All Child and Youth Service (CYS) staff undergo extensive background clearances to ensure that only the best qualified candidates are selected to work with your children. Applicants for CYS positions are screened with the Army Central Registry, National Agency Checks and under go local background checks with the Provost Marshal, Drug and Alcohol, and MPs. References are checked for accuracy.

CYS Management Staff provides professional oversight for CYS programs.

*CYS Coordinator - assumes responsibility for Fort Belvoir's CYS. The Coordinator provides overall supervision of programs and services, directors, training staff, budget, facilities and food services. The Coordinator applies professional knowledge to ensure developmental programming is in place according to regulatory guidance.

*Center/Program Directors - provide on site supervision to ensure CYS developmental programming. The directors plan, coordinate and supervise the activities of direct care and administrative staff in the program. Directors are also responsible to ensure fiscal, administrative and safety requirements are in place.

*Assistant Program Directors - assist and substitute for program directors.

*Training and Curriculum/Program Specialists - are responsible for conducting training for all CYS direct care. Training topics include child growth and development, child health and nutrition, developmental programming, discipline techniques, parent relations, family style dinning, child abuse identification and reporting, and safety.

*Food Service Manager - plans and implements food services for child care programs. The Food Service Manager plans economical USDA approved meals, ensures nutrition training is provided for staff and parents, and ensures the food program meets health and sanitation requirements.

*Program Operations Specialist - is responsible for program evaluation reports, APF and NAF budget issues and routine personnel issues.

* Child Development Teachers - prepare lesson plans for child activities according to the needs, interests, and abilities of each child. The Teachers role model communication and interaction for staff and parents and provide first line supervision for direct care staff.

*Program Assistants and FCC Providers - are responsible for implementing program activities that support children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development.

Direct Care Staff Training - A total of 38 hours of training are required for caregivers to reach their target level of training. Once target level training is completed, 24 hours of inservice training are required annually.
*Initial training includes 8 hours of orientation prior to being assigned duty in an activity room (does not count towards the 38 hours of training).
*16 Hours of work under the direct supervision of experienced caregiving employees are required prior to being solely responsible for assigned children.
*Entry level training is completed in the first 3 months of employment to include communicable diseases, first aid, CPR, child abuse and neglect identification, 3 credits each of DOD Training Module Series and related topics.
*Skill level training is completed within the next 6 months of hire to include DOD Training Manuals of Caring for Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, or School-age children (caregiver picks one age group module) and Creating Environments for Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, or School-age children (caregiver picks one age group module), child abuse prevention, observations of programs, classroom environment assessment, special projects and complete additional elective training.

Training Opportunities - Opportunities for caregiving employees to obtain the nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials are available. Currently 39 caregiving staff have earned CDAs in Fort Belvoir Child and Youth Services programs.