Barksdale’s Child Development Centers among best in nation

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  According to Child Care Aware of America, Department of Defense child care centers are the best in the nation, so military members can feel more at ease about how the level of care their children will receive when they drop them off at one of Barksdale's child care facilities.

The Barksdale CDC has an east and west campus that operate as a single entity. The CDC meets the needs of active-duty service members and civilians. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve families can also receive service while they are activated and working here.

"We are accredited with the National Association for the Education of Young Children," said Elizabeth "Betsy" Welch, 2nd Force Support Squadron CDC chief of child development programs. "We have a clean, regulated environment and the teachers are trained."

Not only are young children getting a quality education in a secure environment, but its location on base is helpful to their Airmen parents.

"It's convenient to parents who work on base because they can visit anytime to check on their child," she said. "Every month we invite parents to come and have lunch with their child. They are welcome to share a talent with the children. We also invite anyone who wants to come and read stories to the children, since they enjoy hearing stories from someone new."

Even with two facilities, openings for new children to join the CDC are filled quickly and there are waiting lists for different age groups.

"We can accommodate preschool age and 2 year olds pretty quickly but spaces open up annually," said Welch. "We have a longer waiting list for 1 year olds and newborns."

While some waiting lists are longer than others, Welch offers advice for parents hoping to get their child registered at the CDC.

"As soon as you find out you're pregnant, call your family and then call us," she said. "Don't wait. If you're going to another base, call ahead and let them know you're coming and find out their registration process to get your child registered as soon as possible."

Airmen can keep focused on the mission knowing their children are close by, and, according to CCAA research, are getting the best professional child care in the country.