97th AMW youth facilities receive national accreditation

  • Published
  • By Tiffany Evans
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The child development center and youth center here were recently nationally accredited, making them the only youth facilities in the local area to hold that status.

The CDC is now the only facility in Altus to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Altus AFB Youth Center is the sole facility of its kind here to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation.

"The criteria of NAEYC are exhibited by our caregivers throughout our facility," said Chris Matthews, CDC director.

In order to maintain its accreditation, the CDC must provide an annual report for four years and keep the NAEYC updated on any major changes to its program. The facility is subject to additional verifications and random unannounced visits. The CDC's goal is incorporating concepts of learning and play with positive reinforcement and affection.

CDC caretakers, as well as those at the youth center, must uphold the continued education and caregiver criteria for the centers to qualify for national accreditation. Each staff member at the facilities fulfills various requirements. For example, the school-age coordinator has quarterly obligations, and the providers have annual needs to uphold. All youth center staff members must also undergo 15 hours of annual training.

"We are proud to be a part of the military," said Mr. Chris Hampton, school-age coordinator for the youth center. "The driving force is to provide services so the military can be free to do their job."

Just as keeping records and continuity books up-to-date in Air Force work centers has its benefits, the youth center received its accreditation early because it did not receive any out-of-compliance ratings on the grading standards.

Childcare and youth facilities exist on military bases and maintain a positive environment for children to grow and learn in order to directly support the mission, Mr. Hampton added.

"We do our mission so (Airmen) can do theirs," he said.