Melissa Roth honored as AFMC Family Child Care Provider of the Year

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  For 17 years Melissa Roth has opened her home and her heart to military children, working as a licensed Family Child Care provider. Recently, Ms. Roth was recognized for her work by being named Air Force Materiel Command's 2008 Family Child Care Provider of the Year. 

"This award is well deserved," said Roxane Dietrich, Family Member Programs flight chief. "Melissa is extremely professional as a FCC provider. Not only has she earned the respect of the families that she serves but she has also established herself as a great mentor to our other Family Child Care providers." 

Ms. Roth has distinguished herself among Hanscom Family Child Care providers by pursuing and receiving accreditation from the National Association of Family Child Care and she is currently in the process of pursuing re-accreditation from this organization.
"One of the strengths of Melissa's program is the fact that she is very active in the Hanscom community," said Courtney Cann, Family Child Care coordinator. 

Ms. Roth serves as the Key Spouse for the 66th Security Forces Squadron, serving as the link between the squadron commander and the spouses of deployed personnel to ensure the families are well taken care of so the deployed member can focus on their mission abroad. Ms. Roth's husband, Master Sgt. James Roth, is a member of the 66th Security Forces Squadron. 

"Melissa's involvement and wonderful family child care program did not stop when her husband was deployed for much of this past year," Ms. Cann said. "Her commitment to the community and the quality of care of her program remained as strong as ever."
In addition to the regular care that Ms. Roth provides through her program she has gone above and beyond to support the families. 

"One primary reason, Ms. Roth is an exceptional Family Child Care provider is the value she places on maintaining open, friendly and supportive relationships with the families in her program," said Laurel Wironen, Training and Curriculum specialist. "She provides a program that is inclusive to children of all needs--integrating children who have struggled in other programs into her home. Building on the children's individual strengths and her personal dedication to helping children succeed has been a formula of success for these children." 

For Ms. Roth serving as a family child care provider has been a great experience. "It's helped me to grow into the person I am today," she said. "I have learned so much about being a better person and a better mother to my own children. Each family has become a part of my extended family which seems to grow every day. I am truly dedicated to my profession and take great pride in knowing that I have made a positive influence in a child's life."