Child & Youth Services

The mission of Fort Detrick’s Child and Youth Services is to enhance readiness and well-being by reducing conflict between mission requirements and parental responsibilities.

Child & Youth Services programs are designed to foster and develop children's physical, intellectual and socio-emotional capabilities. The goal of the quality child and youth development options is to reduce the conflict between parental responsibilities and unit mission requirements.

All services are available to service members and family members at the installation.

We provide quality full-time and hourly childcare for children 6 weeks through 5 years of age. Additionally, small ratio groups are available for addressing the individualized needs of each child. Our specialized and trained staff have a strong educational foundation for early childhood practices and theories. Our staff insures all children receive the proper nurturing, respect and social interaction skills regardless of family background, race, gender or culture. We give our children the opportunity to make friends, to explore and to experiment through a variety of play activities.

Fort Detrick and Forest Glen Child Development Center (CDC) accepts children ages six weeks to kindergarten. Children of active-duty military personnel appropriated and non-appropriated Department of Defense (DoD) civilian personnel, Reservists and National Guard on active duty or during inactive duty training (must submit active-duty orders), and DoD contractors working at Fort Detrick and Forest Glen may use services provided by the program. The CDC program enhances the development of children socially, emotionally, intellectually, creatively and physically. The staff develops an atmosphere in which program assistants and children work together to make children’s time away from home happier and more secure.  Fort Detrick and Forest Glen CDC are nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAYEC).

The Training and Curriculum Specialists (TACS) ensure the curriculum provided in our programs is age appropriate and provides developmental learning activities. The TACSs also plan, track, and provide training for employees and parents. Each center has 1-2 TACS depending on the size of the facility. They monitor the execution of the program requirements, ensure staff training, assess environmental and program quality, role model developmentally appropriate practices, and work cohesively with the specified Program Director. We are currently using Creative Curriculum in our classrooms. To learn more, please visit the Teaching Strategies web site for additional information.

The Army's Pre-Kindergarten program, “Strong Beginnings - Building Foundations for Learning,” focuses on language, reading, mathematics, science, computers, social studies, the arts and helps prepare children for kindergarten. The Pre-K program operates three (3 hours per day, Monday - Friday, from 8:30-1130 a.m. with before and after care as a wraparound service to support the full CDC operating hours of 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Please contact Parent Central Services for more information.