CDC announced ACC’s best two years in a row

Liz La Rosa, Dyess Child Development Center caregiver, reads to a group of children Feb. 5, 2014, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. La Rosa is one of many staff members that influence the positive relationships between parents and caregivers. The CDC has been awarded best in Air Combat Command for their Child Development Program for a second straight year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylsee Wisseman/Released)

CDC announced ACC’s best two years in a row

Francise Gonzales, Dyess Child Development Center caregiver, plays with two toddlers she oversees, Aubrey and Isabella Feb. 5, 2014, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The CDC was recently recognized for their hard work and dedication throughout 2013 by being awarded best in Air Combat Command for the second year in a row for their Child Development Program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylsee Wisseman/Released)

CDC announced ACC’s best two years in a row

Lisa Britton, Dyess Child Development Center staff member, washes dishes Feb. 5, 2014, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The CDC builds all their meals based on the nutritional guide by the United States Department of Agriculture. The center has also expanded the preschool health and nutrition education program by taking field trips to the commissary. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylsee Wisseman/Released)

CDC announced ACC’s best two years in a row

Angel Landry, Dyess Child Development Center staff member, works on an arts and crafts project Feb. 5, 2014, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Landry, along with other members, shows enthusiasm in her job and helps improve the CDC mission each day by improving several different programs based on ages of the children and their needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylsee Wisseman/Released)

CDC announced ACC’s best two years in a row

Matthew Gray, Dyess Child Development Center staff member, works at the front desk enrolling children on waiting lists and signing visitors into the CDC Feb. 5, 2014, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Gray and the rest of the staff at the CDC maintain their programs and help improve each one as needed through classroom and caregiver feedbacks and surveys. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylsee Wisseman/Released)

CDC announced ACC’s best two years in a row

Published Feb. 13, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Kylsee Wisseman
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Dyess Air Force Base Child Development Center recently received an award for having the best Child Development Program in all of Air Combat Command.

The CDC has been recognized for their hard work and dedication to the children and their development programs throughout 2013. This is the second year in a row that the center has been named the command's top performer.

"We work on improving our programs through parent involvement, classroom feedback, parent groups, caregiver feedbacks and surveys," said Kaci Harrison, CDC director. "We build each program based on Air Force checklist requirements, National Association for the Education of Youth Children, Caring for Children and Creative Curriculum criteria's, parent feedbacks and caregiver ideas."

Some of the accomplishments that helped the CDC win this award are the caregivers that help build trust and positive relationships with the children and parents. Also, multiple staff morale events are held throughout the year, which gave the CDC high morale and minimal turnover connecting 62 of their staff members, Harrison said.

"Our staff are highly motivated and dedicated to their jobs and enjoy the morale events throughout the year," said Lana Waters, CDC assistant director. "We have built positive relationships and have high interaction between our parents and caregivers with a 97 percent satisfaction rate."

Throughout the year the CDC garnered grant money and was selected for a $250,000 accessible playground grant to upgrade the preschool playground. They also expanded the preschool health and nutrition education with field trips to the commissary. To use the base resources they collaborated with the 7th Medical Group Dental Clinic during Dental Hygiene Month to educate the children on preventative care. The CDC also opened a new toddler room, which in turn zeroed out the toddler waiting list needs.

"We have been using our base resources to educate the children at the CDC and help continue to build base partnerships," Harrison said.

The CDC has caregivers that are inspiring to the children and have great child and parent relationships.

"My husband and I love the programs at the CDC and enjoy the caregiver's and their enthusiasm to be at work," said Ginny Arvizu, 7th Bomb Wing knowledge operations manager. "We also love how inspiring and involved the caregivers are with each parent and child and how much they care about the relationship."

Ultimately, the hard work put in by the staff and the parents is what really makes this program one of the best in the Air Force, Harrison said.

"I am very proud of our staff and parents who work so hard to keep our programs going and help improve them each year," Harrison said. "It is an honor for us to win this award two years in a row."