BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
For Senior Airman Lydia Ruiz, the most stressful part of serving her nation as a traditional reservist can be arranging childcare for her preschooler when duty calls.
Like many Citizen Airmen, Ruiz dons the Air Force uniform more frequently than her obligatory one weekend a month and two weeks a year.
But, according to the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron administrative specialist, her flexibility to serve often depends on the availability of care for her son at the Child Development Center on Beale Air Force Base, Calif.
"I'm willing to go on orders whenever my squadron needs me, but childcare is sometimes an issue." said Ruiz. "The CDC here is excellent, and I really like the convenience of having my son here on base with me. I just never know if they'll have a drop-in vacancy when I need one."
Ruiz realizes she's not alone. She also knows, from experience at her previous duty assignment, there's a viable solution for parents who use the CDC.
If a child occupying a permanent slot at the center is going to be out for a few days or longer, the parent must continue to pay in order to keep their child's place. If they want, however, the slot can be leased out to another child.
"I don't think a lot of parents know about this possibility," Ruiz said, calling it a "real win-win opportunity."
Leasing a daycare slot at the CDC can provide financial reimbursement for one family while allowing another parent to secure childcare for a set period of time, instead of on a day-to-day, space-available basis.
Ruiz admits, however, the challenge is connecting the two families.
Donna Greist, director of the Beale CDC, said the leasing of permanent slots is permissible and a "good idea." How to connect the families is, she agreed, the unsolved problem.
Leasing arrangements between parents is typically done on a long-term basis, according to Greist. She emphasized the CDC cannot be involved in negotiating any agreement. The only stipulation, from the standpoint of the center, is the child leasing the vacancy must be registered with the CDC.
"We have daily drop-in care on a space-available basis, and we try to fill those slots," Greist said. "If we know a permanent slot is open and there aren't drop-in slots available, we'll accommodate the request for care, then reimburse the parent who has already paid for that slot. We don't double charge for one slot."
At Greist's suggestion, Ruiz intends to reach out to the Beale Parent Advisory Board for their collaboration on establishing a network of parents interested in the childcare leasing opportunity. She encourages others interested in getting involved to join her at the board's next meeting, 1130, Tuesday, May 6, at the Beale CDC.
"I'm hoping to get the board's support and other parents' input on how to get an effective network established so that parents wanting to lease a daycare slot can be easily matched up with parents who need care for their child during that time," Ruiz said.
"I don't mind spearheading the effort, I just don't know the best way to get it going. I'd like to hear other parents' ideas," said Ruiz.
"I'd really benefit from having this option for my son's daycare arrangements, and I'm sure there are other parents out there who would benefit, as well. As expensive as good childcare is, this is one way service members who are parents can help each other out."