White Sands Missile Range

Child Development Services (CDS)

Registration

The Central Registration office provides one stop registration for all Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS) programs including Child Development Services, School Age Services and Middle School and Teen Services.  In addition Central Registry can assist with childcare needs for special events, short-term alternative child care and Family Child Care (FCC) homes.

To request a registration packet in advance of your arrival, contact the White Sands Missile Range Central Registry office at 575-678-2441. The CYSS registration fee is $18 per child (or $40 per family) per year.  Currently the Army Family Covenant is paying the registration fee for all CYSS registrations and re-registrations.  To register, the sponsor must provide the following:

• Proof of child's immunizations
• emergency contacts other than sponsor or spouse
• Copy of sponsor and spouse's pay stub
• Health assessment-due within 30 days of registration
• Single and dual military parents must provide their family care plan information within 30 days of registration

Eligibility

CYSS programs are available for active duty military personnel, DoD civilian personnel, and DoD contractors working at White Sands Missile Range.

Child Development Center (CDC)

The Thomas J.P. Jones Child Development Center is accredited with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and fully certified by the Department of Defense. All staff working directly with children undergo background checks and participate in initial and on-going training. We encourage growth in your child by allowing for experiences in social, emotional, physical, creative and cognitive activities.

The Thomas J.P. Jones Child Development Center is located next to the Chapel in Building 272. You may reach us by calling 575-678-2059.

Hours of Operation

The Center is open Monday-Friday, excluding Federal Holidays from 5:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Programs Offered

The Thomas J.P. Jones CDC offers the following program options for children 6 weeks to kindergarten:

• Full Day Care - Offers quality developmental care for children six weeks to five years of age. Children are grouped within developmental age activity rooms and participate in field trips both on and off post.
• Hourly Care - Meets the needs of parents requiring short term care on an intermittent basis. Hourly care can be used for up to 20 hours a week. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance. Cancellation of reservations is required.
• Call 575-678-2441 for more information on availability of classes, dates and times.
• Pre-Kinder Care - Available for children who will be attending Kindergarten in the next school year. Classes are held Monday - Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Classes are held concurrent with the Las Cruces Public Schools district calendar.
• Kindergarten Care - Provided for children who are attending kindergarten classes at the White Sands Schools. Transportation to and from school is provided. Children enjoy a wide range of activities including bowling and craft activities before or after school. Full day care is provided during in-service days and school holidays which include meals and snacks (except Federal Holidays and Compressed Fridays). Fees are adjusted for full day care during the winter and summer breaks.
• Additional requirements may apply to Families with Special Needs Children

Family Child Care (FCC)

The White Sands Missile Range Family Child Care (FCC) program offers small group care in a family environment. The FCC program has unique qualities that many parents prefer. One of the most commented on by parents is that FCC homes provide a comfortable home environment where all children from the same family can stay together. Younger and older children learn from each other and this small group child care option is especially appealing to parents of infants and toddlers.

The quality of care found in FCC homes is the same as you would find in our child care center. Providers receive initial and ongoing training that includes:

• child guidance techniques
• working in a multi-age setting
• fire prevention and evacuation procedures
• safety procedures
• health procedures
• business practices
• child abuse identification and reporting
• First Aid and CPR

Training and education opportunities can lead to a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and/or Accreditation by the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC).

All FCC Providers and their family members, age 12 years and older, undergo annual background checks. All homes are inspected by installation health, fire, and safety personnel. Certified FCC homes are visited by Child and Youth Services (CYSS) personnel, along with unannounced inspections from local installation fire, safety and health officials. Inspections are also conducted by higher headquarters.

FCC Providers offer services that may include evening, weekend, or 24 hour care during mobilization and training exercises or temporary duty (TDY) assignments. Care for special needs children, in addition to emergency and respite care requested through Social work and Army Community Service (ACS); care for special needs children is available after additional provider training is conducted. These flexible care options are in addition to hourly, part time and fulltime care options in the FCC homes.

School Age Services (SAS)

School Age Services (SAS) offers supervised before and after school care for children in grades 1 through 5 at the Alan A. Nord Youth Services Center, Bldg 1316. The Youth Services Center facilities include a gymnasium, sports complex, game room, snack bar lounges, multi-purpose rooms, art room, media centers, Teen Patio, and the Technology Center.

The White Sands Missile Range SAS is accredited by the National After School Association and annually inspected and certified by the Department of Army. During the school year, SAS offers a variety of well-rounded daily activities to choose from that are fun, educational and safe. There is always a wide variety of child-directed activities or staff-directed activities offered daily.

The CYSS Technology Center is open for students to work on their homework or have fun while building their computer skills in technology. Students who choose to do their homework in our homework lab will have staff available to assist them with their homework and provide resources to help with their education. An afternoon snack is provided.

Before school care is available beginning at 5:30 a.m. and after school care is available until 6:00 p.m. During school breaks and summer, SAS operates a morning camp called Summer Quest which is open from 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and and Extended Camp open from 1:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack is provided during full day care. Summer Quest is a great camp for kids! Each week we offer a variety of sports, arts and crafts, high adventure and many other types of camps in a safe, structured and entertaining environment.