This Month of the Military Child, we sat down with Francisco “Fran” Jamison, Child Care Aware® of America's Vice President of Military Programs and Executive Director of Respite Care of America, to learn more about how the military has impacted his life, how meaningful his CDA credential has been over the course of his career, and the importance of investing in military families and children.
For Fran, supporting military families isn’t just professional, it’s personal.
“I’m a military brat myself,” he says. “I grew up in the military. Its lifestyle, its child care systems, its community. It’s what I’ve always known.”
That lived experience is at the heart of how he understands, and advocates for, military children today.
The childhood behind the uniform
Military children move. A lot.
On average, every two to three years. Over the course of a childhood, that can mean starting over five or six times in new schools, meeting new friends, and acclimating to new communities.
“That doesn’t sound like much until you really think about it,” Fran reflects. “You’re constantly rebuilding.”
And yet, that same experience shapes something remarkable.
“Military kids are resilient,” he says. “They’re like dandelions. The wind carries them somewhere new and they take root.”
That resilience is paired with something else: exposure. New places. New cultures. New perspectives.
“You can live on a military installation and meet people from all over the world,” he says. “That’s something really special.”
The people who make the difference
Child care has never been just a system to Fran; the relationships and people within the child care profession are what matters most.
“My mom was a family child care provider,” he shares. “And I had mentors growing up in youth programs who really shaped me.”
That human connection stuck.
“A lot of what makes child care meaningful isn’t the structure, it’s the people,” he says. “That’s what stays with you.”
It’s also what led him to his career.
“I knew early on I wanted to work with kids. I didn’t know exactly how, but I knew that part.”
Today, Fran sees child care as foundational for families and the military itself. “Quality child care is at the core of mission readiness,” he explains. “A service member can only focus on their job if they know their child is safe, supported, and cared for.”
That peace of mind isn’t optional. It’s essential.
“There’s no substitute for knowing your child is with someone who truly cares about them,” he says.
A pathway into the profession: the CDA
Francisco’s own path into early childhood education started with a practical decision and a powerful opportunity.
As a young employee in a military child care program, he pursued his Child Development Associate credential (CDA).
“At the time, I didn’t have the resources to go straight into college,” he says. “The CDA gave me a way to keep learning, keep growing, and keep doing the work.”
The experience was more than a credential; it was a community.
“I wasn’t doing it alone. There were others going through it with me, and that made a difference.”
Today, he sees the CDA as just as important.
“It’s still a critical pathway,” he says. “It gives people access to the field, helps them build skills, and creates opportunities to grow into leadership roles.”
For military child care providers who are often balancing complex needs and constant change, that kind of accessible, practical training is key.
Supporting families with complex needs
Over the years, Fran has also seen the challenges facing military families grow, especially for those caring for children with special needs.
“With every move, families have to start over,” he explains. “New providers, new schools, new systems, all while managing their child’s unique needs.”
At the same time, providers are being asked to do more than ever before.
“The role of a ‘provider’ is expanding,” he says. “And people are tired. They’re carrying a lot.”
It’s a reminder that supporting military families means supporting the entire system around them, from providers to communities to policymakers.
What military children need from all of us
During Month of the Military Child, Fran emphasizes something simple, but powerful: recognition.
“Start by celebrating them,” he says. “Recognize that military children and families are part of the story...We need more people telling their stories. The more we understand their experiences, the better we can support them.”
Because behind every uniform is a family, and behind every mission is a child adapting, growing, and showing up with resilience.
This month, and every month, we have an opportunity to see them, support them, and ensure they have the care and stability they need to thrive.
