Susie Skelton Child Development Center

The CDC complies with DAFI 34-144, the DAF CDC Inspection Criteria, and with NAEYC standards for accreditation. DAF wide policies are maintained within the CYP-BMS account for all families.

The practices of AF CDC programs are based on current knowledge of child development and early childhood education. Our centers support the development of the whole child, meaning all areas of development are considered inter-related and equally important. Our program acknowledges that children learn through active, hands-on involvement with their environment, peers, and caring adults. We respect each child’s unique interests, experiences, abilities and needs, thus allowing us to be responsive to and appropriate for each child. Children are valued as individuals, as well as part of a group. Likewise, our program respects and supports the ideals, cultures and values of families and the early childhood professionals within our program.

Eligibility and priority are established through DAFI 34-144 and the Military Family Types and DoW Priority List. Single/dual active duty military, single/dual DoD civilians, reservists on active duty and active duty/DoD civilians with a spouse attending school full-time and are assigned to Whiteman Air Force Base are eligible to receive child care services.

Parents may request child care through MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC). MCC uses the assigned DoW priority, along with the request for care date, to determine sequence on the wait list.

Once a child care space is offered, the sponsor has 48 hours to accept the position. If no contact is made within 48 hours, or the space is refused by the sponsor, the space will be offered to the next family on the waiting list. When a family does not make contact or refuses the space, MCC will remove the request from the waiting list.

For parents who need care on an irregular basis such as short term care for a doctor appointment, to workout or to volunteer in the community, hourly care is offered on a space-available basis. Parents must request hourly care through CYP-BMS.

All CDC staff participate in ongoing training in addition to annual training requirements such as child abuse recognition and prevention. Staff training includes CPR and Pediatric First Aid.

The purpose of the Parent Advisory Board (PAB) is to build strong relationship between families and the program and utilize this relationship to foster an enriching experience for children and families. The PAB meets quarterly to discuss child development topics of interest and parent involvement activities. The PAB Focus Group is made up of parent and staff representatives who plan program events (portrait day, pumpkin patch, carnivals, book fairs, art auctions, caregiver appreciation week, food/clothing drives, etc.)