Free Child Care During UTA

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. J. Justin Pearce
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  Tired of hiding your kids under the desk during a Unit Training Assembly weekend?

There's a free child care program available for reservists during UTA weekends. It's part of Keesler's active duty Family Child Care program, and the staff extend a warm welcome to any reservists who need a babysitter while they work on UTA weekends. The program ensures quality care by certified child care providers.

In fact, the program's dedication to excellence resulted in its selection as the Air Education and Training Command's Program of the Year. As a single mom, Staff Sgt. Brandy Conner, a reservist in the 403rd Communications Squadron, relies on Keesler's Child Care Program to watch her two children while she works on UTA weekends, she said.

Interested? Here's how to get your young ones onboard for next UTA. Submit an email to the Family Child Care coordinator, Mary Pleasant, at Mary.Pleasant@keesler.af.mil, and provide her with the following information:

· Your name
· Your contact information
· Number of children and the hours of care needed

The Child Care Program accepts children ages 4 weeks to 12 years old. The program allots for up to 10 hours of free child care each day during UTA. Ms. Pleasant asks that you notify her via email at least two weeks before the UTA. The cutoff period for sending the request is three days before the UTA, although availability is less guaranteed.

Onboard? Here's what you need to have for the babysitter when you drop off your children.

· AF Form 1181 Registration Form
· Shot records--You'll need to bring them for each new babysitter. On the first day, the new babysitter will make a copy of the shot records and return your originals. If your child gets new shots, remember to update your babysitters copy to reflect the changes.
· Diapers, bottles and other necessities for the day

Ms. Pleasant also recommends parents and their children visit their child care provider at least once before UTA. This gives parents an opportunity to meet the child care provider and look around the home without the sense of urgency usually associated with UTA mornings. Also, children get a chance to interact in the home with their parents present, which usually improves the child's reaction to being dropped off on UTA, said Ms. Pleasant.

For more information about this program or for any general questions regarding the program, call Ms. Pleasant at 377-3189.