Family Child Care offers quality care, job opportunities for military families Published Feb. 25, 2008 By Corey Dahl PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Holly Cha has a job many people would envy. She sets her own hours, she works out of her home, she has plenty of time for her kids, and - most importantly - she gets to act silly on a daily basis. Mrs. Cha's profession? She's a child care provider for Peterson's Family Child Care program. The program allows retired military and military spouses to operate small-group child care centers out of their homes, earning extra money while taking care of fellow servicemembers' children. "It gives me the opportunity to stay home with my own children and still help out with the family finances," said Mrs. Cha, who has been a provider for the Air Force-wide program for the last eight years. "Plus, it's enjoyable. It's actually a lot of fun to play with the kids and be silly all day." In place for several years on Peterson, the Family Child Care program has been a huge asset for providers like Mrs. Cha as well as for many military families, said Janet Martineau, the program's coordinator here. The program works to ensure that servicemembers' children have a safe, reputable and affordable place to go while their parents are at work, she said. "We make sure the children are safe, the children are fed, the children get quality care and educational activities," she said. "It's really a great child care option for families." One of the biggest draws for families and providers alike is the fact that Family Child Care keeps its groups small. Providers care for a maximum of six children at a time, and no more than two of the kids can be under the age of two. The providers and their homes are also thoroughly screened before entering the program and checked on a regular basis afterward. Providers must undergo an initial background check, followed by a series of interviews and inspections performed by several base agencies, including security forces and public health. Once in operation, providers are subject to monthly, unannounced inspections and have their homes inspected annually by the fire department, public health and safety. In addition, providers receive extensive child care training provided by the Family Child Care program. A three-day orientation class as well as a series of trainings on subjects such as CPR, First Aid and how to recognize signs of child abuse are required before a provider can begin serving families. The provider then continues to train for at least 24 hours a year. "They're inspected and trained often," said Ms. Martineau. "It's definitely an ongoing thing to make sure we're providing quality care." But perhaps Family Child Care's biggest draw is the fact that its providers understand military life. Mrs. Cha, who is former military as well as a military spouse, said her parents like the fact that she keeps her hours flexible, is located on base and understands the demands of a military career. "Parents like the convenience of having someone on base," she said. "And I understand the military. If a parent gets recalled or something, I can be flexible with my schedule. I know what it's like." The only problem Family Child Care seems to have is keeping up with demand. Peterson currently has nine licensed providers - six on base and three off base - but not one of them has a full-time vacancy at the moment. "We are always in need of providers," Ms. Martineau said. "Especially providers who are able to take care of infants." Mrs. Cha said she wouldn't hesitate to recommend the job to anyone interested in child care. The job, because Family Child Care programs are located on most bases, is transferable if a provider's family has to PCS, Mrs. Cha said, and the support the military provides makes starting out easy. "Starting out in child care on your own can be very overwhelming," she said. "This program gives you a lot of support, a lot of the materials you need. I think this is the best place to start." For more information on the Family Child Care program, contact Ms. Janet Martineau at 556-4322 or janet.martineau@peterson.af.mil.