Daycare fees increase next week

  • Published
  • By Suzzane Torres
  • Director of Marketing and Advertising
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  In January, an estimated three percent wage increase takes effect for the Goodfellow AFB Child Development Center and School-Age facility caregiver staff, and these additional operation costs will increase fees for parents beginning Monday. 

Each year, Air Force installations analyze child care operations and set appropriate fees to cover nonappropriated fund caregivers' wages, benefits, training and consumable supplies not purchased with appropriated funds. 

The advantages to these programs are enormous. The CDC offers a developmentally- appropriate early childhood learning program, while the SA program offers a variety of experiences that will enhance each child's learning and life skills. 

These programs are certified through the Air Force annually. The National Association for the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC) or National Afterschool Association (NAA) accredits these programs every three years. Our Youth Center offers a dedicated program for youth 9 to 18 years of age with talented staff in all areas from sports to community service. 

"We have top-notch programs and the highest quality care. For every dollar that the parent pays, the Air Force matches it 100 percent," said Ginger Moore, Family Member Programs flight chief. 

The price for a youth center membership is $36 for six months and $48 for 12 months.
Drop-in hourly rates increase from $3 to $4 per hour. 

Even with the price increase, we are proud to announce that Goodfellow's childcare programs still remain less expensive than the average price of similar programs across the Air Force. 

The CDC has been reaccredited four times with the most recent comments from the NAEYC commission stating, "The Commission commends the program for providing a curriculum that encourages children to be actively involved in the learning process opportunities, to explore many developmentally appropriate activities and materials, to make decisions in accordance with their own interests." 

The children are cared for by highly-trained caregivers, in various specialty programs.
The educational background for our CDC and youth staff includes three with Master's degrees, eight with Bachelor's degrees, four with Associate's, 20 with college credits, six with Child Development Associates and 31 who have completed their 15 Air Force training modules. 

The Department of Defense takes pride in the progress it has made over the last 20 years in child care for our military family. Our programs are devoted to quality care for each child. 

For further details on these increases and other programs, call Cindy Padilla, CDC director, at 654-3240/3239, Helen Powers, School-age coordinator, at 654-3241or Shandy Scott, youth director, at 654-4708.