CDC to offer hourly drop-in child care

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Child Development Center at Dyess plans to open a new room that will be dedicated specifically to hourly drop-in child care Monday.

Colonel Garrett Harencak, 7th Bomb Wing commander, implemented the program after polling the base populous and discovering that offering hourly services on a regular basis would be a significant benefit to the quality of life here.

“The CDC previously offered hourly child care on a space-available basis,” said Ms. Kc Radloff, 7th Services Squadron Family Member Programs flight chief. “But the need for a room that is set aside specifically for hourly care was identified by wing leadership. We took a room that was not being used to capacity and got the funding to convert it to a multi-age-appropriate space.”

“It’s a tremendous program for all of our Airmen at Team Dyess because we’re an Air Force that’s all about retaining the family -- recruiting the individual, but retaining the family,” said Lt. Col. Andreas Walsh, 7th Services Squadron commander.

“So anything we can do for our Airmen is a great thing. I’m very happy to see this come aboard and for Colonel Harencak to take the initiative to see the need and make this happen,” he said.

Ordinarily, each room at the CDC is designated for a certain age group,Ms. Radloff said. The services squadron was able to obtain a waiver to combine four age groups, and the 7th Civil Engineer Squadron began remodeling in January.

The new room is divided into two sections: one for children ages six weeks through 12 months, and another for children ages 13 months through 35 months. Each section
features age-appropriate fixtures, a diaper-changing area, food preparation space, and the necessary plumbing to support them.

“All Air Force bases offer day care, but not all offer a room dedicated to hourly drop-in care,” Colonel Walsh said. “That involved coordination on Air Combat Command and Air Force levels. We’re fortunate to have completed what we needed to make it happen.”

Hourly child care will be available from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will cost $3.50 per hour regardless of the age of the child or the income of the parents.

Reservations may be made up to two weeks in advance, and shortnotice reservations (within 48 hours of needed care) will be accepted on a staff- and space-available basis.

Customers may have up to three reservations booked at a time.

“This is to prevent the drop-in room from being used for full-time care and will allow more people to take advantage of the program,”Ms. Radloff said to explain the three-reservation limit.

The new room has space for four infants ages six weeks to one year and 10 to 12 children ages 13 months to 35 months; however, each age group has its own staff-to-child ratio requirements, so the number of children who will be accepted will depend on the number of staff members who are available.

Children who are being cared for at the CDC must be within the appropriate age range, be a military or Department of Defense dependent, and have proof of immunizations.

The CDC recommends parents who are interested in hourly child care pick up the necessary forms from the CDC in advance and have them on file there.

Childcare providers are required to be at least 18 years of age; possess a high school diploma or equivalent; be able to read, write and speak English fluently; pass a physical examination and be immunized; pass three background checks, including a fingerprint check; and pass the training qualification courses that are required for child care providers.

“It’s extremely beneficial,” Colonel Walsh said. “We hope people will take advantage of it and use it to the fullest extent possible. We’d love to fill that room every day.”