CDC mission includes playtime

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marcy Copeland
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZONA --  Placing a child in the arms and care of a stranger can be a terrifying experience for a first-time parent, but with the help of the staff at the 56th Force Support Squadron Child Development Center, the transition from mom to CDC becomes one of trust and appreciation.

The CDC accepts children with reservations and on a space-available, drop-in basis. A child may stay for a few hours or spend the entire day on a limited basis. The center also has an active sublet program for parents seeking temporary care.

Children as young as 6 weeks old can begin attending the facility's infant care program. When a child reaches five years of age, they transition from daycare to kindergarten.

With 180 children enrolled and between 60 to 65 caregivers within the facility, each classroom is assigned an age group with two caregivers per classroom that provide different activities suited for the designated age. Activities include water play, reading, music, painting and sand tables. Children can also spend time on playground equipment or just playing outside.

The youth program assistants have to receive accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children to become a care giver as well as a background check by the Air Force.

"Getting accredited by NAYEC is extremely hard," said April Castranova, 56th FSS youth program assistant. "It takes almost a year and a half in preparation to pass the accreditation to be a youth program assistant. We have a set of modular training for each age group that you are assigned to and those take roughly 18 months to complete. We have to be certified in many things like CPR and medication administration."

The CDC is governed by Air Force Instruction 34-248 and must be operated within the standards and guidance of NAYEC to retain its accreditation.

"It's a constant balance for us," Castranova said. "We have to be accredited and at the same time we still have Air Force guidelines which makes working here even more secure."

The facility is equipped with cameras in every room and hallways which are constantly monitored by directors and trainers assigned to the classrooms.

We have a lot of checks and balances here," said Castranova. "We have a director that observes us, two trainers that the rooms are divided between, and an assistant director that also observes us, ensuring we follow all rules. There are rules for the parents as well, like washing hands. It all adds to the quality of the program."

The operating hours are 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., giving parents who may start work early, the opportunity to drop their child off for care.

"When you feel like you don't want to wake up and go to work, you know it's all worth it when you see those adorable chunky faces, said Danielle Gatlin, 56th FSS youth program assistant. "You are changing these babies' lives and making sure they have what they need, and you just fall in love with each and every one of them."

Some parents may feel uncertain and hesitant to leave their child to continue a career in the military. Having the option of daycare on base provides many a peace of mind knowing their child is close by and are in the care of experienced and dedicated youth program assistants.

"We try to build relationships not just with the children, but with the parents as well," Castranova said. "We try to make parents feel comfortable and when that year is over, it's hard on the parents and us when the babies transition. Saying goodbye after spending a year with them is rough. We get them when they're so little. We watch them grow to walking and talking, and when we receive those letters from parents thanking us, it deepens the reward we receive. It is what parents think about us that matters."

Daycare is open to all military and civilian employees. Having the daycare on base makes it easier for parents to drop off their children, visit during breaks or lunch, but more importantly, it aids in the Air Force mission by taking care of what's most precious to every parent.

"As parents do what they need to do to serve our country, we get to serve them," Gatlin said. "In order to have parents complete their jobs to the best of their abilities, we are watching their little ones and that trust is a huge thing."