Child Care Center - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Part 1: The New Child Care Center

1. Question: Where will the new child care center be located?
   Answer: The new center will be located within the Suitland Federal Center, across from Federal Building 2. This will be a convenient location for those people who work at the Census Bureau and on the Suitland Federal Center campus.
2. Question: When are we opening the new child care center?
   Answer: At this time, it’s hard to say. The new center has to be built first. We are planning for late summer 2003, but the date is very tentative.
3. Question: How many children will the new center hold?
   Answer: The new center will hold 68 children, including infants. First priority will be given to the dependents of Federal employees at the Census Bureau, the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), because those are the Federal agencies supporting the new center.
4. Question: What kind of child care will the new center provide?
   Answer: The new center will provide care for infants through preschool-age children. School-age children will not be able to receive care at the new center, so child care before school and after school will not be provided.
5. Question: I have other child care arrangements, but can I use the new center as a back-up?
   Answer: At this time, there are no provisions for the new center to provide emergency drop-in child care, so you should make other arrangements for back-up child care.

Part 2: Enrolling in the New Center

1. Question: How does my child get priority for enrolling in the new center?
   Answer: The law (the Trible Amendment) states that at least 50% of children in child care centers sponsored by Federal government agencies must be the dependents of Federal government workers. To achieve this percentage required by law, child care centers receiving Federal support give priority to the dependents of the Federal agencies that support them. Since this center is sponsored and supported by the Census Bureau, Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the dependents of these Federal agencies’ employees receive first priority. Additional, specific information regarding enrollment procedures for the new center will be forthcoming.

Part 3: The Child Care Provider

1. Question: Who will be the child care provider at the new center?
   Answer: At this time, we do not know who will be the provider at the new center. The Census Bureau released a Request for Proposals, on October 11, 2002, for a provider for the new center. The child care provider at the new center will be whichever company wins the competition.
2. Question: What will tuition be at the new center?
   Answer: At this time, we do not know. As you know, tuition rates depend on several factors, such as teacher salaries, administrative costs, meal and snack costs, and supplies. We will announce the tuition rate once a child care provider is selected on the new contract.

Part 4: Additional Information

1. Question: How can I keep up with information regarding the new center and child care provider?
   Answer: Bookmark this page for regular updates.
2. Question: I still have questions. How can I get them answered?
   Answer: Contact the Census Bureau’s Child Care Liaison.