Beasley named Provider of the Year

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Thiqueta Beasley, a Family Child Care provider, was recently named as the 2012 Provider of the Year.

Although she is fairly new to Hanscom and Air Force Family Child Care, Beasley has been working with children for eight years. It is because of her hard work and dedication that she was selected as this year's top provider, according to Courtney Cann, Family Child Care coordinator.

"Queta has been licensed here for about 14 months and has already made a huge impact," said Cann. "She is a great mentor for our four new providers."

In addition to being very talented at her job, Cann says that Beasley's impacts can be felt across the base community. She organized a carnival for the base last year and she teaches Zumba at the fitness center.

For Beasley, taking care of children has turned into a career and something she wants to do for a long time.

"My goal is to open up a daycare center one day," she said. "I don't see me doing anything else. This is me."

But it's actually a career she stumbled upon. Beasley is married to Louie, a Navy petty officer first class now stationed on the USS Constitution. When the family moved from Virginia to Illinois eight years ago, she had a hard time finding a job. After she found out about home child care, she decided to do it until her own children started school.

"Once I started, I never stopped," she said. "We moved on to California and now we're here."

Beasley said that with each move, she has learned more and more about Family Child Care and still uses some of the knowledge she has gained at each duty location.

And since being on the job here, she has had the opportunity to work with some great families.

"I have been blessed to have wonderful parents," she said. "And most of the children I take care of start coming to me when they're babies. I get to see the growth of the kids from when they start walking and talking to running. It makes me want to keep doing it."

The feeling is mutual among parents.

"Ms. Queta exceeded all of our expectations," said one parent in an email to the FCC office. "She is an amazingly hard worker...She is always open to discussions about any choices she makes with her program, and works with all the families to make sure everyone's needs are met."

Cann agrees.

"Queta is truly one of a kind and we are very lucky to have her as a provider here at Hanscom," she said. "She came along at a time when we needed more providers and has been a great asset."

Cann also points out that more Family Child Care providers are always needed. FCC providers can operate their own home-based business, set their own hours, be with their children and care for other children in their home. In addition, a licensed provider's credentials are portable. Air Force providers who PCS may move the business to their next duty location.

Anyone interested in becoming a provider must undergo licensing requirements, which involves completing 15 Air Force training modules (or about 60 hours). Providers must also complete yearly training, background checks and inspections. Once licensing is complete, providers can care for children from two weeks old to 12 years old.

Family Child Care is especially seeking providers to care for children with special needs, including children with asthma, allergies, cerebral palsy and physical impairments. In addition, providers are needed for swing and evening shifts.

Anyone interested in more information may contact Cann at 781-225-6122 or visit the Child Development Center Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to pick up an information packet.