Family Advocacy revises Youth Supervision Guidelines Published Feb. 11, 2014 By Senior Airman Daniel Liddicoet 49th Wing Public Affairs HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Safety has always been a priority here at Holloman AFB, especially when it comes to children. Although parents hold the primary responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of their children, Youth Supervision Guidelines were developed to help designate some parameters. Recently, changes were made to further assist parents in developing an appropriate child safety plan based on the specific recommendations and unique factors affecting each individual child. According to Capt. Derandoria Young, 49th Medical Group family advocacy officer, "Before deciding to leave a child alone, a parent must first assess whether a child is comfortable, emotionally mature, and able to respond to emergencies that may arise." The goal of the new policy is to avoid future traumatic injuries or ingestions that can be prevented with corrective supervision guidelines. As Young continues, "The most significant changes were for children ages 5 to 9, the new guidelines allow for children in this age group to be outside unattended within the housing areas, as long as they have frequent adult supervision." The Family Advocacy Program was established to assess individual cases for child neglect and make referrals to appropriate agencies. All cases of suspect child neglect will be referred to the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department and the Central Registry Board to determine if they meet the Air Force criteria for family maltreatment. For any questions regarding the new child supervision policy, please contact Family Advocacy for support at 575-572-7061.