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Picture this: you’re a military spouse, juggling all the tasks of running a household while your partner is away on deployment. You’ve got kids who need attention, work that requires focus, and life’s endless to-do list. On top of all that? The mounting stress of finding reliable, affordable child care. It’s no small feat, and for many military families, it feels like an impossible puzzle to solve. Fortunately, Kayla Corbitt, founder of the Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), is here to change that.
In a recent Facebook Watch video, Kayla dives into the critical role OCCP plays in easing the child care crisis faced by military families. She brings a mix of compassion, practicality, and a determined spirit to her mission. In this post, we’ll break down the key insights from her video and explore how OCCP is making a real difference in the lives of military parents and their children.
The Juggling Act: Why Child Care is a Lifeline for Military Families
From the get-go, Kayla Corbitt cuts to the heart of the issue: military families are asked to juggle so much, and child care is often one of the most difficult pieces to manage. Deployments, frequent relocations, and unpredictable schedules make finding stable and reliable child care an ongoing struggle. And for military spouses—many of whom are balancing their own careers or studies—child care isn’t just helpful, it’s a necessity.
In the video, Corbitt explains that military Child Development Centers (CDCs) on bases are supposed to be a go-to solution. But with long waiting lists and limited spots, these centers often can’t accommodate every family’s needs. This forces parents to look off base for care, which can be expensive and inconsistent. For many military families, child care becomes a daily stressor that impacts not just schedules but financial well-being and mental health.
The Financial Toll: Child Care That Breaks the Bank
Corbitt doesn’t sugarcoat it—child care can be a huge financial burden for military families. In her Facebook Watch video, she discusses how military families are often forced to pay out-of-pocket for off-base child care, which can easily cost more than $1,000 a month. For families with multiple children, these costs skyrocket, creating a situation where parents are forced to decide between affording basic living expenses or paying for care.
What makes this even more frustrating is that military families, already dealing with the financial stress of frequent moves and deployments, shouldn’t have to face the additional strain of child care costs. Corbitt explains that the lack of affordable options forces some parents—usually spouses—to leave the workforce entirely. This decision might be a temporary solution, but in the long run, it leads to missed career opportunities, financial instability, and personal burnout.
The Mental Health Impact: Caring for the Caregivers
Military life is stressful for the whole family, and Corbitt is quick to point out that child care plays a major role in protecting the mental health of military spouses. When parents don’t have access to reliable care, it can lead to feelings of overwhelm, isolation, and burnout. Military spouses are often left to handle everything on their own during deployments, and without child care, they lose the ability to carve out time for self-care or even basic tasks like running errands or getting work done.
Corbitt highlights the emotional toll that this takes on families. Parents may feel guilty or anxious about not being able to provide the care their children need, and the constant pressure can strain marriages and family dynamics. Children, too, feel the impact. Without stable child care, they may lack the structure and support they need to thrive during their parent’s absence.
OCCP’s mission goes beyond just finding child care solutions—it’s about making sure military families are cared for holistically. By helping families secure reliable child care, OCCP helps ease the mental burden on parents, giving them the support they need to manage their responsibilities while also taking care of their own well-being.
How OCCP is Tackling the Crisis
So, what’s the solution? Enter Operation Child Care Project. Corbitt’s vision for OCCP is both bold and practical, focused on building a system of support for military families that provides affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care.
In the Facebook Watch video, Corbitt lays out the key ways OCCP is working to make a difference:
Advocacy for Policy Changes: OCCP is actively pushing for changes in military and government policies that will increase funding for child care programs. Corbitt is advocating for more resources to be funneled into on-base Child Development Centers, reducing waitlists and expanding availability.
Partnerships with Local Providers: OCCP is building partnerships with local child care providers near military bases, creating a network of trusted professionals who understand the unique needs of military families. These partnerships also help make off-base care more affordable for families who can’t get a spot in the CDCs.
Subsidies and Financial Assistance: Another major focus of OCCP is securing subsidies and financial assistance for military families struggling to afford child care. Corbitt and her team are working to connect families with programs that can help cover some of the high costs of care, ensuring that no family is left to handle it alone.
Education and Community Support: OCCP isn’t just about logistics; it’s about building a community. Corbitt emphasizes the importance of education—helping military families navigate the often-complicated world of child care, and providing training for child care providers to ensure they are equipped to handle the challenges military children may face.
Success Stories: Military Families Thriving with OCCP’s Help
In the video, Corbitt shares some inspiring success stories of military families who have benefited from OCCP’s work. One story that stands out is that of a military spouse who, thanks to OCCP’s resources, was able to find a trusted nanny who not only took care of her children but also became a stable figure in their lives during her partner’s deployment. With child care in place, this spouse was able to continue working and provide for her family without the added stress of juggling everything alone.
These stories aren’t just feel-good moments—they’re proof that the work OCCP is doing is changing lives. Corbitt’s vision is clear: when military families have the support they need, they can thrive. And child care is a critical part of that support system.
A Mission for Military Families
Kayla Corbitt’s message in her Facebook Watch video is simple: military families deserve access to affordable, high-quality child care. Through OCCP’s advocacy, partnerships, and community-building efforts, Corbitt is leading the charge to ensure that no military family has to navigate the challenges of child care alone.
Whether it’s pushing for policy changes, securing financial assistance, or building a network of trusted caregivers, OCCP is making a real impact on the lives of military families across the country. And while there’s still a long way to go, Corbitt’s determination and passion for this cause make it clear that OCCP is on the right path.
Takeaways:
Military families face unique child care challenges, including long waitlists for on-base care and high costs for off-base options.
Child care is a financial burden, often forcing military spouses to leave the workforce due to unaffordable costs.
Lack of child care leads to mental health struggles, with military spouses feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and burnt out.
OCCP is advocating for policy changes, partnerships, and financial assistance to make child care more accessible and affordable.
Community-driven solutions are key, with OCCP working to build networks of support for military families.
For more insights, check out Kayla Corbitt’s full Facebook Watch video here.
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