Northport VAMC Chosen for Drop-in Childcare Pilot Program

The will be one of the first in the nation to offer free drop-in child care for outpatient visitors beginning this fall.

"In addition to great care, we will be providing a safe place for our veterans' children while our heroes focus on healing," Northport VA's Director Philip C. Moschitta.

Northport  VAMC is scheduled to start accepting veterans' children, ages six weeks to 12 years, this fall. The childcare center will be open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m and have the ability to care for 30 children at any one time.

The childcare center will be operated by "Wee Luv Em" daycare, Northport's onsite licensed childcare provider. Drop-in services will be offered free to veterans who have same day appointments at the medical center.

The Northport VAMC has operated a childcare center for 25 years, but it was for the benefit of employees rather than patients.

In a survey, the VA found that more than 10 percent of female veterans had to cancel or reschedule vA appointments due to lack of childcare. This pilot program will benefit both men and women Veterans.

Women veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population. Of the 22.7 million living veterans, more than 1.8 million are women.

The other two pilot programs for drop-in child care will be at Buffalo and Tacoma, WA.