• Operation Child Care Project Launches HomeFront Help Pilot for Eglin & Hurlburt Community & Welcomes Applicants

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    October 22, 2024
    Operation Child Care Project Launches HomeFront Help Pilot for Eglin & Hurlburt Community & Welcomes Applicants

    Military Spouses, Early Childhood Education Professionals, and Local Community Encouraged to Apply

    October 15, 2024 – Fort Walton Beach, Florida – The Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), in partnership with The Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast and the Air & Space Forces Association, is excited to announce the launch of its HomeFront Help (HFH) Community Pilot Program, an exclusive paid professional development opportunity for military spouses and early childhood education professionals near Eglin and Hurlburt Air Force Bases. OCCP is actively recruiting Helpers to participate in the first-ever cohort of this groundbreaking pilot program happening November 16-17 in Shalimar, designed to address the child care crisis faced by military families in one of the most underserved regions of the country.

    “Access to quality child care is a nationwide crisis. This issue uniquely challenges military families due to frequent relocations, overflowing waitlists, and the non-traditional working schedules of service members,” said Kayla Corbitt, CEO of Operation Child Care Project and Army Spouse. “While great strides have been made in the Fort Walton Beach area, families stationed at Eglin and Hurlburt face some of the longest waitlists and child care shortages in the Department of Defense (DOD). We are committed to filling those gaps through our pilot offering training and incentives to child care helpers that meet and exceed DOD standards for certifications.”

    A Paid Opportunity to Empower Child Care Professionals and Meet a Critical Demand

    The HomeFront Help Pilot, developed by and for the military community, addresses a longstanding gap in child care access, offering a lifeline to military families who have struggled to find emergency, ad hoc, and part-time care—until now. HFH not only offers professional development but also provides paid opportunities for those accepted into the pilot cohort who wish to positively impact military families in the local community. Helpers will gain valuable skills and certifications, with the chance to earn stipends while directly supporting military families and local families in need of safe, flexible, and reliable child care.

    Eglin and Hurlburt Air Force Bases have been recognized by the Department of Defense as facing severe child care shortages, with some of the highest demand and the longest waitlists among military communities. With the launch of this program, applicants can play a key role in solving this crisis while advancing their careers and offering their services to military families and local families in need of quality, reliable child care options.

    What Helpers Will Receive as a HomeFront Help Participant:

    As a Helper in the HFH pilot program, participants will be trained to exceed Department of Defense standards in child care and will be compensated for their time and effort. Benefits of the program include:
    • Free Adult & Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED Certification
    • Free FBI, State Criminal History, and Child Safety Background Checks
    • 40 hours of free provider training
    • Free Special Needs and Behavioral training
    • Two free hours of one-on-one consulting with industry care experts
    • Free self-employment training to start your own child care business
    • Stipends paid to Helpers who complete the program
    • Ongoing incentives for serving military families in need
    Once qualified, Helpers will be added to a locally managed database, connecting them to paid child care opportunities for military families and local families searching for care. Helpers will also have the opportunity to support local child care facilities experiencing staffing shortages, further expanding their paid work opportunities.

    Professional Development with Immediate Impact:

    By joining the HomeFront Help, Helpers will gain valuable certifications and training, and will also be compensated with a $250 stipend upon completing the training during the weekend of November 16-17.  With flexible, paid opportunities, Helpers will provide care that gives military families peace of mind, knowing their children are in the hands of trusted professionals.

    Who Should Apply?
    • Military Spouses: Looking for flexible, paid work that also enhances your professional skills? This program is designed to help build a portable career that serves the military community.
    • Early Childhood Education Professionals: This is a unique chance to advance qualifications, receive specialized training, and get paid while helping address the child care crisis in the Eglin and Hurlburt region.
    • Members of the local community are welcome to apply.
    Be a Part of This Historic First Cohort:

    This is a rare professional development opportunity that combines paid work opportunities with career-building education. By participating in this pilot, Helpers will be a part of the first cohort to help close the child care gap in a critically underserved region.

    Ready to Get Involved?

    Join us in creating a brighter future for all families. Click to learn more or apply or email homefronthelpfl@occproject.org.


    About Operation Child Care Project (OCCP)


    The Operation Child Care Project is a nonprofit organization, founded and led by military spouses, that is dedicated to improving child care access and equity for military families. By working one-on-one with families and developing community-centered solutions, OCCP is closing the gap in child care services for those who serve.
    Contact:
    Lyndsey Akers, Founder/Principal
    lyndsey@akers.co, (231) 429-4101