4C for Children, U.S. Air Force Provide Respite Care in Dayton

Goal: To serve Air Force families who have children with special needs

(DAYTON, OHIO--August 28, 2012)  4C for Children will administer the Air Force's Exceptional  Family Member Program (EFMP) Respite Care in Dayton and accept requests for care beginning Sept. 1. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was selected in January as one of 15 air bases for an expansion of U.S. Air Force EFMP Respite Care, a partnership program between the Air Force and  Child Care Aware® of America, of which 4C for Children is a local member.

"4C is so pleased to be able to offer this much needed program to local Air Force families with children with special needs," said Lorna Chouinard, Director of 4C's Miami Valley Services. "This respite care program will provide families a well-deserved break, knowing that their child is being cared for by trained and screened providers." 4C for Children is the designated child care resource and referral service for 15 Ohio counties, including 10 in the Miami Valley.

Through this Air Force-funded program, eligible families may receive up to 20 hours of respite care per month at no cost to the family.  Respite care services in the Dayton area will be provided by qualified providers who are recruited, screened and trained in caring for children with special needs by 4C.  Two 4C staff spent three days in San Diego recently for extensive training in all aspects of meeting the needs of military families who have children with special needs. 4C is now recruiting its first respite care provider. Information about this position is posted on the 4C Web site (www.4cforchildren.org/jobs)

USAF EFMP Respite Care is available to those families stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  To be eligible for respite care, the family must be enrolled in the Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and have a child 18 or younger who is identified under the EFMP as "moderate" or "severe."