Family Child Care offers chance to work from home, have own business and get college-level education

By Karl Weisel (USAG Wiesbaden)May 12, 2010

Family Child Care offers chance to work from home, have own business and get college-level education
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WIESBADEN, Germany - Ask them why they do it and you'll get any number of reasons. They may mention the free college-level training, the chance to operate their own businesses or the opportunity to have a career while staying home with their own children.

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"Children are my passion," is the way Wiesbaden FCC provider Joy Beam answers the question about why she enjoys the job. "FCC gives me the opportunity to stay at home with my own children and husband while providing care for other children as well.

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"I consider these children a great part of my life," she said. "I love seeing them learn something new every day."

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For the Hainerberg Housing caregiver who will soon earn her child development associate credit, becoming a child care provider about five years ago in Fort Gordon, Ga., was a career move from formerly working in human resources. "When my husband got in the Army, I wanted to support the Army family more."

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Besides allowing her to be with her children while caring for others at home, Beam said watching them learn and grow is highly rewarding. "I like it when they arrive each day - it really makes the day go very fast. They're learning all day," she said. "And then we pass on what they learned and what we did all day with the parents."

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"Family Child Care is a program under Child, Youth and School Services for children from 4 weeks of age to 12 years," said Rilla Chatman, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden FCC director. The program is intended for caregivers who live in Army housing and allows for up to six children in a home with no more than two under 2 years of age.

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"We offer free training, supplies and equipment and also subsidies to offset the cost of providing quality child care," said Chatman, adding, "It's great for people who want to stay home with their own kids. Training is ongoing and FCC providers can also earn a child development credential.

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"Our training is equivalent to college credit," she said. "What they are teaching in college, we are teaching in Army training modules. Army training is recognized all over the world. Once they're trained they have very marketable skills."

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Chatman, who said she started her career in Family Child Care before eventually working her way to the director's position, added, "It's really an awesome job working with children. The providers get on-the-job training, plus they get a mentor and director advice. It's a good way to get valuable training and to learn a skill for free."

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With regular meetings, guidance and monitoring, care providers are supported by CYSS. "They also are subsidized for feeding the children," said Chatman, pointing out that subsidies are also provided for long-term care and extended hours when Soldiers must go to the field.

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Starter kits, available from CYSS, offer cribs, strollers and other equipment for those just getting started in Family Child Care.

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Besides helping provide more options for families when a Soldier suddenly heads out on training, having more FCC homes available in a community helps alleviate waiting lists at local children development centers, said Chatman.

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"FCC homes offer more one-on-one attention in a smaller, more home-like environment," she said.

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"We screen for different areas, run background checks, and the providers must get permission to offer child care in their homes. They must also pass a physical, be able to read and write English ... and basically care about kids.

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"Our FCC providers really do like the business - and also being there for their own children," Chatman added. "They have our support; they work for the Army; but they get to run their own businesses.

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"With a lot of these providers having their own husbands deployed, Family Child Care offers a great opportunity to learn how to run a business while also giving them something to do," she said.

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For more information about becoming an FCC provider call your local Child, Youth and School Services Office.

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