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Parents can de-stress with ‘Give Parents a Break’ program

  • Published
  • By Steve Berry
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Freeman, of the Airman and Family Readiness Center, or A&FRC, encourages families at Scott to participate in the Air Force Aid Society sponsored "Give Parents a Break" program.

Parents have the opportunity for free child care once a month at the Child Development Center or Youth Center as a way to help relieve the stresses of being a military family.
Military members are briefed by Sergeant Freeman about family programs before deploying. She said she always urges servicemembers to have their families take advantage of the Give Parents a Break program.

"The program gives parents piece-of-mind," Sergeant Freeman said. "It provides time to refresh and regroup. We know that when the spouse is gone the mom or dad that is left behind is mom and dad for the duration of the deployment."

Active duty families eligible for the Give Parents a Break program include those where a parent is feeling stress due to deployments, a recent family crisis, or parents who are experiencing temporary stress for other reasons.

In an effort to ensure that all of Team Scott has access to family programs such as the Give Parents A Break program, the Friends of Military Families Club, a private organization managed through the A&FRC, funds this program for all other Team Scott branches of service. Referrals for the program are made by first sergeants, chaplains, Family Advocacy personnel, and A&FRC personnel.

Lona Berndt, A&FRC Community Readiness Consultant and Air Force Aid Officer, said the program is being highlighted as part of the Year of the Air Force Family.

"I believe that military families are more satisfied when they have access to resources that enhance personal effectiveness," she said. "Proper support for family members can mean greater impact on DoD recruitment and retention, less marital and family issues, and more focus on the mission at hand. The Give Parents a Break Program is one way in which we can support and encourage a strong resilient military family."
For more information, call the A&FRC at 256-8668.