Temporary, hourly day care available at CDC Published March 9, 2011 By Steve Hoffmann 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Attention parents with children in day care -- the rent-a-slot and hourly drop-in day care service at Keesler's child development enter may be your dream come true. Many day care facilities close for one or two weeks at a time, leaving parents scrambling for child care during the day. They'll resort to such drastic measures as taking time from work, using valuable vacation time, hitting up the grandparents or checking the local kennels to see if they have space available. OK, maybe checking the dog pound hasn't crossed your mind, but it underscores the desperation parents sometimes feel when their child's day care facility closes. But a slot that's for rent can be a hopeful alternative for frantic parents. Sometimes, parents who have children enrolled and regularly attending the child development center will sublease their child's slot. Maybe they're on vacation or on temporary assignment to another base -- for whatever reason, their child is not using their slot for an extended period of time. In an effort to help cover some of the weekly costs of keeping their child's slot, they'll lease it to another child. "I think it's an excellent program," said Staff Sgt. Marshall Dixon, 336th Training Squadron. "It relieves some of the financial hardship on parents with children in day care while allowing parents like me to have access to child care." "The program is ideal for reservists and those on temporary duty," said Anita Hymes, deputy director at the child development center. The program is open to active duty, retired, civilians and contractors. While the rent-a-slot program is available on a weekly basis, drop-in care is also available by the hour for $4 per hour. Weekly rent-a-slot costs vary depending on availability. Those with slots to rent offer them at their weekly rate or lower. Some slots may be higher or lower than others, depending on the rank of the parent. To rent a spot, parents pay the cost of whatever space is available for their child. Weekly costs range between $59-$139. The rent-a-slot program averages approximately five slots rented per week. According to Ms. Hymes, summer months and holidays are busier, averaging 10 slots rented per week. Ms. Hymes said full-time slots are also available, particularly for infants ages 6 weeks to 12 months. For more information, call the child development center, 377-2211.