Improvements at RAFM CDC, youth center provide benefits for families

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 100th Force Support Squadron Child Development Center and Youth Center have recently undergone vast improvements, ensuring better service for customers.

Child development center

The waiting list at RAF Mildenhall's CDC has been reduced by 90 percent during the last six months, due hiring new employees and the addition of two more rooms.

According to Krista Thomas, 100th FSS CDC director, the management team noticed the waiting list was growing so they studied how the rooms and spaces were being managed.

"As it became more evident that people weren't coming off the waiting lists as quickly as we wanted them to, we started focusing on creating more spaces," she said. "We had the building capacity at RAF Mildenhall, so in October we opened another infant room for children (aged) 6 to 12 months, and in November we opened another younger infant room for (children aged)6 weeks to 6 months."

Due to the support of wing leadership, human resources office, civilian personnel, the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Air Force Personnel Center, the center was able to Increase staffing levels.

Nick Batey, the CDC assistant director, now briefs career opportunities at the CDC and youth center at the newcomers' orientation as a way to recruit more providers.

Ms. Thomas said the management team is also focusing on staff retention by touting the positions as career plans.

"A classroom caregiver can grow into a supervisor, and a program supervisor can grow to a management position (with the right experience and education)," she said.

The position transfers with people to different bases - so caregivers don't have to start over at new bases. They can work at a new CDC in the same capacity as they left Mildenhall.

The center received national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children in August. It was the first in U.S. Air Forces in Europe to receive it, and is one of two USAFE bases to be awarded the accreditation so far.

"That's a benchmark in quality for childcare," Ms. Thomas added. "It's a process that our center went through last spring, and we were awarded the accreditation, which is good for five years --.that shows the standard of quality that we give children here."

The center is staffed by highly-qualified caregivers, including some with master's degrees in education. The center is open Mondays through Fridays, from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all meals and snacks - including formula for infants - are provided for the children at the CDC.

Yet another new benefit to parents is the change in hourly care.

Instead of having to give 24-hours notice, parents now just have to come in early enough to complete the required paperwork, prior to dropping off their child.

Hourly care is now available between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. But with prior CDC management approval, those times can be extended from 6 a.m., or until 6 p.m. on a case-by-case basis, said the CDC director.

That allows administrative staff to prepare for hourly care in the morning and ensures parents pick-up and pay prior to the cash register closing at 5:30 p.m.

"I'm really excited for the future of this center," said Ms. Thomas. "A lot of really good things have begun and are happening here now, and we are improving our service in every way we possibly can within our regulations.

"We're trying to make it easier for our military members when they come into Mildenhall, to make that transition a little bit easier. There are a lot of transitions with moving overseas, and if we can help with the childcare piece of it, then that makes me happy and makes me feel that we're doing our part for the base community," she said.

Editor's note: Claire Carradus, a staff member at the CDC, has recently been selected as a recipient of the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children's Tylenol National Child Care Teacher Award. This award acknowledges the critical role of child care teachers in providing quality early care and education.

Youth center

The 100th FSS Youth Center has also had improvements done, which are benefiting the children and will do so in the future.

Center employees are expanding operations in Building 220, opening different areas for children, which will include many new computers, and a homework and technology center is being set up for the children. 

Joan Goode, 100th FSS Youth Center director, said they hope to offer more programs and additional classes during the year.

"Gaining the extra room means we've completely cut out waiting lists for school age children, and we now have slots available," she said, adding that one of the playgrounds has been completely renovated, and reopened in October, with an all-weather surface.

"We can offer more outside and fitness activities for the children," said Ms. Goode. "There are lots of things the instructors can do outside now, and we have more space for our camps. And it's made such a difference to have the new computers and sports equipment."

(Information provided by Debbie Laskiewicz, Airman and Family Services Flight chief)