Navy Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for 24-Hour Child Care Center

Roughly 80 community members, speakers and guests attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 24-hour Child Development Center at Naval Air Station North Island on Tuesday.

The center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering sailors greater flexibility in child care options.

“We try to make it feel like home,” said Christine Swind, Child and Youth 24/7 Center director. “Each child has their own bed and space assigned to them so they feel comfortable, feel at home.”

Swind said the best part about the facility is the fact that parents don’t have to stress about finding after-hours care. With a hectic schedule, the last thing a parent should have to worry about is the safety and well-being of their child. The 24-hour center relieves a little bit of that stress, she said.

“We have parents coming in at all hours of the night to drop off and pick up. We have a parent that works Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and every three days she has duty, on top of working Monday through Friday,” she said. “The parents can continue on with their mission knowing their kids are taken care of. It’s a much needed facility.”

This center is the sixth Navy 24/7 center and the first on the West Coast. Children can stay at the center for a maximum of 72 hours.

To be eligible, a sailor must have no other means for child care and unorthodox hours like overnight duties.

“This is a special day for us to open such a top-notch facility. It’s a great Navy day as we’re here to dedicate this 24-hour center,” said Naval Base Coronado Commanding Officer Capt. Yancy B. Lindsey. “Child care is one of the top five concerns for Navy families. Here, we work around the clock.”

According to Construction Manager Daniele Spoor, the center was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The facility cost nearly $2 million and was built in 15 months. The 5,000-square-foot center features one infant room, two pre-toddler rooms, a living room, dining room, playroom and an outdoor area.

“We’re really thrilled to have this open because we’re meeting a need we haven’t met before,” said Kathy Flynn, Child and Youth Program administrator.

The facility officially opened its doors April 11 and already has 17 children enrolled.

The center has a capacity to care for 20 children at any given time.

It is staffed with 18 employees who work five different shifts throughout the week. The center has three bedrooms with sleeping capacity for 20 children, eight infants and 12 kids ranging in age from 2 to 12 years.

Spoor said the building of this facility is proof that the Navy is showing its appreciation for those who serve.

“I would say this symbolizes the Navy’s commitment to meeting the sailors’ needs so they can focus on their job,” she said. “The Navy has stepped up its commitment to its members and their families.”

The 24/7 Child Care Center at Naval Air Station North Island, Building 607, specializes in care for children of watch-standers and shift workers. Full-time care fees are charged on a sliding fee scale regardless of needed care hours. The fee for watch-stander and drop-in care is $5 an hour. The work schedule must be verified by the command.

To enroll or for drop-in availability, contact the Child Care Resource and Referral Office at 619-556-8491 or ccrr@mwrsw.com.