CHILD, YOUTH & SCHOOL SERVICES

From child care to sports and instructional classes, Child, Youth and School Services coordinates and provides services for children and youth at JBLM. The CYS Services system has been awarded Department of Defense Certification with commendation, the System of Excellence Award and accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children and National School Age Care Alliance.

Information centers, called Parent Central Services, are located at Lewis Main and McChord Field. The offices provide a centrally located registration service for all children and youths enrolled in the CYS Services programs. For locations and details about services, call (253) 966-CYSS. To ensure the safety of your children, families using any of the CYS Services systems must be registered. To register children from birth to school age, parents must provide shot records, birth certificate, names and phone numbers of three local emergency contacts and any other pertinent information regarding the child. Middle school and teen registration must also include parent permission for teens to be transported in a government vehicle for field trips or youth shuttles. Children and youths enrolled in sports programs must provide a current sports physical and local emergency contact phone numbers.

Child Development Services
Child Development Services activities are geared toward enrichment and schoolreadiness programs, which will help your child develop socially, emotionally, mentally and physically. To meet parental preference and children’s needs, child care is provided in both home-based and center-based settings. Child Development Centers are state-of-the-art accredited facilities, which are the prototypes for similar construction projects. Full-day care, hourly care and part-day care are provided.

Family Child Care provides the option of a cost-effective child care delivery system that also offers specialized child care services — extended hours, long-term care, care for children with special needs and care for children whose parents are working shifts. Additionally, the FCC delivery system provides employment opportunities for many spouses. The FCC system provides care in certified government quarters that are inspected closely for compliance with fire, safety, health and program quality standards. Call (253) 967-3039.

Kids on Site is a short-term mobile child care program that supports FRG meetings, deployment briefings and unit activities where the parents are onsite. Kids on Site is staffed by CYS Services professional caregivers in KOS-approved settings. For more information, call (253) 967-4767.

School Age Services
School Age Services is an accredited child care delivery system that offers beforeand after-school programs, full-day programs during school vacations and school closures and summer camp for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Activities are organized within four service areas: arts, recreation and leisure; life skills, citizenship and leadership; sports, fitness and health; and mentoring, intervention and education. Children have the opportunity to join 4-H Clubs and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Special interest areas feature computers, a game room, a library, a cooking club, arts and crafts, science, music and drama. A strong relationship exists between the elementary schools and the SAS program through the Character Counts initiative and homework centers.

Youth Services
Youth Services provides opportunities to JBLM youth, which include league sports programs, sports clinics and various programs and events. Youth sports are recreational in nature and open to a variety of ages and all ability levels. Options in various seasons include baseball, track and field, soccer, basketball and cheerleading. The Washington State Special Olympics are held annually at JBLM. For more information, call the Youth Sports Office at (253) 967-2405.

Additionally, opportunities are available to middle school and teenage youth at Hillside and McChord youth centers. In conjunction with Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Teen Zone (middle school and teen program at Hillside) offers leisure and recreational activities such as Keystone Club, Torch Club, Power Hour, Work Force and Technology Center, all of which are designed to teach citizenship, values and leadership. Excellent scholarship opportunities also can be obtained for graduating high school students.

The Red Cross babysitting certification course is offered for youth 13 years old and older. Both the Hillside and McChord youth centers provide a wide range of programs and events.

For details about Hillside Youth Center, call (253) 967-4441; and for information about McChord Youth Center, call (253) 982-2203.

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