, eligible families can search and request care for full day and part day options in facility-based and home-based programs for children from birth through age 12. Families may remain on a preferred program's waitlist even after being offered care or enrolling in another program.

NDW families who are currently on waitlists will be automatically transitioned to the new web-based system. These families will retain the original date of their request(s) for care, and all program enrollment processes will remain the same.

"We are excited to provide parents the opportunity to explore the different options available in the convenience of their own home or work environments," said Curtis.

They will have easy access to all child and youth documents, forms, handbooks and policies. Even existing parents can take time to browse through information relevant to their childcare needs, he said.

For additional information, visit MilitaryChildCare.com or contact the help desk by calling the toll free number (855) 696-2934 or emailing FamilySupport@MilitaryChildCare.com.

For more news from Naval District Washington, visit www.navy.mil/.