Military Base daycare religious exemptions - Page 2

[lboosmommy]

Also looking for more information on this.

I'm a SAHM, but wanted to get my kids set up at the CDC for drop-in on occasion (my doctor's appointments, etc.).

I called about waivers and the director was kind of snarky about it, but the only one she mentioned was medical, which I'm 99% sure I won't be able to swing. So, I'm hoping to try for the religious waiver.

DH is Air Force, BTW.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by lboosmommy 

Also looking for more information on this.

I'm a SAHM, but wanted to get my kids set up at the CDC for drop-in on occasion (my doctor's appointments, etc.).

I called about waivers and the director was kind of snarky about it, but the only one she mentioned was medical, which I'm 99% sure I won't be able to swing. So, I'm hoping to try for the religious waiver.

DH is Air Force, BTW.

Did you read this post?

#6

I'd turn in the religious exemption and, if necessary, drop a line like "the person who handled my friends IG complaint for being refused a spot at her CDC, said that it never should have happened and that HQ Air Force would be following up with a more explicit regulation that would would protect exemptions from being rejected out of hand. Perhaps I should follow up on that for you."

[nia82]

I was planning on the same... I never ended up going on to fill out their paperwork and bring my own written statement for the religious exemption. they didn't even have spots open, if you are a SAHM, you are low priority and it's basically impossible to get a couple hours of childcare. I went with off-base instead, just the state's exemption, which is easy peasy.

[lboosmommy]

Could you possibly point me to which letter and form you're talking about exactly? I saw a bunch of different ones, just want to make sure I have the 'right' ones. :-)
 

I filed religious exemption letter as found on here, and a DODea form for exeption and printed out the regulations also found from here. (Thanks so much guys).

[cubbbyaf]

On post #14 of this thread is the template for the letter I used and what I typed on the  DODea Form 2943.  Hope that helps.  Oh, and for Air Force People, PM me for the name and number of the woman at Air Force Headquarters that you can have your CDC director call if they are still not sure what to do and I will be more than happy to give it to you.  I'd post it on here, but I don't know all the rules and I don't want to break any.

[lboosmommy]

Awesome, thanks.

That's what I had kind of done, was filled out the 2943 and then used the letter as my 'explanation' section.

Now to go hand it in, lol.

[natural&organicmom]

Thanks for all your work and sharing this folks.  We were able to get our kids registered for CYS prior to leaving Fort Lewis, WA.  I simply filled out the state "philosophical" exemption form and gave it to the registering agent.  According to the Army the Public Health Nurse has to sign off on it and approve it.  At Fort Lewis she just so happened to be there when I was registering before we PCS'd here to CO.  I had no idea the military could deny state exemptions, however, when we arrived here at Fort Carson, CO, I attempted to do the same the CYS denied my form and we were given a letter stating that "personal" religious beliefs were prohibited and that we had to have a pastor, chaplain, religious organization sign off that not having immunizations was a part of "written" tenants or normal practice of our belief group.  My husband is an active duty Army Chaplain and I am Air Force Reserve.  He's deploying and we are awaiting approval of his religious exemption letter, however, they are requiring an additional chaplain to sign the letter besides himself.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  I realize it is against a Supreme Court decision to require proof of religious belief, but their verbage here has been hostile in their letter.  If denied we may have to file an IG complaint as well.  Thanks so much!!!

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by natural&organicmom 

Thanks for all your work and sharing this folks.  We were able to get our kids registered for CYS prior to leaving Fort Lewis, WA.  I realize it is against a Supreme Court decision to require proof of religious belief...

Not just that, but religious "proof" is only in the regulations for members, not dependents. There are no regulations in any service detailing "requirements" for dependents religious exemptions for childcare or other on base services. All the regs say is that religious exemptions are allowed.

and...
[quote]Paragraph 3-2.b.(4) at the bottom of page 10 of

Army Regulation 40–562
BUMEDINST 6230.15A
AFJI 48–110
CG COMDTINST M6230.4F:

http://www.vaccines.mil/documents/969r40_562.pdf

specifically states, "Department of Defense schoolteachers, daycare center workers, and children attending DOD–sponsored schools
and daycare centers or similar facilities on military installations. As a condition of employment or attendance at these
facilities, schoolteachers, childcare center workers, volunteers, and children attending DOD–sponsored primary and
secondary schools, childcare centers, or similar facilities are administered appropriate vaccines against communicable
diseases unless already immune (based on documented receipt of vaccine series or physician–diagnosed illness) or
medically/administratively exempt. "[/quote]
 

ARMY

Army Regulation 40–562
BUMEDINST 6230.15A
AFJI 48–110
CG COMDTINST M6230.4F

http://www.vaccines.mil/documents/969r40_562.pdf
pg. 10, section 3.2, para 4 says:

[quote]In addition, all other age appropriate ACIP–recommended vaccines for children are required unless there is documentation of previous immunization, religious exemption, or medical contraindication.[/quote]

Army Regulation 608-10

http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r608_10.pdf
Child Development Services

4-6
(2) A waiver of the immunization requirement must be approved in writing by the Chief, Preventive Medicine or
health consultant. Parents must be counseled that children with waivers will be excluded from the program in the event
of vaccine preventable communicable disease outbreak.

C–37. Compliance item 15.

c. Equivalency. A waiver of immunizations signed by Chief, Preventive Medicine may be considered for religious
convictions. Parents must be counseled that the child may be excluded during an outbreak of vaccine preventable
communicable disease.

Army Dependent Exemption Memos

[lboosmommy]

Still working on this.

The director of the CDC here at Hill said they only do it for Medical reasons. Obviously that's not true. I gave her the regulations that show the religious exemption clause when I handed in everything. Any other suggestions? I didn't actually talk to her, I passed on the info through the guy at the front desk and she called DH and told him they only do medical. So, I'm guessing my first step should be to just call her and remind her that it's in the regs. But what if she still tells me NO?

[Punchy Kaby]

Thank you so much for posting this information! I wasn't going to bother applying for the CDC, but now I will submit my application.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by lboosmommy 

Still working on this.

The director of the CDC here at Hill said they only do it for Medical reasons. Obviously that's not true. I gave her the regulations that show the religious exemption clause when I handed in everything. Any other suggestions? I didn't actually talk to her, I passed on the info through the guy at the front desk and she called DH and told him they only do medical. So, I'm guessing my first step should be to just call her and remind her that it's in the regs. But what if she still tells me NO?

I believe the order would be group commander, base commander, IG.

[fussamama]

Hi CubbbyAF,

I sent you a PM but wanted to also follow up here for the IG POC info.  Hoping to have that in my back pocket before trying to enroll my DS at the Dods school this fall.. Thanks!

[syane45]

This thread is awesome!! Thank you so much for all the help! I am currently in a fight with the FCC program because they are denying me my daycare license because my child is not vaccinated!

[lboosmommy]

Got the call this morning that their waivers have been APPROVED!

*happy dance*

Took a while though. After they asked for a clergy letter, which one of the chaplains was happy to provide, it took almost 2 months, and that's AFTER all the other back and forth. Yesterday I made another call to find out where it was in the process and was told that it was at the Pentagon level (BTW, here it was MUCH more pleasant dealing with the FCC director than the CDC director). She called me this morning to let me know they'd received it back APPROVED. 

I am SO relieved. Hubby's going on deployment soon and I wasn't going to be able to take advantage of the free child care hours or their "Parents Night Out" programmes without it all taken care of.

[purpleheather79]

I know this is an old thread, but I am curious about more recent experiences with CYS registration and religious exemptions.  

I have tried for years to get my children registered and have been unsuccessful- in GA, VA, WA, and now AZ.  When we were at Ft Lewis, I actually filed an IG complaint and it was dismissed with no action taken.  I've missed out on respite care during deployment and this is really frustrating!  Right now I am being told (in AZ) that my religious exemption will only be accepted with a notarized letter from the clergy at my church and that, even with the religious waiver, there are still 3 vaccinations that are mandatory before enrollment is allowed.  (The APHN even claims that those 3 vaccinations are required for children with medical waivers as well-even in children who cannot be vaccinated because of pre-existing medical conditions!)  I know this isn't true but am not sure I have the energy to fight this... which is why I usually give up until we PCS again.  Ironically, children must be registered with CYS to attend the homeschool support group on post here.  

I've read through all of these old threads, printed the various regs and waiver forms, and turned them in to CYS and the APHN but I am getting nowhere.  It would be far easier to enroll my kids in almost anything off post than to go through the military.  Any advice?

[fussamama]

I do not have experience with CYS specifically.  However, I have been able to enroll my child at the DODs school here on an AF base without any issues.  I downloaded the request for exemption and filled it out along with a letter stating that we were not vaxing for religious reasons.  The nurse did not bat an eye and there has not been any issues.  When I did drop off the paperwork, I went armed with the reg (Army Regulation 40–562).  http://www.vaccines.mil/documents/969r40_562.pdf

(4) Department of Defense schoolteachers, daycare center workers, and children attending DOD–sponsored schools
and daycare centers or similar facilities on military installations. As a condition of employment or attendance at these
facilities, schoolteachers, childcare center workers, volunteers, and children attending DOD–sponsored primary and
secondary schools, childcare centers, or similar facilities are administered appropriate vaccines against communicable
diseases unless already immune (based on documented receipt of vaccine series or physician–diagnosed illness) or
medically/administratively exempt. For rubella, immunity is based only on documentation of immunization or laboratory
evidence of immunity. Administer influenza vaccine annually to schoolteachers, daycare workers, and volunteers.
In addition, all other age appropriate ACIP–recommended vaccines for children are required unless there is documentation
of previous immunization, religious exemption, or medical contraindication. Installation medical staff will collaborate
with DOD school and daycare center authorities to ensure effective immunization screening procedures. Local
10 AR 40–562/BUMEDINST 6230.15A/AFJI 48–110/CG COMDTINST M6230.4F • 29 September 2006
MTFs will appoint liaisons to these facilities to ensure understanding and compliance. For foreign–national children
outside the United States, observe host country recommendations or requirements.

Looks like the Arizona Dept. of Health Services has exemptions forms for schools and child care so you might want to go there and get your religious waiver as well.    You can also check out this website http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/arizona.htm.

I know that it is exhausting to deal with military people.  You need to go to the CYS armed with this reg, bring your AZ waiver and your required statements and let them know that is all that is needed.  If they require anything else, tell them that you need to see that reg that states otherwise. Regs are in place for a reason.  If all else fails, go to the base commander armed with information. Nowhere does it state that there is any requirement for a notarization from clergy.  It is ridiculous to request this because people can be of the same religion and still have different objections.  There is enough ingredients in vaccines to insult every major religion.  They should not ask you what religion you are and you should not answer them.  It is also stupid of them to say that there are still 3 that are required - that goes against the meaning of EXEMPTION.

A lot of these people are so brainwashed into thinking that vaccines are required that it never occurs to them of the exemptions (if you do not know, they will not tell you - another form of don't ask, don't tell).  You have to be armed with information and be clear about your rights.  You have to be confident about what you are doing and be nice about it. :o)

I hope that this helps some.  Do not give up!  They can 'control' the active duty spouse but they cannot control the civilians in your family.