Armed Services YMCA and Department of Defense partnership supports child care needs of eligible military families

In a continued effort to meet the growing needs of military service members, the Ventura Family YMCA will provide respite child care services to deployed National Guard/Reservists and select military personnel. Underwritten by the Department of Defense (DoD), respite child care services are designed to provide licensed child care for children of deployed military personnel.

“The Ventura Family YMCA is pleased to support military families and the child care needs of deployed military personnel,” said Jacob Munyon, Child Care Director, Ventura Family YMCA. “Providing a nurturing environment for families and children is integral to the YMCA’s commitment to child development and family strengthening.”

Respite child care provides part-time, occasional and licensed child care for children whose parent or guardian needs temporary respite from their role as primary caregiver in the absence of a deployed spouse. The care is intended for children who are 5 years of age up to 12 years of age.

With respite child care services, parents/guardians have the opportunity to focus on their own personal health and well-being, which is essential when one is facing hardship and uncertainty of military deployment.

This new service is part of a $31-million initiative launched in October 2008 with the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and the DoD to provide military families with access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs at community YMCAs nationwide. Included in this contract is $5 million earmarked to underwrite respite child care in 10 states across the country, including California.

The ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative responds to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to support military family readiness and to ensure that military family readiness programs and activities are available to all deployed National Guard and Reserve families and select military personnel.

Military personnel who are eligible to receive the respite care benefits include:
1. Families of joint deployed Army National Guard and Reservists of all military branches;
2. Families of Active Duty Independent Duty personnel;
3. Relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel; and
4. Families of deployed Active Duty personnel, who are geographically dispersed outside a 30-mile radius from a military installation.

“The YMCA has a distinguished record of supporting military service members and their families. The Ventura Family YMCA continues our commitment to military members and their families by offering a strong network of support,” said Munyon.

Families interested in respite child care should contact Jacob Munyon 805-642-2131 to inquire about availability. For more information about the ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative and participating YMCAs, please visit www.ymca.net.

About the Ventura Family YMCA
The Ventura Family YMCA serves over 20,000 individuals annually through facility memberships, before & after school childcare, day & resident camps, youth sports, swim lessons, teen programs, and many more healthy lifestyles and community enriching programs throughout Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Saticoy. Membership without contracts or join fees makes the Ventura Family YMCA accessible to everyone. The Ventura Family YMCA is located at 3760 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, CA 93003.