Fort Cavazos provides in-home child care

Permanent-change-of-station season for the Army is still here, which means military members and their families are moving into the area. Many incoming families wonder about the job market and child care facilities, but the Child and Youth Services at Fort Cavazos has an answer for both questions.

“Family Child Care is a branch under the Child and Youth Services where family members care for children in their home,” said Sadie Collins, the child development services administrator with Child and Youth Services. “It’s a more intimate, smaller environment of child care that is an option for service members to have child care.”

There are six child development centers on post and with the influx of families, they have a waitlist. The eight FCC providers with four more in-processing help alleviate some of the wait and give more flexibility for families.

“The goal is just having an additional option for service members to have child care,” Collins said. “FCC provides a lot of flexibility, whereas the FCC provider is an independent contractor, so they can state that they’re going to have extended hours, whereas in the CDC — we’re open from 0530 to 1800 (5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.).”

FCC providers can also help service members who may have extended duty, charge of quarters or other duty obligations outside of the normal schedule.

Additionally, children do not lose any social or developmental aspects they would receive at the child development centers. The providers can care for up to six children in their home depending on the ages, which creates a personalized, intimate environment. Collins said each child’s plan is individualized based on where they are and the goals set between provider and parent.

Erin Jamieson, Army spouse of Sgt. Jeffrey Jamieson, 87th Combat Engineer Company Armored, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, enrolled her son Arthur, 3, in a FCC home. She said the transition was not easy for her son since he was used to one-on-one interactions staying at home, but now it has become a lot better.

“He knows his colors, his numbers and his shapes,” Erin said. “He’s almost fully potty trained, which is amazing.

Since he’s been here, Emerald (Fuentes, certified FCC provider) has helped him understand that he needs to speak up and use his words,” Erin continued. “He’s saying full sentences. He’s asking for the things he needs, such as water, if he’s hungry or if he needs to go potty. He’s standing up for himself.”

The FCC program is only administered in on-post housing. FCC providers are signed up as contractors. FCC Director Sylvia Fontenot said it is a simple process to start that can take about one to one-and-a-half months, depending on background checks.

“They must come into our office and pick up a background check for any (household) member that is 12 years and up,” Fontenot said. “The provider must be at least 18 years and up (and) able to read and write English well. We do start training once the background check is cleared here with CYS. We also do the inspections in the home, which is fire safety, health and environmental for us to open the home.”

Fontenot noted the providers go through the same training given to those who work at the CDC, such as special needs, fire and safety, communicable diseases and food nutrition.

It is free for a provider to start their in-home daycare with the FCC program, Fontenot said. The training is free, and a lending closet is available to providers until they have their own equipment. Food costs are also reimbursed.

Fuentes, became a provider in 2015. She discovered the program through referral from another FCC provider, and it gave her many reasons to try it out.

“I would say No. 1: I can be home,” Fuentes said. “No. 2: I got pregnant with my son, and it was the greatest because I could keep my son in my care.

“My favorite part is that I’m in my home,” she continued. “Whatever I have to do with the children, it’s all on me. So, I’m in control of everything.”

Though it is not a traditional daycare, Fuentes still runs her daycare with set schedules and routines for the kids. She prepares daily meals, sometimes even dinner for those who need to stay late. She creates activities, she takes them outside and ensures they have nap time.

Fuentes said the FCC program supported her in receiving additional training to earn the Child Development Associate Credential. The FCC network on Fort Cavazos feels like a family, she conveyed.

“We text each other almost every day,” Fuentes said. “So, we really come together. We’re close, and we’re trying to get the new providers into it too.”

Fontenot said the providers have their own support group among themselves. The group helps each other with ideas on handling a child, understanding paperwork and other day-to-day activities.

“They do functions together as families,” she said. “They go out to dinner, to movies or they invite each other over for birthdays.

“They go to training together and even have the families come too,” she added. “They are not out there by themselves.”

Fuentes had advice for new spouses wanting to become providers.

“No. 1: you need to love children,” she said. “Don’t just do it for the money because your mind, your body, must be fully committed to this job.

“It’s not an easy job because we are on our own,” she continued. “If you want to do it, do it because you really want to work with children.”

For more information on enrolling in a FCC home or to become a FCC provider, reach out to the Parent Central Services in Room 101 on the first floor of the Shoemaker Center, Bldg. 36000, Shoemaker Lane; call Parent Central Services at 254-287-8029; or go to militarychildcare.com.