Second child care provider available to Delaware Guard families on drill weekends

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey
  • 166th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NEW CASTLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Delaware --  Starting during this January's Unit Training Assembly (Jan. 11-12, 2015), members of the Delaware National Guard with children will have a second provider for drill weekend child care located just 4.6 miles (about a 10 minute drive) from the New Castle Air National Guard Base.

Munchkin University, a home-based and State of Delaware licensed child care provider in operation since 2009, is located in a single family home in the Jefferson Farms development at 43 N. Lunenburg Drive, New Castle, Delaware, 19720. It offers care for up to a total of nine children of Delaware Guard members. It operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on drill weekends when it only serves children of military families.

The facility is also open weekdays for child care to the local community, but at a cost. Military families may take advantage of this separate program with a modest discount available to military members.

Children at Munchkin University enrolled in the drill weekend child care program can be from six weeks to 12 years old. There is no cost to service members because the National Guard Bureau is funding the program as a benefit to Guard members.

The child care facility is operated by Ms. Terri McGriff, and she encourages parents to visit the home with their children prior to registering their child. Ms. McGriff can be reached at (302) 276-1945.

Members need to complete an initial registration packet by contacting either Staff Sgt. Ebony Hill at (302) 323-3424, or 1st Lt. Lauren Mease at (302) 323-3327. Priority is offered to those who sign-up first. The 166th Airlift Wing Airman & Family Readiness program office must have the registration packet from the parent as early as possible. Registration will be confirmed the Wednesday before the weekend drill with the member and the child care provider.

Food is provided for all children at no charge. For children who require a nap, parents must bring a blanket, sheet and a second change of clothes. For very young children, parents much provide diapers and wipes as needed. School-age children may bring an electronic device.

Munchkin University is a four star rated program (out of five stars maximum) in the Delaware Stars for Early Success program, http://www.delawarestars.udel.edu/stars-participating-programs/, Delaware's Quality Rating and Improvement System administered by the Delaware Department of Education. The facility is listed on the Delaware Stars website under the name of "McGriff, Terri, FCC, New Castle." The acronym "FCC" stands for Family Child Care.

Munchkin University is approved by the Air Force Family Child Care Home Community Care (HCC) program. HCC provides ANG and Air Force Reserve members with access to quality child care services that are similar to those that are available to military assigned to or living on a military installation. HCC also helps to reduce out of pocket expenses for ANG/AFR service members by providing care at no cost.

The other drill weekend child care provider available to Guard members is Tender Loving Kare Child Care & Learning Center, 22 Peoples Plaza, Newark, DE, 19702, www.tenderlovingkare.com/newk/newk_facility.htm.