Barksdale gives parents a break

Aamiyah Lamb, 8, daughter of Staff Sgt. Clifford Lamb, 2nd Maintenance Squadron, makes a place mat with Vanessa Collins, 2nd Force Support Squadron child and youth program assistant, at the Youth Center on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 5. School-age children in the Give Parents a Break program will be able to create various crafts, play in the gym, use computers and even learn to cook throughout their visit. The program helps give active-duty Air Force parents a break from parenting due to unique stressors occurring in their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Kristin High)(RELEASED)

Barksdale gives parents a break

Published Oct. 5, 2012
By Senior Airman Kristin High
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Give Parents a Break program will be returning to Barksdale's Child Development Center and Youth Center Oct. 13.

The program is a joint collaboration between the Airman and Family Readiness Center, the CDC and the Youth Center to offer eligible parents a few hours break from the stresses of parenting.

"The program is offered to active-duty Air Force families where a parent is feeling stress due to the military member being deployed or TDY, having a special needs child, illness of a family member or other unique circumstances," said Betsy Welch, 2nd Force Support Squadron child development chief program.

Although the program is available if needed, just being a single parent does not solely qualify to use it, she added.

Funded by Air Force Aid Society, the program is not to be used to simply provide "free child care", but rather to help commanders, first sergeants and other base officials help families who need temporary relief.

"To qualify for the program, families must be referred by a squadron commander, first sergeant, chaplain, doctor, family advocacy or AFRC personnel," said Welch. "Each referral is for one month per certificate and must be issued and signed by the person making the referral."

Certificates may be reissued the following month if necessary, she added.

Children ages 6 months to 12 years-old are eligible to attend the Give Parents a Break which is held on the first Saturday of the month from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Some dates may be changed due to holidays.

"All eligible families will be required to register their children at the CDC or Youth Center and also have an up-to-date immunization record on file at the time of the reservation," said Cora Davis, 2 FSS director of school-age development. "Reservations will be accepted in person no later than the Wednesday prior to the event."

For more information or to receive a schedule of the dates for Give Parents a break, contact the CDC at 456-4139 or the Youth Center at 456-3448.