A Family Child Care provider on Guam hosts a science experiment for children in her home on April 22, 2025. (Joint Region Marianas)
The Defense Department is widening child care options for military families and civilian employees on Guam as the island braces for a major increase in U.S. troop levels over the next decade.
The Navy’s Family Child Care program recently expanded eligibility to include off-base providers, opening the door for “greater access to flexible, affordable, high-quality child care” for local communities, Joint Region Marianas said in a Nov. 21 news release.
“We are very excited about this expansion of our current program because it will enhance our ability to provide much-needed child care services to military members, as well as providing business opportunities to local Guam residents,” Tenley Thayer, the regional FCC director, said in the release.
The move comes amid preparations for a surge in U.S. personnel. Guam, which now hosts about 17,000 service members, is expected to see that number rise to roughly 24,000 by fiscal 2033, according to a Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific solicitation posted Sept. 13 on SAM.gov.
“Due to the rapid expansion, we anticipate an increased need for child care and are preparing to meet this,” Joint Region Marianas spokeswoman Catherine Norton said in an email Wednesday.
Until now, the program was limited to on-base providers. The expansion allows families to access Navy-certified child care in both on- and off-base homes. The change requires no additional funding, Norton said, because training and oversight will be handled by existing government staff.
While the expanded program is administered through the Navy Child and Youth Program, participants do not need military affiliation to become or use an off-base provider.
To qualify, prospective providers must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or GED, and have all household members ages 12 and older complete background checks, according to the release. Training is provided for free, aside from a $29 CPR and first aid certification that is valid for two years.
Military members and DOD civilians may use services at subsidized Navy rates, while all other patrons will pay provider-set fees, Norton said.
Subsidized full-day infant care for children six weeks to 23 months is $1,700 per month per child. Full-day care for children ages 2-12 costs $1,350 monthly, school-year care is $850 per month, and hourly care is $15 per child.
