Child care program offered for reservists Published Oct. 3, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Christin Michaud 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs -- Reservists with children are eligible to use a locally offered child-care program while on duty. The program, Home Community Care, offers free child care to reservists during unit training assemblies when no other care is available. "If we have a reservist who doesn't have child care, we try to help out on a space-available basis," explained Beverly Henderson, 436th Force Support Squadron Family Child Care coordinator. The Air Force will pay for child care for reservists on their primary and secondary UTAs in a licensed child care provider's home on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservists may sign up on the first day of the month for the next month's UTA, said Ms. Henderson. Requests can be made up until the Friday prior to a UTA, but she encourages people to sign up as soon as possible if they know they will need child care. To request care, individuals may obtain a Home Community Care form through Ms. Henderson, which must be signed by the reservist's supervisor before being submitted. Ms. Henderson matches providers with children needing care and notifies the parent who the provider will be. "They are placed based on age," said Tech. Sgt. Mariah Krass, 512th Airman and Family Readiness technician, who has three children under the age of 4. Providers are only able to care for two children under the age of 2. Sergeant Krass has twins who at one point would take up both of a provider's infant slots. A common misconception with the program is the location of the where the licensed child care is offered, said Sergeant Krass. "It's not at the (child development center) and not only on base," she said. Sergeant Krass, who has used providers in Magnolia, Del., has been using the service for more than two and a half years for at least one day of each UTA because of her husband's work schedule. The average cost savings of the free care is approximately $180 each day she uses it, almost the same as she would earn in one day of a UTA. She has been pleased with the value and quality of care. "They take care of meals, and sometimes they take day trips to the pool or bowling alley and meet up with other providers," she said. "All you have to bring is diapers and any special needs items." Parents won't always know the provider Ms. Henderson has assigned but can be certain the individual is a trained and licensed provider who undergoes routine home inspections. "Go out and meet the provider ahead of time," suggested Sergeant Krass who always takes her children ahead of time, so they are comfortable with the provider while she is at her UTA. "At least give them a shot." Ms. Henderson encourages contact with the provider as well to confirm the date and time care is needed during the UTA. The Home Community Care program also allows reservists to use FCC providers while on their annual tour or mandays; however, it isn't free. The FCC office will help coordinate care with a provider for reservists needing it, but they will be required to pay for the care while serving on those types of orders. "FCC providers set their own fees," said Ms. Henderson. Staff Sgt. Shacara Detrick-Johnson, 512th Airlift Wing Equal Opportunity, recently used FCC provider Katrina Smith to watch her two children during her annual tour. She said she liked the structured environment and how Mrs. Smith focused on the needs of the children. "She has flexible hours and was very affordable," said Sergeant Detrick-Johnson. When using the Home Community Care program either during a UTA or annual tour, reservists must list emergency contacts with the provider and children must be immunized. Two local emergency contacts must be listed on the Air Force Form 1181, request for care. In some cases this is a challenge, particularly if the reservist is from another state. "They can list a supervisor or first sergeant," Ms. Henderson said. "They usually know where to reach you." Current shot records with up-to-date immunizations are also required for each child. A condition of care in Air Force licensed homes are the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. Children who aren't in school or day care may not have these immunizations because they are only encouraged, not mandatory, according to the center for disease control, explained Ms. Henderson. Unfortunately without them, providers won't be able to care for the children because it is a requirement for the Air Force. "People think they have care; and, at the last minute, it falls through," said Ms. Henderson. Although she has to obtain approval from Air Mobility Command, she said a reservist could call as late as the day prior and get the hours approved even with the short notice. That's why it's important to plan ahead and take things like local emergency contacts and immunizations into consideration. For more information on the program or to obtain a form requesting care, call Ms. Henderson at (302) 677-3712 or e-mail beverly.henderson@us.af.mil.