FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Many spouses recently said "see you later" to their 101st Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers who deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
The spouses who were left behind are responsible for keeping things going on the homefront. Many have little ones, who require care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But months on end as the primary caregiver on top of other responsibilities can lead to little time for one's self or to even run errands alone.
Luckily, Fort Campbell's Child, Youth and School Services provides up to 16 hours per child of free respite care to children of deployed Soldiers. It is a service provided not only locally, but at other major installations Armywide. Other groups who qualify for free respite care are children of Wounded Warriors assigned to a Warrior Transition Unit and fallen Soldier's Families.
"Respite Care allows parents to take care of Family matters, attend doctor's appointments or any other activity where they require child care to include recreational and leisure activities, which would be difficult to enjoy without child care being provided," said CYSS Coordinator Mark A. Ryales, in an email.
Prior to recent changes, respite care was only available to a deployed service member's Family on two Saturdays per month. Respite care will now be available Monday through Friday as well, with up to eight of those hours still available for use one Saturday per month. This new system is effective May 1.
"The recent changes are a result of parent and community feedback," Ryales said. "[The previous hours] limited its effectiveness in truly providing respite for parents who might need it during the week."
Those parents who do not elect to take advantage of the Super Saturday respite care option can use the 16 hours whenever is most convenient for them throughout the month.
"This change will allow parents the flexibility to use their respite care during the week and on Super Saturday as well," Ryales added. "This greater flexibility in how parents can use their respite care will address many concerns we were hearing from parents and community members."
Respite care will be available at the Tennessee Hourly Care Center from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday for children 6 weeks old to 5 years. Bastogne, Airborne, Gardner Hills and Colwell School Age Centers open for respite care from 5:30 until 8:15 a.m. and 3:30 until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday for children ages 6 to 12, except for Tuesday afternoons, when care begins at 2:30 p.m. for school-age children to coincide with the Fort Campbell school schedule. Super Saturday respite care will be available at Watters Child Development Center No. 2 for children 6 weeks old to 5 years and at Airborne School Age Center for those 6 to 12 years old from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
When local schools are on break or closed, respite care is available from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Even with the reduction of respite care from two Saturdays a month to one, Ryales said he expects weekend child care to remain a popular option for the Fort Campbell community. Within the past year alone, more than 6,500 children participated in Super Saturday sessions.
"Super Saturday [is] extremely successful," Ryales said. "Utilization numbers are very high for Super Saturday. We don't think that will change at all. Parents will now be able to enjoy a Super Saturday and still use respite care during the week as well."
Super Saturday upcoming program dates are: May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1 and Sept. 12.
To reserve a respite care spot, call (270) 412-0173/0174. Respite care is booked on a first come, first serve basis. For more information about CYSS and child care options, visit campbell.armymwr.com/us/campbell/programs/cys-s.
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