CDC East helps meet growing childcare needs of Airmen

  • Published
  • By Raquel Sanchez
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The new Child Development Center on Hurlburt Field will open their doors Dec.12. CDC East is part of an ongoing project to expand Hurlburt Field's childcare services to provide ample and accessible childcare for Airmen and their families.

Currently, more than 100 families are on the waiting list for childcare said Nancy Adams, chief of Airman & Family Services Flight for the 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron. The average time a family spends on the waiting list ranges from six months to a year-and-a-half.

In addition to the main CDC, the new center will provide childcare services for 158 children ranging from six weeks to five years old. Childcare services on base will nearly double from 244 children to more than 400 children between both centers allowing more families to receive the childcare they need.

The 22,718 square foot facility is located near the Riptide fitness and dining facility. It has three infant, two pre-toddler, three toddler and three pre-school rooms built specifically for each age group. Other features include a functional kitchen, training/parent conference room, two laundry rooms, four play grounds, utility and office rooms.

CDC East is part of Hurlburt Field's initiative to meet the growing childcare needs of Airmen on base.

"We are going to clear the two and three to five year old waiting list," said Adams. "Those families who were hesitant about requesting care because of the lengthy waiting list ---- we should have immediate openings in January."

The CDC is open to active duty and dependents assigned to other bases and Department of Defense civilians and contractors. A third center, CDC West is scheduled to open early next year.

For more information about CDC services, contact the main CDC 884-6664 or visit www.myhurlburt.com/pages/cdc.html.