LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, ARK. -- The Little Rock Air Force Base Child Development Center offers eligible active-duty Air Force parents a break from the stresses of parenting through Give Parents a Break, a free program.
To qualify for the program, families must have a written referral signed by one of the following base officials: squadron commander, first sergeant, chaplain, medical professional, family advocacy personnel, Airman and Family Readiness Center personnel, CDC personnel or family child care coordinator.
Programs like GPAB are in place to develop and care for Airmen and their families.
GPAB is a sponsored by the Air Force Aid Society and is only for families experiencing stress due to a deployment, remote tour of duty, family crisis, birth of a new baby, having a child with special needs and any other unique circumstances or hardships.
GPAB takes place one Saturday out of the month. Each session is four hours.
“The children are provided with meals that may occur during the session they attend,” said Michelle Caslin, the CDC center program lead at. “There are games they can play, arts and crafts and the children are also given the opportunity to lay down if they would like to nap.”
Each referral is valid for up to three months and can be renewed if needed.
GPAB helps develop the world’s most resilient Mobility Airmen and families by giving parents much needed time to themselves.
“I think that this program is essential to the mission-mental health wise - for the people who are struggling,” Caslin said. “It’s a big help to for families to bring their children to Give Parents a Break and let the parents have the rest that they need.”
For more information, call the CDC at (501) 987-6070; for a referral call (501) 987-6130.