Operation
Child Care
Operation: Child Care is a nationwide initiative
to provide short-term “respite and reunion
child care” for children of service members
returning from Iraq for a two-week Rest and Recreation
(R&R) leave period before they return to Iraq
. This free child care support will provide support
for military members who do not have access to a
military installation where such service might otherwise
be available.
Care is being coordinated through the effort of the
National Child Care Resource and Referral Association
(NACCRRA), which has state and local affiliates throughout
the country. This is an opportunity for local 4-H
Club youth and adult volunteers to volunteer to provide
child care so parents can have an “evening
out” during the time the soldier is home.
Counties
interested in participating should contact their
local affiliate of the Ohio Child Care Reserouce
and Referral Association. The contact information
for these 12 affiliates can be found at ttp://www.occrra.org/contact_agencies.htm.
The Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R)
Offices across the county will coordinate the requests
for care from military personnel and link them to
child care providers and baby sitters. Military members
who are scheduled for R&R leave will be given
the National Child Care Aware toll-free hotline number.
By calling that number, they will be referred to
their local CCR&R. The local CCR&R will recruit
licensed child care providers willing to volunteer
and provide a list of names to the military member.
The military member will be given information on “tips
for selecting a provider” and a list of volunteers.
County 4-H staff are asked to recruit 4-H members
and adult volunteers who are willing to be called
for babysitting assignments for Army families. 4-H
staff should recruit babysitters for Operation:
Child Care based on the following criteria:
*Babysitters have been trained (4-H or Red Cross)
*Babysitters are an appropriate age (no younger than
15 unless with adult)
*Babysitters work in pairs
*Team of teens
*Team of youth and adult
*Babysitting is in compliance with state laws regarding
CPR/First Aid and background checks
Operation: Child Care is an opportunity for 4-H youth
and adults to contribute an important community service
to families of soldiers who are serving the country.
This is an opportunity for them to:
-volunteer and serve “my club, my community,
my country, and my world”
-develop citizenship within a 4-H project area
-develop leadership within a 4-H project area
-apply what they have learned through training or
a project area to real life situations
-gain understanding of the issues facing children
and youth of deployed soldiers
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