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A Beautiful Place to Grow

Child Development Center

Expert care in a safe & nurturing environment!

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Child Development Centers - (6 Wks - 5 Yrs)

As a parent, who you entrust with the care of your children is critical.  Laughlin Child Development Center's (CDC) primary mission is to provide quality childcare services to Team XL, which enables our Military members to meet mission requirements worldwide with the knowledge that their children are in a safe, healthy environment that fosters individual development through independent and creative exploration of their world. The CDCs are nationally accredited and staffed by well-trained professionals you can trust to care for your little ones ages six weeks to five years. Our centers are truly developmental, with programs to enhance social skills, encourage children to think and reason, promote language and literacy, build physical development and skills, and much more!
Child Development Providers

Now Hiring!

The Laughlin Air Force Base Care Development Center welcomes new applicants. Prospective providers are trained, screened, and approved by applicable agencies. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Child Development employee must contact the NAF HR Office or visit usajobs.gov to learn more about our openings! 

Why work for the CDC?

  • Quality Program

  • Paid training and professional development

  • Promotes safe and healthy practices

  • Skills transfer to other CDCs as your family travels

  • Priority placement for your children into the program

  • Supporting military families and youth

Get Started
JOIN THE TEAM

A Great Start Goes a Long Way

Laughlin Air Force Base families are invited to visit the Department of Defense (DoD) website designed to simplify access to childcare. MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) will help families create a household profile, conduct childcare searches, submit requests for care, and manage their requests at any time and from any location. Through MilitaryChildCare.com, eligible families can search and request care for full-day and part-day options in facility-based and home-based programs for children from birth through age 12. 

At the Child Development Center (CDC), we have a passionate staff, a 21st-century curriculum, top-notch classrooms for kids, and a commitment from our hardworking families. All together this helps your children reach their full potential.

  • Give Parents a Break Night

  • Parents Night Out
  • Parent Advisory Board
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Child Care You Can Trust

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Screening Process

Phase 1 Reopen Detail

Screening Process
  • Step 1: Staff evaluate themselves prior to arrival; also screen/temp check-in lobby prior to entering the facility 
  • Step 2: Temp checks in each Lobby (circles/stay in the car)
  • Step 3: Parents will confirm child does not have a fever, shortness of breath, or cough (PH screener/checklist)
  • Step 4: Staff will complete a visual inspection of the child for signs of illness; PH notified immediately if symptoms exist and members are turned away.
  • NOTE: Parents should plan to spend a minimum of 15 minutes for pick-up & drop-off

 

Parent Drop-Off & Pick-Up
  • Must wash hands upon entering the facility
  • Parents swipe in with key fob
  • Parents walk children to the classroom to reduce separation anxiety
  • Providers will receive children at the door
  • Parents will not enter the classroom
  • Parents will exit the facility

 

Cleaning & Protection
  • Add bleach given to staff for increased cleaning of commonly used/touched surfaces
    • Staff members wear masks the entire duty day
    • Toys that cannot be cleaned/sanitized will not be used (i.e. machine washable, sensory tables, shared sensory material)
    • Toys placed in a mouth will be set aside until cleaned
  • Each child’s bedding will be separated and stored in individually labeled bins, cubbies, or bags
  • Meals will be plated versus family-style dining
 
Sick Children / Staff: 
  • If someone is or becomes sick:
    • The child will be isolated into a separate room
    • The parent will be notified/child picked up immediately
    • The isolation room will be cleaned after the sick child has left
  • If COVID-19 is confirmed in a child or staff member:
    • Areas used by the person who is sick will be closed off
    • Outside doors/windows will be opened for air circulation
    • Staff will wait up to 24 hrs before cleaning
    • All areas used by the person who is sick will be cleaned
    • Parents will be notified

Militarychildcare.com (MCC)

Military and DoD civilian families can now search for child and youth care options through a single website! MilitaryChildCare.com provides comprehensive information on child care programs worldwide. Families can search for the care they need and submit a request for care anytime, anywhere. This website replaces the waitlist process at Child Development Centers, Youth Programs and Family Child Care. For questions/support, call 855.696.2934.  

Just follow the four simple steps below:

Create an Account:  Go to MilitaryChildCare.com to create an account containing information about your family, or login using an existing username and password.

Search and Request Care:  Search the system for the child care options that best fit your needs and submit your requests for care.

Manage Requests:  You can manage your requests for care from anywhere in the world. 

Update Profile:  Keep your My Profile page up-to-date with important information.

CDC Training Programs at CDC

Laughlin Air Force Base

A Training and Curriculum Specialist will conduct training for Child and Youth Staff on skill-building for developmentally appropriate interactions with the children and youth in their care.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice 

Every Thurs from 2:15 to 3:15 pm at the CDC Multi-purpose room. The Training and Curriculum Specialist will conduct training for Child and Youth Staff on skill-building for developmentally appropriate interactions with the children and youth in their care.

Family Morale Organization/Advisory Forum

Every Tue from 4 to 5 pm Family member-led forum provides discussion sessions addressing program operations that are performed well and operations that could be performed better, and developing and implementing family member involvement initiatives on a quarterly basis.

CDC Laughlin Air Force Base joined

National Health & Safety Partners to eliminate "Forgotten Child" deaths

For more information, go to:  www.ggweather.com/heat & www.safekids.org/nlyca. Be sure to NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE in a car.

For more information, contact Darleen M. White at (830) 562-2371/3878

Meet the Military & Family Life Consultant

at CDC II

CDC II is located at Bldg. 2414 on Tuskegee Airmen Avenue offers opportunities for parents to meet the Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Consultant (MFLC) in the Center’s lobby from 4 pm to 5 pm on the second and fourth Wed of every month.

All parents are welcome. No registration is necessary.

For more information, please contact CDC II at (830) 754-3661.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

What is “Give Parents a Break”?
This program is offered in conjunction with the Air Force Aid Society for parents in stressful situations and have children between 6 weeks and 5 years old. See your squadron commander, first sergeant, chaplain, doctor or other medical professional, family advocacy personnel, Airman and Family Readiness Center Personnel, or Child Development Center personnel for a GPAB certificate.
How do I request childcare?
MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) is a Department of Defense website for military families seeking child care. This site will allow families to search for and request care from a wide range of military operated and military subsidized child care options across all Services to include Child Development Centers, School Age Programs, and Family Child Care Homes. Additional benefits from Child and Youth Programs (CYP) are standardized procedures for effective waiting list management, expedited placement of children and youth into available programs, and enhanced daily operations for programs.
Why do parents have to pay for child care when their child is sick?
The program’s costs of operating the center do not decrease when one or more children are absent in a room. Unless at least half of the children are absent, the same number of staff must be present to ensure the health and safety of the children. The fees collected from parents are used to pay the care giving staff and those costs do not decrease because of the absence of a few children.
Why are the fees at off-base centers cheaper in some areas?
There are several reasons why the fees at some off-base centers may be lower than the Air Force child development or school age programs. Many off-base centers do not provide infant and toddler care or, if they do, provide only a few spaces for these age groups. These age groups are the most expensive to provide care because caregivers can care for fewer children. Most Air Force centers devote up to half (or more) of their spaces to infants and toddlers, therefore, the overall cost of operating is higher. Secondly, staff:child ratios (the number of children for whom one caregiver can provide care) are different. In many states, the number of children per caregiver is much higher than the Air Force considers necessary to provide good care for children. Finally, off-base centers may pay low wages and not be concerned about high staff turnover; some off-base centers pay minimum wage and have very high staff turnover. The Air Force believes it is important for children to be taken care of by the same caregiver from day-to-day. The caregiver gets to know the child, establishes an emotional bond, and is more aware when the child is coming down with a potentially life-threatening illness. Paying caregivers enough to minimize staff turnover reduces the amount the Air Force has to spend recruiting, screening, and training caregivers and saves parent’s money in the long run.
Why does child care cost so much?
Caring for children is an expensive service because it is labor intensive, especially, for infants and toddlers. Over 50% of the total cost of providing child care and 95% of the cost paid by parents is for caregivers. Child care fees include 10 meals and up to 10 snacks per week. The actual cost of the child care part of the fees (not counting the value of the meals and snacks) is less than $3.00 per hour for those in Category IX.
What happens if a family refuses to provide proof of income?
Families will be charged the highest weekly fee.
How is family income determined and what forms are required for verification?
The May 2014 Application for Department of Defense (DoD) Child Care Fees, DD Form 2652, or electronic equivalent will be used to verify total family income (TFI) as defined in Department of Defense Instructions (DoDIs) 6060.02. For the purposes of determining child care fees in the Department of Defense Child Development Programs, TFI is defined as all earned income including wages, salaries, tips, special duty pay (flight pay, active duty demo pay, sea pay), active duty save pay, long-term disability benefits, voluntary salary deferrals, retirement or other pension income including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) paid to the spouse/partner and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits paid to the surviving spouse before deductions for taxes using the individual’s most recent W-2 or Leave and Earning Statement. TFI calculations must also include quarters subsistence and other allowances appropriate for the rank and status of military or civilian personnel whether received in cash or in-kind. Programs should not include alimony, child support received by the custodial parent, SSI received on behalf of the dependent child, reimbursements for educational expenses or health and wellness benefits, cost of living (COLA) received in high cost areas, temporary duty allowances, or reenlistment bonuses. Do not include cash awards, bonuses, or overtime pay in TFI calculation. TFI includes the appropriate Non-Locality Basic Allowance for Housing with Dependents Rate (BAH Reserve Component/Transit (RC/T)) for all members, regardless of whether they live in government housing or off-installation. Programs will use the local BAH rate in locations where military members receive less than the BAH RC/T allowance. For dual-military living in government quarters, include BAH RC/T of the senior member only; for Defense civilian OCONUS, include either the housing allowance or the value of the in-kind housing provided. Note that the BAH RC/T rate is based on the calendar year. Programs will use the appropriate year’s rate when calculating fees.
Why are the fees based on total family income?
Rather than basing the fees on military rank, the fees are based on a family’s ability to pay. Total family income is a better yardstick since it takes into consideration all income available to pay the child care bill. Additionally one of the purposes of the military child care program is to improve the economic viability of military families. Those families with the lowest incomes are those most in need of assistance with their child care expenses.
What services do families receive for their fees?
Fees are based on a typical Mon–Fri operation which hours total 50 or more. SAC fees are adjusted based on the number of program hours provided. Meals (breakfast, lunch and a snack) are included.
How are fees determined?
The fees are set by DoD to pay approximately half of the total cost of providing the care. The Military Child Care Acts of 1989/1996 directed parents to pay approximately half of the cost of care. Fees are set high enough to only cover the costs not paid for by the taxpayers.
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2021-22 Handbook

Hey parents! Here is your guide to Laughlin Air Force Base's Child Development Center.

2021-21 CDC Parent Handbook

Parent Advisory Board

  • Parents are always welcome to visit and assist with their child's care to the extent that their duty permits.

  • The parent Advisory Board/involvement is a committee of all the CDC programs in conjunction with other CYP’s. The DAB acts only in an advisory capacity, providing recommendations for improving services. The Chairperson of the DAB is a parent.

  • The Parent Advisory Committee selects a chairperson. Each chairperson attends the Program Parent Advisory Board meeting. The Parent Advisory Board meets with the Airman and Family Readiness Center Flight Chief and Center Directors at least quarterly and with the Mission Support Group Commander at least annually. The minutes of the parent advisory meetings are forwarded to the Mission Support Group Commander for review.

  • If you are interested in attending your center's parent advisory committee, please see your center's director for more information.

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Contact

Child Development Center

Building 476, Lee St, Laughlin AFB, TX 78843

Hours of Operation

  • Mon - Fri
    6:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Sat
    Closed (Exception Give Parents a Break)
  • Sun
    Closed
  • Family Days & Holidays
    Closed
(830) 298-5419