For the 21 Family Child Care providers at Fort Bliss, providing childcare is much more than baby-sitting.
"We have to provide a curriculum, lesson plans individualized to each child," said FCC provider Tina Middleton. "We submit them to our trainer for approval, who makes sure they are appropriate and provide all the things they're supposed to provide. Our menus have to meet USDA guidelines and are reviewed by a dietician before they're approved."
Middleton has been an FCC provider for 10 years.
"This is what I love to do with my kids, and if I can give that to other people's children, that's even better," she said. "I'm more happy doing this than I would be behind a desk. How many people can say that their job is to play, every day?"
Middleton recommends parents interview prospective providers before putting their children in the care of others.
"Go in with a lot of questions," she said. "Go in and really want to know these providers you're i nterviewing and their families."
Middleton also suggests meeting with a prospective provider more than once and asking for a play date to see how the child works with the others in the group.
Middleton, along with FCC providers Sheila White, Sheba Harris, Contina Bynum, Dionne Mickens, Marretta Willis, Asia Ward, Tiffany Sanders, Ginny Perez and Kathleen Lansaw all received Child Development Associate certification in May.
CDA credentials help improve early childhood education, said Betty Halliburton, FCC director at Fort Bliss.
To receive their CDAs, the providers work with FCC trainer Shirley Clere and training and curriculum specialists Sarah Castro and Lupe Adams to earn the nationally-recognized credential, awarded through the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C.
Castro said earning the CDA benefits both the providers and the children in their care.
"Earning the CDA gives providers the knowledge they need to supply children with activities appropriate to their ages and stations," she said.
For FCC provider Dionne Mickens, the certification was especially significant, said Halliburton.
While she was working toward her CDA, Mickens' parents, residents of New Orleans, were evacuated following the loss of their home to Hurricane Katrina. Mickens couldn't locate her parents for about a month.
She finally found them in Arkansas, she said. They moved to Fort Bliss to live with Mickens, and stayed for about a year.
During this time, Mickens continued to work toward her goal, and was rewarded when her CDA credentials arrived in the mail in May.
Those interested in the Family Child Care program at Fort Bliss can learn more during FCC orientation June 8 at 6 p.m.
During orientation, new applicants and former providers from military installations will have the chance to learn more about the program.
Applicant training for potential FCC providers starts June 11 and runs through June 15. During training, instructors will cover topics including the USDA Food Program, child growth and development, business practices, food handlers, fire, safety, health and child abuse prevention. Classes begin at 8:30 a.m. each morning.
Orientation and classes will take place in Building 1743, located on Victory Road on Fort Bliss. For more information, contact FCC at 568-4198.