Complete Care Options

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Complete Care Options

Overview

The care options you enter into MCC should reflect the range of child care services available to families at your program. As summarized in Understanding the MCC Care Structure, care options are a central feature that affects the entire request for care process, and all programs and providers must have at least one active care option in order to be visible to families when the search for care. Be sure to view this resource before setting up your care options to understand why setting them up correctly is so important. In addition, review How a Family Searches for and Requests Care  to see how your program will display to a family in their search results when your program meets the family’s search criteria. 

The MCC care structure is designed to:

  1. Streamline the care option setup process, reducing the number of care options a program needs to set up and manage,
  2. Standardize the way you communicate the care you offer to families, and
  3. Provide flexibility during the offer process so that you can make offers to families whose requests specifically match your available spaces. This allows you to meet the needs of families and fill spaces in an efficient manner.

For example, if you offer full-day care, you will set up a single full-day care option for all age groups you serve so you only have one care option to manage and it appears the same to all families. You can refine it to a certain age group or age range when you make offers. In addition, if you offer specialized services like pre-k before and after school, MCC allows you the flexibility to see up these more specific care offerings as well.

Care Options tab

The first step in creating a care option is to select the care type, which is the category of child care services available through your designated program type(s). The table below presents the care type(s) associated with each program type. When your program profile was set up, you designated the program type which defines the care types you can select. You must select all care types that reflect your program’s child care services. If you offer care types that do not appear when you try to create a care option, you may need to designate a secondary program type. Review Understanding the MCC Care Structure for more details.

The FCC Coordinator must work with each FCC provider to complete their care options setup and ensure that all of the provider’s child care services are reflected in the care options included in their profile. The FCC Coordinator must review and activate each care option before it can display in a family’s search results. See the Review and Approve a Profile topic for more details.

Review the appropriate care type below for instructions on how to set it up in MCC.

Table showing program type, description of child care service, and care type.

*Program type can be the program's primary or secondary program type.

Full-Day Care

Full-day care is a care type associated with CDC and FCC provider program types. SAC and 24/7 centers that provide full-day care must add a secondary program type of CDC before they can add a full-day care option. Review the table for detailed information about the two full-day care options.

Table showing descriptions of the two full-day care options: full-day care and voluntary pre-k.

Follow the steps below to set up a full-day care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select Full-Day Care from the Care Type drop down list.
  3. Select the relevant care option name from the Care Option Name drop-down list.
    • Full-Day Care
    • Voluntary Pre-K (VPK)
    • Strong Beginnings
  4. Create a custom label and select ‘Yes’ to show to families if you are setting up a preschool or pre-k summer camp and want to advertise it specifically.
  5. Select the age groups you serve with the care option.
    • For full-day care, select each age group you serve. Include all the age groups you serve (i.e., infant through preschool) in this one care option rather than create a care option for each age group. During the offer process, you can refine the age group or age range to describe the specific space you have available in order to see requests with a child age that matches your space.
    • For VPK and Strong Beginnings, you must select the age range by using the Custom Age Range field. For VPK, you can select an age range between 36 and 72 months. For Strong Beginnings, you can select an age range between 48 and 72 months.
    • For Pre-K Full-Day Care Summer Camp, you must enter a custom age range between 36 and 84 months.
  6. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option in their search results and request care.
    • Use the default date (today’s date) to allow families to search for and submit requests immediately.
  7. Set the start date and end date.
    • The care option start date indicates the first day children can attend, and can be different than the effective date. The start date can be today’s date or any date in the future, and is used to ensure all care options available on the family’s date care needed display in their search results.
    • For continuous full-day care, leave the End Date blank.
    • For preschool or pre-k summer camp, the start date is the first day of the first week of camp. The end date is the last day of the last week of camp. Indicate if the camp is managed by weeks to allow families to select which weeks of camp to include in their request.
    • For VPK and Strong Beginnings, enter the start and end date for your VPK program. If it aligns with the school district calendar, enter a start and end date that matches the school calendar.
      Care option start date with no end date indicated
  8. Select the appropriate operating schedule for the care option.
    • For full-day care, you will most likely select “follows the program’s operating schedule” because your full-day care option follows your default operating schedule set in the General Information section.
    • For VPK or Strong Beginnings, select “follows a custom schedule” and enter the specific days and times of the week the program operates. For example, your regular operating schedule is from 0600-1800 M-F, but your VPK or Strong Beginnings class meets from 0900-1500 M-F. If your program is less than six hours per day, set it up as a part-day care option. See the Part-Day Care Type setup instructions for details.
      Operating schedule fields
  9. Select Next to review and confirm the information.
  10. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered. An authorized user must review and activate the care option before it will be available to families in the search results.
    Review and confirm full-day care screen.
Part-Day Care

Part-Day care is a care type associated with CDC and FCC provider program types. SAC and 24/7 programs that provide part-day care must add a secondary program type of CDC to add a part-day care option to their profile. Review the table for detailed information about part-day care options.

Table showing descriptions of the three part-day care options: part-day care, pre-k before and after school, and part-day voluntary pre-k.

Follow the steps below to set up a part-day care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select Part-Day Care from the Care Type drop down list.
  3. Select the relevant care option name from the Care Option Name drop-down list.
    • Part-Day Care
    • Pre-K Before and After School
    • Part-Day Voluntary Pre-K (VPK)
    • Part-Day Strong Beginnings
  4. Create a custom label
    • If you offer multiple part-day programs with custom schedules – for example, you offer one option for Mon, Wed, Fri and a second option for Tues, Thur – you do not need to create a custom label because the system will include the schedule in the care option’s name. However, you should create a separate part-day care option for each schedule.
    • If you offer specialized part-day programs, like Pre-K, that you want to market to families specifically, you should set up a separate care option for that program and create a custom label to ensure families see them as separate care options in their search results.
    • Enter the custom label name and select ‘Yes’ to show the custom label to families in their search results.
  5. Select the age groups you serve with the care option.
    • For part-day care, select each age group you serve. If you offer different custom schedules for different age groups (e.g., you offer a part-day program five days a week for preschool and a part-day program two days a week for infants, you would set up two care options – one for each age group/schedule combination.
    • For part-day VPK or part-day Strong Beginnings, you must select the age range by using the Custom Age Range field. For VPK, you can select an age range between 36 and 72 months. For Strong Beginnings, you can select an age range between 48 and 72 months.
    • If you offer a specialized curriculum on a part-day basis, such as Pre-K, set up additional care option(s) with the appropriate schedules(s), restrict them to the appropriate age group (e.g., preschool), and use a custom label to distinguish these from standard part-day care.
  6. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option in their search results and request care.
    • Use the default date (today’s date) to allow families to search for and submit requests immediately.
  7. Set the start date and end date.
    • The care option start date indicates the first day children can attend, and can be different than the effective date. The start date can be today’s date or any date in the future, and is used to ensure all care options available on the family’s date care needed display in their search results.
    • For part-day care, if it is a continuous care option, leave the end-date blank.
    • For part-day VPK, Pre-K, Strong Beginnings, and pre-k before and after school care options that may be offered during certain times of the year, be sure to enter the specific start and end date associated with those care options.
      Start and end date fields.
  8. Select the appropriate operating schedule for the care option.
    • Select ‘follows the program’s operating schedule’ if the care option schedule follows the default program operating schedule set in the General Information section. This would apply to pre-k before and after school care options since the earliest pre-k before school drop-off time aligns with the program’s open time and the latest pre-k after school pick-up time aligns with the program’s close time, even if children in this care option leave during the day to attend another program.
    • Select ‘flexible schedule’ if you will work with the family to determine if you can accommodate a schedule that meets the family’s needs. The family provides a description of the schedule they need when they submit a request. You will be able to review this information before you make an offer to determine if you can meet the family’s need. You should only use this option if you are able to accommodate families that require a flexible care schedule (e.g., M 0800-1200, Tu 1200-1600, and Th 1000-1400).
    • Select ‘Follows a custom schedule’ if you offer part-day care on specific days or times. For example, you may offer an option of Mon, Wed, Fri, 09:00 - 12:00 and an option of Tues, Thur, 13:00 - 17:00). You must set up a separate care option for each unique schedule. This also applies to such part-day care options as part-day VPK, Strong Beginnings, and Pre-K.
      Operating schedule fields
  9. Select Next
    • For part-day, part-day Strong Beginnings, and part-day VPK, review and save
    • For pre-k before and after school, select the offerings then select Next to review and save.
      Set up care offerings window with pre-k before/after school care offerings selected.
  10. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered.
    Review and confirm part-day care with custom schedule
School Year Care

School Year Care is a care type associated with the SAC and FCC provider program types. CDC and 24/7 programs that provide school year care must add a secondary program type of SAC in order to add a school year care option to their profile. Review the table for detailed information about the care options associated with the School Year care type.

NOTE: Installations serving school age children through 8th grade must receive approval from their Service Representative.

Table showing descriptions of the two school year care options: school year care and school year care - kindergarten.

Prior to setting up a school year care option, you must complete the School Information tab on your program profile to identify the schools your program serves and their associated school year dates. School Year Care only displays as an available option on the Care Type list after you complete the School Information tab. All programs that offer School Year Care, including Seasonal Camps and School Out Days, should enter their upcoming school year in MCC as soon as the school year’s start and end dates are available. While this information is not required for families to place a request for the next school year, it must be entered before program users can make offers. Refer to Complete School Information for detailed instructions on setting up the School Information tab. See the School Year Care Annual Update job aid for instructions on how to update school year care options when new school year dates are available.

SCHOOL YEAR CARE WITH BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE OFFERINGS

Follow the steps below to set up a school year care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select School Year Care from the Care Type drop-down list.
  3. Select the relevant care option name from the Care Option Name drop-down list.
    • School Year Care
    • School Year Care - Kindergarten
  4. Select the grades you serve with the care option.
    • For School Year Care, select each grade you serve. Include all the grades you serve (i.e., grades K through 6) in this one care option rather than create a care option for each age group.
    • For School Year Care – Kindergarten, you can only select Kindergarten.
  5. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option in the search results and request care. Make the care option effective immediately, so families transferring into the area can see this information as soon as possible.
    • If your installation has more than one SAC program, set the effective date for all care options to the same date. This ensures that families will be able to see all of them at the same time in their search results (provided the care option meets their care needs).
  6. School Year is defaulted to show the school year dates in the School Information tab.
    • Once the initial school year care option is created, you must add the new school year dates to the School Information tab so it is included in the care option. If you need to add a school year or update the dates of an existing school year, select the Cancel action, then update the school year information following the instructions in the Complete School Information topic.
      Display of school years supported by the care option.
  7. Select the appropriate operating schedule for the care option. This should be the earliest time a family can drop off their child and the latest time they can pick them up at the end of the day, even though the child will leave during the day to attend school.
    Operating schedule fields.
  8. Select Next to open the Setup Care Offerings page.
  9. Select which Before/After school care offerings you provide.
  10. Select the school(s) served by your care option.
    • As a reminder, the schools listed are those selected in the School Information tab on your program profile. When describing the space available before making an offer, you can indicate which school has space, so only requests associated with a particular school will show on the Make Offer list. If a school is not listed, select the Cancel action, then either update the schools served information or inform your manager of the issue.
  11. Select Next to review and confirm your care option setup.
    School year care offerings.
    Set Up Care Offerings screen
  12. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered.
    Review and confirm school year care details

SCHOOL OUT DAYS AND SEASONAL CAMPS

Follow the steps below to set up a school out days and seasonal camps care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select School Year Care from the Care Type drop-down list.
  3. Select the relevant care option name from the Care Option Name drop-down list.
    • School Out Days and Seasonal Camps
    • School Out Days and Seasonal Camps - Kindergarten
  4. Select the grades you serve with the care option.
    • For School Out Days and Seasonal Camps, select each grade you serve. Include all the grades you serve (i.e., grades K through 6) in this one care option rather than create a care option for each age group. During the offer process, you can refine the age group or age range to describe the specific space you have available in order to see requests with a child age that matches your space (pending update).
    • For School Out Days and Seasonal Camps – Kindergarten, you can only select Kindergarten.
  5. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option in the search results and request care. Make the care option effective immediately, so families transferring into the area can see this information as soon as possible.
    • If your installation has more than one SAC program, set the effective date for all care options to the same date. This ensures that families will be able to see all of them at the same time in their search results (provided the care option meets their care needs).
  6. School Year is defaulted to show the school year dates in the School Information tab.
    • Once the initial school year care option is created, you must add the new school year dates to the School Information tab so it is included in the care option. If you need to add a school year or update the dates of an existing school year, select the Cancel action, then update the school year information following the instructions in the Complete School Information topic.
      School year selection
  7. Select the appropriate operating schedule for the care option. This should be the earliest time a family can drop offer their child and the latest time they can pick them up at the end of the day.
    Care option operating schedule selection
  8. Select Next to open the Setup Care Offerings page.
  9. Select if you provide seasonal camps or school out day care offerings, or both, then select Next.
    Set up care offerings window

Seasonal Camps

The care option can have multiple seasonal camps, but you must add each one separately (i.e., Fall Camp, Winter Camp, Spring Camp). If you serve multiple school districts with different school calendars, you can add more than one seasonal camp with the same camp name. During the offer process, you will be able to indicate the seasonal camp when describing the space available. Follow these steps to add each seasonal camp:

  1. Select the Add a Camp button to open the Add a Seasonal Camp window.
  2. Select the camp name from the Seasonal Camp drop-down menu and then select the Add button to enter the start and end date for the camp.
  3. Enter the camp’s start date and end date. Select the Add a Camp button to add another camp.
  4. Once you have entered all seasonal camps, select the Next button to set up the school out days. If you do not offer school out days, you will go directly to the Review and Confirm screen.
    Seasonal camp care offering setup

School Out Days

School out days capture the care you provide on days when school is closed (e.g., teacher training days) during the regular school year. Since there are many school out days during the school year, you may support several school out days throughout the school year. For example, you may offer care during school closures for teacher work-days. You must add each day or block of days separately. Follow these steps to add school out days:

  1. Select the month from the calendar. The calendar will open to the current month. To select a different month, use the month and year drop down menus or the right and left navigations arrows at the top of the calendar.
  2. Select the date or date range and then select the Save Date Button. (To select a single day, select the date twice and then the Save Date button)
  3. Once you have entered all school out days, select the Next button to review and confirm your care option setup.
    School out days setup with "Save Date" button highlighted
    Note: If you are an FCC provider, you also have the option to select ‘Unspecified School Out Days’ to indicate you are willing to work with a family to determine what school out days the family needs and whether you can accommodate each of those days. For example, rather than specify the specific holidays, you may work with families whose children attend different schools with different closure days to determine what days they need that you can accommodate or you may be able to accommodate unplanned school closures for snow days. If individual dates are selected, you cannot select ‘Unspecified School Out Days’.
    FCC provider school out care offering view showing “Unspecified school out days” checkbox.
  4. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered.
    Review and confirm school year care screen.

FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN

Follow the steps below to set up a full-day kindergarten care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select School Year Care from the Care Type drop-down list.
  3. Select Full-Day Kindergarten from the Care Option Name drop-down list.
  4. You can only select Kindergarten as the grade you serve.
  5. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option in the search results and request care. Make the care option effective immediately, so families transferring into the area can see this information as soon as possible.
    • If your installation has more than one SAC program, set the effective date for all care options to the same date. This ensures that families will be able to see all of them at the same time in their search results (provided the care option meets their care needs).
  6. Full-Day Kindergarten is defaulted to show the school year dates in the School Information tab.
    • Once the initial school year care option is created, you must add the new school year dates to the School Information tab so it is included in the care option. If you need to add a school year or update the dates of an existing school year, select the Cancel action, then update the school year information following the instructions in the Complete School Information topic.
      School year selection
  7. Select the appropriate operating schedule for the care option. This should be the earliest time a family can drop offer their child and the latest time they can pick them up at the end of the day.
    Care Option schedule
  8. Select Next to open the Setup Care Offerings page.
  9. Select that you provide Kindergarten, select Full-Day Kindergarten, and then select the Next button to review and confirm your care option setup.
    Kindergarten care option setup
  10. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered.
    Review and confirm school year care confirmation window
Summer Camp

Summer Camp is a care type associated with the SAC and FCC provider program types. CDC and 24/7 programs that provide summer camp care to school age children must add a secondary program type of SAC in order to add a summer camp care option to their program profile. Review the table for detailed information about the Summer Camp care option.

NOTE: Installations serving school age children through grades 7 or 8 must receive approval from their Service Representative.

Table showing description of the summer camp care option.

SUMMER CAMP

The Summer Camp care option should be set up on your program profile as soon as the school calendar is available. Follow the steps below to set up a summer camp care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select Summer Camp from the Care Type drop-down list. The Care Option Name will default to Summer Camp.
  3. Create a custom label.
    • If you have summer camps within the same program that are offered at multiple locations, and you want families to request the location they want, set up a summer camp care option for each location and use a custom label to help program users and families distinguish between the camp locations.
    • Select ‘Yes’ to show the custom label to families in their search results.
      Custom label field.
  4. Select the Age Group served. Note: you can only select School Age. 
  5. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option on the search results and request care.
    • If your installation has more than one SAC program or a program has multiple summer camps, the Summer Camp care options’ effective date should be the same for all of them. This ensures that all the installation’s summer camp will be available at the same time, and families will be able to see the care options in their search results (provided the care option meets their care needs). Use the default date (today’s date) to allow families to search for and submit requests immediately.
  6. Set the start and end date.
    • The start date is the first day of the first week of camp.
    • The camp’s end date can be set by either (a) indicating the number of weeks camp operates (which automatically updates the summer camp’s end date), or (b) entering the end date (which automatically updates the number of weeks the camp operates from the start to the end date).​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  7. Set the date when initial offers will be made to families.
    • The initial offer date helps programs notify families when they can expect offers will be made.
    • Families will see this date in their search results and on their My Child Care tab, along with a disclaimer message as to when they may expect to receive an offer for a summer camp. If the date has passed and the family has not received an offer, a message will inform them that the child is on the wait list, and they should make alternative plans for summer camp.Summer camp duration fields
  8. Select the appropriate operating schedule for the care option.
    • For summer camp, you will most likely select "follows the program’s operating schedule" because your summer camp follows your default operating schedule set in the General Information section.
    • Select “follows a custom schedule” if your summer camp schedule is different than your default operating schedule. For example, if you offer a shortened day camp for children in younger grades or for a specialized camp, specify the unique days of the week, and open and close times.
      Operating schedule fields.
  9. Select Next to preview how the care option will appear to families.
  10. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered. An authorized user must review and activate the care option before it will be available to families in the search results.
  11. Review & confirm summer camp confirmation window

SUMMER CAMP BY GRADE

The Summer Camp by Grade care option should be set up if you limit your camps to specific grades. If the camp serves all grades, use the Summer Camp care option instead. Follow the steps below to set up the Summer Camp by Grade care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select Summer Camp from the Care Type drop-down list.
  3. Select the Summer Camp by Grade from the Care Option drop-down list.
  4. Create a custom label.
    • Use the custom label to indicate the grades served by the camp. Note: Grades reflect the grade a child just completed. While families will only see care options that match the grade of the child seeking care, if a family has multiple children—and wants to place them together—it may be helpful to see if a camp is limited to certain grades (e.g., Completed K only).
    • If you offer summer camps at different locations and operate a waitlist for each, set up a care option for each location and use a custom label to distinguish between camp locations (e.g., Kindergarten camp at Westbrook).
    • Select ‘Yes’ to show the label in the family’s search results.
      Summer camp by grade care option custom label
  5. Select the grades served. Note: The grades served reflect the grade a child just completed (e.g., a child completing kindergarten would select K for the summer camp). If the camp serves all grades, use the Summer Camp care option instead.
    Summer camp by grade care option grade levels
  6. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option and request care.
    • If your installation has multiple summer camps, the effective date should be the same for all of them. Use the default date to allow families to search for and submit requests immediately.
  7. Set the start and end date.
    • The start date is the first day of the first week of camp.
    • The end date can be set by (a) indicating the number of weeks camp operates, or (b) entering the end date.
  8. Set the date when initial offers will be made to families.
    • The initial offer date helps programs notify families when they can expect offers will be made.
    • Families will see this date in their search results and on their Manage Care tab, along with a disclaimer message as to when they may expect to receive an offer for a summer camp. If the date has passed and the family has not received an offer, a message will inform them that the child is on the wait list, and they will need to make alternative plans for summer camp.Summer camp by grade care option start and end date
  9. Select the appropriate operating schedule for the care option.
    • Select “follows the program’s operating schedule” if your camp follows your default operating schedule.
    • Select “follows a custom schedule” and specify the days of the week and open and close times if your camp schedule is different than your operating schedule (e.g., you offer a shortened day for kindergarten camp).
      Summer camp by grade care option operating schedule
  10. Select Next to preview how the care option will appear to families.
  11. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered. An authorized user must review and activate the care option before it will be available to families in the search results.
    Summer camp by grade care option confirmation
24/7 Care

24/7 care is a care type associated with the 24/7 center and FCC provider program types. Families will be required to describe their work schedule when submitting a request for care. Review the table for detailed information about the 24/7 care option.

Table showing description of the 24/7 care option.

Follow the steps below to set up a 24/7 care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select 24/7 Care from the Care Type drop down list. The Care Option Name will default to 24/7 Care.
  3. Select the age groups you serve with the care option.
    • Select each age group you serve rather than create a separate care option for each age group. During the offer process, you can refine the age group or age range to describe the specific space you have available in order to see requests with a child age that matches your space.
  4. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option in their search results and request care.
    • Use the default date (today’s date) to allow families to search for and submit requests immediately.
  5. Set the start and end dates.
    • The care option start date indicates the first day children can attend this care option, and can be different than the effective date. The start date can be today’s date or any date in the future, and is used to ensure all care options available on the family’s date care needed display in their search results (should the care option match their search criteria).
    • Leave the End Date blank. 24/7 care is a continuous care option, therefore does not have an end date.
    • Operating Schedule is read-only and is set as “Operates 24/7.”
      Start and end date fields.
  6. Select Next to preview how the care option will appear to families.
  7. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered. An authorized user must review and activate the care option before it will be available to families in the search results.
    Review and confirm 24/7 care screen.
Extended Care

Extended Care is a care type associated with the 24/7 center and FCC provider program types. Families are required to describe their work schedule when submitting a request for extended care. Review the table for detailed information about the Extended Care option.

Table showing description of the extended care option.

Follow the steps below to set up an extended care option.

  1. From the Care Option tab, select add Care Option to open the Add Care Option page.
  2. Select Extended Care from the Care Type drop down list. The Care Option Name will default to Extended Care.
  3. Select the age groups you serve with the care option.
    • Select each age group you serve rather than create a separate care option for each age group. During the offer process, you can refine the age group or age range to describe the specific space you have available in order to see requests with a child age that matches your space.
  4. Set the care option’s effective date.
    • The care option effective date reflects the date families can see the care option in their search results and request care.
    • To allow families to search for and submit requests immediately, use the default date (today’s date).
  5. Set the start and end dates.
    • The care option start date indicates the first day children can attend this care option, and can be different than the effective date. The start date can be today’s date or any date in the future, and is used to ensure all care options available on the family’s date care needed display in their search results (should the care option match their search criteria).
    • Leave the End Date blank. Extended care is a continuous care option, therefore does not have an end date.
  6. Operating Schedule is read-only and is set as “Families will provide specific scheduling needs when requesting this care option. The program and the family will discuss whether the family's schedule can be accommodated”.
    Start and end date fields.
  7. Select Next to preview how the care option will appear to families.
  8. Review and confirm the care option. If the information is correct, select the Save button. To make additional edits to the care option, select the Previous button to return to the Add Care Option page. Select the Cancel link to delete all care option details you entered. An authorized user must review and activate the care option before it will be available to families in the search results.
    Review and save extended care screen.
Last revised: 20 Dec 2023
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