Family Concerns

When arriving at a new post, many families have concerns regarding readiness, housing, child-care, education and faith interests. Rest assured, as the joint base and the surrounding communities offer a wide range of services to accommodate all the needs of a growing military family.

FAMILY READINESS CENTER
These centers offer free workshops, services and classes to help enhance the quality of life for all joint-base personnel.

The professional staff can provide general information and referrals for phone numbers and points of contact for civilian and military resources such as child care, employment, housing, Department of Motor Vehicles policies, food, financial planning and much more.

Langley Airman and Family Readiness Center
45 Nealy Ave., Suite 100
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23665 (757) 764-3990

Army Community Services
601 Hines Circle
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23604 (757) 878-3638

Heart Link Spouses Orientation
Heart Link Spouses Orientation introduces new spouses to the lifestyle and culture of the joint base.

Individual and Family Readiness Services
These educational and support programs assist deploying personnel and their families in successfully managing separations and reunions associated with deployments, remote tours and extended temporary duties¬—before, during and after deployments.

Family Advocacy
This Department of Defense initiative focuses on the prevention, education, intervention and treatment of child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse, spouse abuse and sexual assault. The goal is to provide victims assistance, strengthen families and retain valuable service members. This community outreach consists of five different programs:
• Family Maltreatment identifies, assesses and tracks families experiencing child and spouse abuse.
• New Parent Support provides community health care nurses who offer classes and visit offices, hospitals and homes of new parents. Services involve: prior to the birth through the child's first year.
• Outreach offers such educational and support services as couples classes and marital counseling.
• Special Needs Identification provides information and referrals to families with special needs children or adults, or a "crisis" situation. The Respite Care Program funds caregivers to assist families who need a temporary "break" from an ill or disabled family member. Families must demonstrate a financial need for this assistance.
• Financial Management helps military and civilian personnel with all facets of personal finances, offering information, education and individual counseling on budget preparation, debt management, financial concerns of divorce, consumer protection and investing. PFMP also works hand-in-hand with the Air Force Aid Society to restore financial stability.

Relocation Assistance Program
This service helps single and married military members and their families, as well as DoD civilians and their families through the moving experience with pre-moving planning, workshops and seminars, one-on-one relocation assistance counseling, sponsor packages, Standard Topics Exchange System printouts and housing availability.

Transition Assistance Program
This program provides separating and retiring servicemembers the tools, skills and know-how to market themselves in the private sector job market. It also prepares participants to analyze their skills, identify job goals, write a resume and cover letter, prepare for a job interview and evaluate and respond to job offers.

Volunteer Resource Program
This joint-base service acts as a volunteer resource for group and special events as well as traditional volunteer opportunities.

Women, Infants and Children
This special supplemental food program provides free supplemental foods and nutrition education to eligible persons through individual and group counseling sessions. The foods are intended as supplements to existing diets with important nutrients and redeemed with WIC checks at participating grocery stores. To apply for WIC, call: (800) 943-1007.

HOUSING
Privatized Housing
ADVANCED HOUSING APPLICATION FOR PRIVATIZED HOUSING
Once a military member submits a privatized housing application at the leasing office, the gaining office will notify the member of the estimated waiting time for privatized housing.

Check into the base housing office immediately upon arrival at your new duty station. Members being assigned privatized housing will receive 30 days prior notice of the move-in date if at all possible.

BARKSDALE LANGLEY BOLLING FAMILY HOUSING
(757) 766-1336
(757) 865-1330/1188
http://www.airforceusa.org/content/index.php?optionhousing
On-post housing is available to all grades, but waiting times vary depending on grade and type of home. The Housing Management Office is the point of contact for everyone making living arrangements—on and off base, dormitory and privatized housing, apartments, rental homes and home purchase.

BLB FH manages all housing and the waiting list is ever-changing due to upgrade construction and renovations. All military members single, with dependents, reservists, dual military, civil service, retired military and retired civil service qualify for privatized housing. Other housing offices include:

Balfour Beatty Communities
Management Office
126 Madison Ave.
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23604 (877) 500-2301
http://www.fteustishomes.com

The Landings at Langley
11 Burrell Loop Road
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23665 (757) 766-1336

Fort Eustis Welcome/Visitors Center
Fort Eustis Visitors Center
Washington Blvd., Building 02
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23604 (757) 878-1878

House Searching Tips
Determining your needs, budget issues and location are all priorities to be addressed when searching for a residence. The next big step is the actual house hunting.

The Internet is an excellent source of information as well as local newspapers and real estate offices. And websites like http://www.rent.com and http://www.ahrn.com offer a wide range of listings in the area and some photos are included of available properties.

Local real estate companies sometimes have housing available for rent. You can find these agencies in the local phonebook, in the yellow pages of this guide or online, and even if they do not have the type of property you're looking for they should be able to refer you to other companies that do. Another means is to simply drive around the neighborhoods of choice. Some landlords rely on the old-fashioned "For Rent" sign in the window or front yard. Although this may be a little costly in terms of fuel and time, it allows you to get a good feel of the area before moving in.

Getting Ready
House hunters frequently overlook the initial preparation before starting their search. You can save time and hassles by following these simple steps:

Step 1—To stand out from all the other applicants, compile and keep on hand a list of your current and previous five addresses and landlord phone numbers, your employer and length of employment, your salary and other income, as well as personal references and a copy of your credit report.
Step 2—Look in the newspaper classifieds, apartment hunter publications, college campus bulletin boards and online for homes that are available in the area. If you know someone that rents in an apartment building, ask them about possible openings.
Step 3—How much can you afford? Usually no more than 30 percent of your take-home monthly income.
Step 4—A rental agent can help narrow your search, but these agents generally charge a fee.
Step 5—Consider a roommate. Most classified sections have a roommate area, but be very specific on your requirements.

The Search
When you find the right property, consider a few important details before deciding to rent:
• Carefully inspect the property. If there is any damage evident not only ask for it to be fixed, but also ensure you will not be blamed for it. Also determine the landlord's responsibilities and GET IT IN WRITING.
• Inspect common walls (walls shared with adjoining apartments). The more walls in common, the greater the chance of noise from next door. Also consider a common entrance in terms of privacy.
• Determine amenities available, such as enclosed parking or garage, a yard, storage, laundry facilities, a pool, tennis, gym or concierge services.

Finalizing the Lease
Carefully read and understand and question the lease before you sign it. Make sure to include every detail. Follow these simple guidelines:
• If you find an apartment but it's out of your budget, ask for extra duties to lower your rent—mowing the lawn, sweeping common areas or taking deliveries. If you find an apartment but it lacks services such as utilities, laundry facilities, cable TV and Internet access, ask the landlord to provide some at no charge; many newer apartment complexes will. Offering to sign a longer-term lease or give a higher security deposit in exchange for more services is also an option.
• Examine your lease in detail. How much notice is required prior to moving, how much is the deposit, how much cleaning is required on leaving to get your deposit back and other provisions. Is the lease month to month, or a six- or 12-month period?
• Find out what kinds of personal touches you can make, such as painting walls, or structural changes, such as adding shelving.
• If you really like the home, ask for a lease with an option to buy if you'd be interested in purchasing the property in the future.

Other Details to Consider
Find the answers to these potential issues before you move in:
• If the building allows pets, you may have to pay an additional damage security deposit. Most pet deposits are non refundable.
• Get in writing how soon after you move out you will receive your security deposit. Some landlords may take awhile to return your deposit.
• If it's a large complex or a hot rental market, you may have to pay an application fee to be considered as a tenant.
• Renters Insurance is required.
• Ask if your security deposit can be placed in an interest-bearing account so that you're at least earning money while your landlord holds it. Many states have specific laws about how security deposits are treated.
• In some cases, you can negotiate to have a percentage of your rental payment applied to a future down payment.
• If you feel a landlord is refusing to rent to you because of your age, ethnicity, sexual preference or physical handicap, report it to the local housing office.

UTILITIES
Be sure to obtain a letter of credit from your utility companies prior to your move to avoid paying a deposit when connecting your utilities at your new location. Without previous utilities in your name, the utility company will review your credit report. Many companies require a deposit, but some will waive it based on a credit standing. A few will waive deposits for military personnel, especially if you have good credit. Electric, water, gas and trash services vary from county to county.

Cable
Cox Cable is the major provider, but DirecTV and Dish Network are popular alternatives.

Telephone Service
Cox Communications is the largest local telephone service provider, with AT&T Voice, Anserv Communications, JP Communications Group and Atlantic Communications, Inc.

Magazine
Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Hampton and the Hampton Roads area.

Newspaper
The Daily Press serves the area. Other papers include the Port Folio Weekly, the New Journal and Guide and the Hampton Roads Business Journal.

Radio Stations
Depending on the weather, time of day and reception, a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials broadcast in the area.

TV Stations
The major network television affiliates are WTKR-TV 3 (CBS), WAVY 10 (NBC), WVEC-TV 13 (ABC), WGNT 27 (CW), WTVZ 33 (MyNetwork TV), WVBT 43 (FOX) and WPXV 49 (ION Television). The Public Broadcasting Service station is WHRO-TV 15. Independent stations include WSKY on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and WGBS on channel 7.

CHILD CARE
Working parents need reliable child care that can ensure a safe, peaceful learning environment in which their kids can interact with other children. With that concern in mind, the joint base child-care operations mandate the best possible programs, children to caregiver ratios, nutritional requirements and staff training. And all centers are accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association for the Education of Young Children's National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.

Registration is required for all children but some ages have a waiting list and fees are based on each family's income. The developmental programs are designed to meet the intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs of children ages 6 weeks through 5 years old. And activities are supervised and monitored by experienced child development program assistants who have extensive training. Weekly rates are available and must be paid in advance. Reservations for hourly care may be made up to two weeks in advance.

Fort Eustis Child Development Center
Madison Avenue, Building 926
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23604
(757) 878-3294/4000
Full day: 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hourly Care: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Part-day Preschool: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Strong Beginnings: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Developmental full time care form six weeks to kindergarten. Fees base on family income.

Bethel Manor Child Development Center
1994 Eagle Ave.
Hampton, VA 23655 (757) 865-1059
Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Langley center offers weekly full-time care, hourly care, and partial-day preschool care, and a before-and-after kindergarten program.

Shellbank Center
70 Burrell Loop Road
Hampton, VA 23655 (757) 764-3585
Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Langley center offers weekly full time and hourly care.

Family Care Programs
Fort Eustis Family Child Care
Madison Avenue, Building 925
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23604 (757) 878-5584
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Small multi-age groups of kids in a home environment. Four weeks to 12 years. Kids can even choose their caregiver.

Private Child Care
More options are available than base provided services for child care. If you register at http://www.care.com you will receive information and lists of individuals that provide private care in your area. This site can also aid you in finding individuals that also take care of pets if you will be gone for extended periods of time and also includes a list of private tutors. Other private providers can also be found using the local newspapers and telephone directories.

Relocating Concerns
Four major concerns may surface when relocating children and teens. Listen to your children carefully and you might hear one or all of the following:
Leaving Friends: Meeting your new neighbors and participating in school, church and recreational activities will provide several avenues for your children to meet new friends. The sooner they meet new friends, the easier it is to accept their new home.
School: It is highly recommended to personally visit the school with your children as soon as possible. The quicker you can introduce your children to their new school and teachers, the faster they can adjust and accept. Continuity: Moving may also provide an opportunity to expand your children's activities into other fields. It is very helpful to get them involved in activities that they enjoyed in their old home, such as: academics, church, dance, music, scouting or sports.
Stability: Little things like decorating their new room, eating at the same time and doing other activities that were routine in your old home may prove very helpful in the adjustment process of your children.

EDUCATION
The joint base offers a wide variety of public and private schools to choose from. Basically, where you live will determine the district where your kids attend school. If you live on Langley, for instance, your school district most likely will be Hampton City or the York County. Fort Eustis would be the Newport News School District. Personnel work with the Child and Youth Services Division and the local school communities to address educational issues involving military children. See the Education section of this Guide for more information about surrounding school districts.

Langley School Liaison Officer
1501 Lee Blvd.
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23665 (757) 878-3989
http://www.militaryk12link.com
http://www.jble.mil/schools

Fort Eustis School Liaison Officer
1102 Pershing Ave.
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23604 (757) 961-1796
http://www.militaryk12link.com
http://www.eustismwr.com

Choosing a School
Be sure to research local schools before deciding on the one for you. To help with the process, here are some tips to learn more about potential schools:
• Contact the school district by phone or visit the website. The site should provide school district statistics and information on the curriculum.
• Talking to friends and colleagues already established in the area.
• Schedule a visit to a promising school and bring a list of written questions such as student-teacher ratios, grading standards, computer availability, extracurricular activities, sports programs, music programs and gifted programs.
• Discuss your perceptions with your family. Their ability to readily adapt to a move and to find happiness in your new home may depend, in part, on how happy you or your children are in their new school.

School Checklist
Items to consider when looking at public and/or private schools:
• Coeducational or single sex.
• Culturally diverse student body.
• Strong arts programs (music, art, drama).
• Class Size.
• Availability of before and after school care.
• Level of parental participation expected.
• Student dress code (uniforms).
• Competitive athletic program and age/scholastic requirements for participation.
• Approach to discipline.
• Tuition structure, availability of scholarships, etc.
• Teaching techniques (Montessori, etc.).
• Non-graded or graded program.
• Foreign Language in curriculum.
• Proximity to neighborhood or workplace.

Transportation Options
If significant, be sure to check the availability of special education needs (learning disability instruction, wheelchair accessibility, gifted programs, etc.).

Public Schools
Regardless of where you live—on or off base—school districts surround the joint base. See the yellow pages of this guide for listings or contact the School Liaison Office.

Age Requirements
State law requires any child who reaches his or her 4th birthday on or before Sept. 30, and who has not passed their 17th birthday, to attend public, private, denominational or parochial school. Any child who will be five years old between Sept. 30 and Dec. 31 may be tested.

Enrolling
If you're enrolling for the first time in a public school, a birth certificate or its equivalent is required at the time of admission. A student transferring into local public schools from another Virginia school division must also have a transfer certificate or report card from the last school of attendance. Scholastic records are also helpful to determine immediate grade placement. The school at which the child is enrolls will request an official transcript from the previous school.

Immunizations
Virginia law requires students to show written proof of immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, German measles and mumps. Without written proof by the start of the school year, that student will be denied entrance into school.

All elementary and kindergarten students entering a Virginia school for the first time must also show proof of having received a complete physical examination. Under Virginia law, a child may not attend school until this requirement is met.

Private Schools
If you prefer a private school, the local phonebook, the yellow pages of this guide and http://www.greatschools.net are loaded with local listings. Keep in mind that although a good private school can cost thousands of dollars each year some may offer scholarships. So be sure to check the requirements for financial assistance before settling on a private school.

Youth Centers
The joint base offers comprehensive year-round programs for children and teens ages 6 through 18. Activities include theater productions, before-and-after-school-programs, tours, seasonal camps, and classes in gymnastics ballet, jazzercise, Kung Fu, voice piano lessons, arts and crafts and cheerleading. And the sports program includes football, basketball, baseball, soccer, girls' softball and a summer camp program.

Other amenities include a pool table, a ping pong table and a foosball and air hockey table in the game room, arts and crafts, the latest video games, computers with Internet access and a full-service kitchen.

Shellbank Youth Development Center
74 Burrell Loop Road
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23665 (757) 764-2300

Fort Eustis Youth Sports
Patch Road, Building 1607
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23604 (757) 878-3724
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Adult Education
The opportunities are near endless for spouses or high school students ready to further their education. Start by looking into the local two- and four-year colleges and universities that prepare you for a career in some of today's fastest-growing fields. The Hampton Roads area also abounds in trade and technical schools and colleges.

As far as the joint base adult education, degree programs range from Associate through Masters and doctorates, professional licenses and certificates. Make an appointment with a counselor to discuss your choices.

Complete testing facilities are also available, to include CLEP, DANTES, SAT/ACT and other specialized tests, as is financial aid and tuition assistance paying 100 percent up to $250/sh and $4,500 per year.

Counselors can also discuss commissioning opportunities, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), PME enrollment, career planning, interest inventories and educational opportunities at local and distant learning schools.

Langley Adult Education Center
450 Weyland Road
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23665 (757) 764-2962

Fort Eustis Education Center
1500 Madison Ave.
JB Langley-Eustis VA 23604 (757) 878-3613

College
A college degree can create many opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable without a continued formal education. Many adults attend college while working full time jobs or serving in the military. Picking a the right school is important. Luckily the Hampton Roads area has several colleges and universities to choose from. When looking at colleges there are several important factors to keep in mind.

TUITION
Education costs money, more and more each year. To defray some of the costs, research available scholarships and grants and talk to a guidance counselor at the school you wish to attend to see what programs are available to you, also visit http://www.studentaid.ed.gov to apply for federal student aid. Many schools also offer a work study program or you can also take out a loan from a lending institution to cover your expenses.

CREDITS
If you have attended a college or university before, find out if your course credits will transfer to the new school. Meeting the basic requirements for a degree is costly in time and money, so have an educational plan worked out. To that end, know the courses to complete your degree and make sure you take classes that advance you towards your ultimate goal.

TIME
It takes time and commitment to obtain a degree. Learning to manage your time between school, work and family is usually a difficult lesson. Sometimes you'll feel frustrated and pulled in several directions at once. To limit your stress levels make sure you schedule time to just fool around and have fun.

STUDYING
To make the most out of your time in college you'll need productive study habits. Find a system that works and use it. It's sometimes a good idea to talk to a guidance counselor for advice.

SUCCESSFUL STUDENT HABITS
• Take responsibility: Recognize that to succeed you need to make decisions about your priorities, your time and your resources.
• Stay centered on your values and principles: Avoid letting friends and acquaintances dictate your priorities.
• Put first things first.
• Constantly monitor and gauge your priorities and goals.
• Discover your key productivity times.
• Find spaces where you can be the most focused and productive. Prioritize these for your most difficult study challenges.
• Maintain a win-win attitude.
• Your frequent contributions to class discussions benefit your fellow students and even your teacher. Not to mention your grade.
• Understand others before attempting to be understood: When you have an issue with an instructor (a questionable grade, an assignment deadline, etc.), put yourself in the instructor's place and then present your point.
• Find solutions: If you don't understand the course material, for example, don't just re-read it. Consult with the professor, a tutor, an academic advisor, a classmate, a study group or your school's study skills center.
• Set challenges: Making goals and meeting them helps you grow as a successful student and create even larger goals.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Some families worry about finding a church as comfortable as the one left behind. If you are fortunate enough to have friends or family living in the area, ask them where they attend church or if they know of any in the area that meet your needs. If you have to look for a church, explore the local telephone book or online at http://www.usachurch.com for a comprehensive list of churches by denominations.

Before you move, contact your previous church to see if they have any information on the same denominational services in your new area. Your former church's leaders might also be able to make inquiries and point you in the right direction.
Becoming a Member
Becoming a member of a church is a very personal decision and should not be rushed into lightly. When you start your search keep the following in mind:
• It's not always best to select a church based on a few details, like size of membership or proximity to your home. Sometimes you can find that the closest church, or the church that has the most members, just isn't the church that you were hoping to find.
• Attend services at several different churches before you finally settle on one. Previewing each service and meeting members will help you make a decision.
• Make a list of all the things that you want in a church—friendly people, shared faith, programs for children, women's Bible studies etc.
• Ask questions. Find out what's going on in the churches you attend. Are there special programs or services that you think you would enjoy? Is the congregation excited, motivated and spiritually alive? Are there members of the church with similar interests and hobbies? Are there other families with children? Does the church have a youth group?

Fort Eustis
Post Chaplain Office (757) 878-1316/1317
Fort Eustis offers a comprehensive program of religious education, worship services, family counseling and troop ministry at three chapels: Regimental Memorial, the Annex and Fellowship House. Sunday services include:
Catholic: 9:30 a.m.
Contemporary Christian: 9 a.m.
Protestant: 11 a.m.
Latter Day Saints: 11 a.m.
Langley Chapel (757) 764-7847

The Air Force Chaplain Corps espouses the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. To that end the Langley and Bethel chapels hold Catholic and Protestant services as well as Islamic studies and Jewish education. Sunday services include:
Catholic:
Bethel, 8:30 a.m. and noon
Langley, 10:15 a.m.
Protestant:
Langley, 8:30 and 11:45 a.m.
Bethel, 10:15 a.m.  read more...

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