WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army announced today the signing of a new, innovative child care pilot program designed to improve access to quality child care for Army Reserve Soldiers and their families.
“The Army recognizes the impact that child care has on the lives of our Soldiers and their families,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations (G-9). “Through increased initiatives to identify and secure accessible and affordable child care options, we enable our military parents to fulfill their responsibilities without sacrificing the well-being of their children.”
This child care pilot program was established through use of an intergovernmental support agreement. IGSAs were established through the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act as formal public-to-public agreements between Army installations and state or local governments to provide, receive or share installation support services.
This new child care IGSA will be piloted with the city of West Liberty, Iowa, and Clay County, Missouri. Both competitively selected the Upwards Company to assist them in providing child care services for U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers and families in their communities due to Upward’s technological capabilities, including their mobile app, which allows users to easily find, tour and enroll with local, licensed child care providers. Upward technologies also include an advanced matching algorithm that provides real-time child care availability, saving families time and eliminating paperwork and wait-lists.
“Shaping the Army Reserve of the future requires the support of both military and community leaders,” said Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of Army Reserve and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command. “We are grateful to the organizations participating in this unprecedented partnership for providing trusted, accessible, weekend child care to our Soldiers and their families.”
For more information, please contact the Army Partnership office at usarmy.pentagon.hqda-dcs-g-9.mesg.public-partnerships@army.mil.
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