Amorio Parish was recently hired as Naval Air Station Patuxent River Installation Child and Youth Program Administrator. Parish, whose mother and father were both Soldiers, said he's certainly familiar with military tempo, lifestyle and family dynamics.

"Nearly everything I learned was from my parents," Parish said. "My mom was an officer and my father a drill sergeant. Both were good examples and opened my eyes to the world around me and helped me establish clear goals that I'm still trying to reach."

"Having strong military parents gave me insight into everyday military life," he said. "That insight became invaluable when I started work with the military families."

According to Commander, Navy Installations Command's website, CYP services provide developmental child care and youth recreational programs and services for eligible youths ages 4 weeks to 18 years. Programs and services are specifically designed and operated to meet the unique needs of the military mission and service members and their families.

Parish said the key to his successes have been education and continuous training. "I love education and training, from earning my bachelor's degree from Lane College to starting my doctorate degree," Parish said.

Parish also said that many of the things in CYP may come naturally, but a degree can hone those skills and strengthen your skills. "Work experience will always be a key to success, but education will oftentimes fill in the spots where you don't have experience or expertise," he said. "Education can really open doors for you."

Some of the programs Parish manages are:

Child and Youth Education Services - prepares schools and installations to respond confidently to the complexities of transition and deployment while providing families the assurance that their children's academic well-being is a Navy priority by providing school transition services, deployment support, installation, school, community communications,
partnerships in education, home school linkage and support for post-secondary preparation opportunities

Child Development Centers - provide full- and part-day child care for youths ages 6 weeks to 5 years

Child Development Homes - provide full- and part-day and night and weekend child care for youths ages 4 weeks to 12 years

School-Age Care - provides before- and after-school and day camps youths ages 6-12 years

School Liaison Officers (SLOs) - Navy subject matter experts for K-12 education issues. SLOs work to connect commanders, educators and parents

Youth Sponsorship Program - provides access to positive peer groups and social activities, helping Navy children feel connected at their new duty station

Youth and Teen Programs - provide sports programs, leisure classes, youth internet labs and teen programs for youths ages 6-18 years.

Developmental child care and youth recreational programs are available to all active-duty military, activated reservists and guardsmen, DOD civilian personnel and DOD contractors. Youth recreational programs are also available to military retirees and DOD civilian retirees.

"Navy Child and Youth programs are among the highest quality in the country and the world," Parish explained. "The people here care about every child who walks through our doors."

If you have any questions about CYP contact Parish at (301) 342-0945 or amorio.parish@navy.mil.

For more news from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, visit www.navy.mil/.