Child Development Center – Did you know? Who is Eligible? Almost everyone with access to the base is eligible to use the CDC! We provide care foractive duty, contractors and DOD civilians, retiree, and reserve military, AFEES, and NAFTA employees. What Makes Us Different? That’s an important question to ask. Everyone wants the best possible care for their children. Not only is our center certified by Air Force Standards – which includes 52 pages of criteria but, we are also certified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). To put that in perspective, the next closest daycare that is NAEYC accredited is in Dallas. NAEYC accreditation is important. There are 10 different standardswith over 400 specific criteria to meet. These standards are: • • • • •
Relationships Curriculum Teaching Assessment of Child Progress Health
For more information see: http://www.naeyc.org/
• • • • •
Teachers Families Community Relationships Physical Environment Leadership and Management
How are our Caregivers Trained? Per our NAEYC accreditation requirements seventy five percent of our staff holds a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA), an Associates degree or Bachelors degree. This allows us to provide care above and beyond that of a basic daycare. All staff are required to complete the Air Force Child Development Training Modules within their first 18 months of employment. All staff are required by AF to have at least 24 hours annually of training including child abuse, positive guidance, professional conduct, medication administration, healthy lifestyles for children, supervision, accountability, special needs and many other topics. In addition, staff meets with the on-site Training and Curriculum Specialist bi-monthly for training. The specialist is also available for the caregivers to provide support, information, and answer any questions regarding child development, curriculum, special needs, and many other topics that aid in providing the best care for children. All staff receives onsite training in First Aid and CPR.
What is necessary to attend? • A packet provided by the front desk, which includes: o AF Form 1181 – Program Patron Registration o AF Form 2652 – Child Care Fees o Credit Card Auto Pay Authorization o Insect Repellent Authorization o Sunscreen Authorization o Child and Adult Food Program o Health Assessment form (due six weeks after enrollment) • Current and up-to-date shot records • LES (Full-Time only)
What are our Fees? Our fees are based on a sliding scale according to Total Family Income based on LES and pay stubs. There are nine categories of pay: Category ($) 1: 0 – 30,771 2: 30,772 - 37,362 3: 37,363 – 48,352 4: 48,353 – 60,439 5: 60,440 – 76,924 6: 76,925 – 88,960 7: 88,961 – 104,658 8: 104,659 – 130,868 9: 130,869+ 9: Contractor 130,869+
Weekly Fee ($) 58.00 73.00 89.00 104.00 120.00 131.00 135.00 140.00 145.00 206.00
If you have more than one child at the CDC or Youth Programs, you will receive a 10% discount for each additional child. What about Food? Included in your fees are snacks and meals! We offer breakfast at 8:00, lunch at 11:00, and afternoon snacks at 14:00 and 17:00. Our daily and weekly menus are posted in the lobby. The menus are written by our USDA specialist then approved by a base nutritionist then sent to San Antonio to be approved by our headquarters nutritionist. The CDC presents its food to the children through family-style dining to promote conversation and to encourage children to try new foods. Children sit around a table and learn to serve themselves and pour themselves drinks. They learn to clear their spots and tuck in their chairs. Allergies, intolerances, and religious food preferences are accommodated with certain forms filled out. Substitutions are provided and approved by the same nutritionists. For safety reasons, we do not allowed food to be brought from home.
Do we have any other Services? Yes! We offer Hourly Care for children 1 – 5 years of age. Our hourly fee is $4.25/hour. This includes any meals the child is in attendance for as well as participation in all activities! We take reservations for hourly care up to two weeks in advanced. However, if your child is in Kindergarten they will attend the Youth Center next door. We also offer “Give Parents a Break” (GPAB) once a month. This occurs monthly on a Saturday night from 1800 to 2300. Quarterly we offer GPAB during the day from 1300 to 1800. The cost is $20 and includes a snack! Once again, reservations are taken up to two weeks in advance. Call the CDC today to find out when the next GPAB happens - 676-2038!
The Air Force Aid Society recognizes that AF families are subject to unique stresses. In an effort to help these families, the AFAS provides free funding for child care for eligible parents. Please see the Airman and Family Readiness Center to get in contact with AFAS. We also have extra monthly, parent involvement, activities for parents to participate in! Like our Fall Festival or Thanksgiving Lunch!
Do we have curriculum? Absolutely! Our curriculum for infants, pre-toddlers, and toddlers is focused on six goals: to learn about themselves, feelings, others, communicating, moving and doing, and to acquire thinking skills. Our curriculum for preschool is focused on four core areas of development: social/emotional, language, physical, and cognitive. We encourage and support each child’s developmental achievements, make learning meaningful, and treat all children with equal respect and consideration. Lesson plans are posted weekly on the class bulletin board. Children as young as 6 weeks have lessons plans written for them to cater to their developmental needs.
How do we help with potty training? Potty training is available starting in the two-year-old rooms. Restrooms are not provided in the younger rooms. Potty training is child led. Our caregivers ask/remind children hourly about using the potty and provide assistance. Children also learn from the older two-year-olds. They see other children using the restroom and want to practice themselves. We encourage children to use the restroom when they are ready. When do we move children to different age groups? We have five separate age groups that we place children in. We have young infants, older infants, pre-toddlers, toddlers, and preschool. Mobility and cognitive development are the key factors moving between age groups. Moving between rooms is individualized to each child. Parents, staff, supervisors, and the training and curriculum specialist work together to decide when a child is ready to join the older age group. The director then approves this transition. Over a week of time, the child is introduced to spending time with the older age group. How can I support /join in? We have an active Parent Advisory Board that meets quarterly. These parents work together with the staff at the CDC, SAP, YP and the FCC to foster an environment ofcontinued learning and growth.Develop a parent involvement plan annually and implement with the program staff.The PAB generates funds that support activities that sboost the program. What are the hours of operation? Hours of operation are 0600-1800 Monday – Friday. Closed on Holidays and Family Days.
We look forward to nurturing your child. If you have additional questions please feel free to call the CDC at 676-2038
