Page 8 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 7-24-15
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Desert Wings Community News July 24, 2015
8 www.aerotechnews.com/edwardsafb facebook.com/EdwardsDesertWings
Airmen’s Little Angels, FCC Provider of the Year
by Rebecca Amber Airmen’s Little Angels. Her daugh- Air Force photographs by Rebecca Amber
Staff writer ter Katelynn, now 11, was only a
baby at the time. Lt. Col. Michael Rakoczy (far left), 412th Mission Support Group deputy commander, and Latausha Bushrod
Christina Huff, owner of Air- (far right), Edwards Family Child Care coordinator, presented Christina Huff with the 2015 Family Child Care
men’s Little Angels Family Child “I was going back to school be- Provider of the Year plaque in her home July 22. Huff is joined by her husband, Staff Sgt. Thomas Huff and
Care Home, was named the 2015 cause I wanted to be a kindergarten several of the children in the program.
Edwards AFB Family Child Care teacher,” said Huff.
Provider of the Year. are flexible allowing parents to plan children ranging in age from two array of duties, some as simple as
She discovered a program that some evening care. Each provider weeks to 12 years. Families with going to the grocery store with the
Huff was already hard at work offered a limited number of free can set their own rates and hours; older children who have special parents to help them with the child
Wednesday morning when Lt. Col. child care hours through the FCC some provide full time care, some needs can also be accommodated. while they shop. Each family gets
Michael Rakoczy, 412th Mission and decided to take advantage of it. only offer half days. 12 hours of care per month.
Support Group deputy command- Katelynn “loved it” and Huff was When she’s not running Air-
er, and Latausha Bushrod, Family inspired to open up her own home FCC providers are the only on- men’s Little Angels, Huff works Huff works with the support of
Child Care coordinator, arrived to to the program. base option for professional child for Child Care Aware. The Kern her husband and three children.
present her with a plaque. care during the evening and week- County-based organization offers
“I just fell in love with it. I end hours. This is particularly help- respite care to families with special “It’s a real honor to know that
“I could not be more proud of changed my major to early child- ful for parents who do shift work on needs children. you’re appreciated for what you do
Christina, she is dedicated to pro- hood education and I’ve been with base. Each childcare group has six and you’re recognized for it,” said
viding the best possible child care this ever since,” she recalled. “Huff went above and beyond Huff. “We work by ourselves all
for the families of Edwards AFB,” her requirements to work with this day so a lot of times people don’t
said her husband, Staff Sgt. Thom- Huff has taken some breaks from agency to receive the additional see how hard we work. It’s always
as Huff, 31st Test and Evaluation FCC home care to work at base training she needed to become af- nice for someone to tell you you’re
Squadron. child development centers, but al- filiated and meet the needs of our doing a good job.”
ways comes back to her passion — families here at Edwards,” said
“Working with children is not the FCC program. Bushrod. To learn more about Airmen’s
a job to her, but a passion, and it Little Angels Family Child Care
shows every day through her inter- Airmen’s Little Angels is open According to Huff, Child Care Home, visit: www.facebook.com/
action with not only the children, Monday through Friday from 6:30 Aware associates can have a wide AngelsFCC.
but the entire family. Winning the a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and their days
Provider of the Year Award is a di- are run on a schedule that includes
rect reflection of that passion, and meal times, teacher-directed activi-
is very well deserved.” ties, play time and naps. Huff will
make observations of each child’s
The Provider of the Year Award behavior and then create lesson
goes to an individual who has gone plans that engage their interests.
above and beyond to provide excel-
lent child care to Edwards’ families. For instance, if a child continu-
The FCC program offers families ously plays with Legos, Huff may
child care in a small group setting. create a lesson plan about building
The care is offered in the homes of the next week. She also creates les-
licensed, trained professional child son plans that correlate with life
care providers, like Huff. events, like a camping lesson fol-
lowing a camping trip.
“It’s a great choice for families
who prefer a family style setting There are “learning centers” set
over a child care center for their up the in the house for music, writ-
child care needs,” said Bushrod. ing, math, dramatic play and more.
The centers are important, Huff
Huff and her husband were sta- said, because the children learn
tioned at Seymour Johnson AFB, through play.
N.C., when she decided to open
Unlike the Edwards Child De-
velopment Center, Huff’s services
Christina Huff, 2015 FCC Provider of the Year, is the owner of Airmen’s Little Angels Family Child Care Home. The learning centers in Airmen’s Little Angels Family Child Care Home
There are “learning centers” set up the in the house for music, writing, math, dramatic play and more. allows children to learn through play. This play area features a child-sized
kitchen set.
