FORT DRUM, N.Y. (March 23, 2026) -- For Army families, the availability of reliable and flexible child care ties directly into mission readiness.
At Fort Drum, the Family Child Care (FCC) program is not only meeting this critical need but is setting the standard by offering a certified, in-home child care option that aligns with the unique demands of military life.
Fort Drum Child and Youth Services currently has 24 certified FCC homes in operation – the highest number in the Army – and supports 166 children, with three more applicants currently in the screening process.
“Family Child Care offers families an alternative child care option outside of a traditional child development center,” said Laura Manganaro, Fort Drum FCC director. “FCC is provided in a home setting and serves a smaller number of children, which creates a more personalized and family-like environment. This home-based setting provides a comfortable, nurturing environment that many families prefer and contributes positively to the overall quality of life.”
Daniela Martinez-Cruz is among the FCC providers on post who embodies this philosophy.
“Daniela genuinely enjoys working with children, and she demonstrates a natural ability to connect with them,” Manganaro. “She is patient, warm and nurturing, and she creates an environment where children feel comfortable, valued and cared for.”
Martinez-Cruz has been operating her FCC home at Fort Drum for nearly three years. For her, the program was a way to remain present for her own family while earning an income.
“I wanted to be a Family Child Care provider to help other military families, while also being home for my own kids,” she said. “It is nice having that choice to be there for them.”
That choice comes with a high degree of professionalism. Becoming an FCC provider begins with a two-week orientation covering CPR, First Aid, medication administration, fire evacuation procedures, child abuse prevention, among other topics.
“We have regular visits and inspections, we have a lot of training, and we make lesson plans and menus,” Martinez-Cruz said. “For me, it is creating a high-quality learning environment, but a safe and nurturing one so the kids can grow and learn new things.”
The FCC office provides constant support, from initial setup to ongoing training.
“Operating an FCC home is a family commitment,” Manganaro said. “Certain areas of the home must be dedicated to the FCC business, including the kitchen, bathroom and designated play areas. While FCC providers operate their own business, the FCC office provides guidance and support throughout the entire process.”
Beyond the initial certification, providers can pursue accreditation through the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), a goal Daniella recently achieved.
“There is no requirement to be accredited to have an FCC home, but it is something I wanted because it is the highest level of achievement – that was one of my goals,” Martinez-Cruz said. “I wanted my home to be high quality for the kids in my care.”
The accreditation process also included a written assessment, submission of documentation and photos of the FCC environment, and an in-home observation conducted by an assessor to observe the provider working with children for four to six hours.
Manganaro said the FCC providers are encouraged to pursue accreditation after they’ve had two or three years of work experience.
“This ensures they have developed the necessary skills and confidence before entering the accreditation process,” she said.
Martinez-Cruz said it took about six months to complete all the paperwork, but it was manageable.
“If you have a good routine and have everything organized, then you will be fine,” she said. “The (Fort Drum FCC) office helped with the documents, but the wait time was the hardest part, after you submit everything.”
Manganaro said the FCC office provides ongoing education and training to support providers who pursue accreditation, to include covering the associated cost.
“We guide them through each step of the process, answer questions, and help ensure they have the documentation needed to complete the requirements,” she said. “Our goal as the FCC team is to ensure that providers feel fully supported throughout the process and confident in achieving accreditation, which remains with them as they move to future installations.”
Martinez-Cruz said the reward for being an accredited FCC provider is seeing the impact firsthand.
“Watching the children grow, seeing them learn new things – that makes me feel accomplished,” she said.
Social Sharing