Kaye Named Little Rock AFB Family Child Care Provider of the Year

Malissa Kaye has been named the Little Rock Air Force Base Family Child Care Provider of the Year for the 2025-2026 term in recognition of her 25 years of dedicated service to military families.

Kaye began her career as a Family Child Care provider on April 1, 2001, after seeking quality childcare for her own son and finding that existing options did not meet her expectations as a parent. She wanted care that combined the warmth of a home environment with the standards of a professional childcare center.

Over the past two and a half decades, Kaye has provided care for children ranging from two weeks to 12 years old, including those with special needs. Her home-based program at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas emphasizes stability, safety, and emotional connection, aiming to make every child feel “like this is their home away from home.”

Her services are designed to accommodate the unique demands of military life, offering flexible scheduling that includes early morning and overnight care to support parents during deployments, training exercises, and irregular duty hours.

In recognition of her long-term impact, Kaye was selected as the 2025-2026 Family Child Care Provider of the Year at Little Rock AFB. The award acknowledges her consistent dedication to supporting military families through reliable, high-quality childcare.

Kaye stated that the most rewarding aspect of her career is witnessing the long-term growth and well-being of the children she has cared for, many of whom return to visit years later.

Her work is part of the broader Family Child Care program at Little Rock Air Force Base, which provides licensed, in-home childcare options for military personnel and their families, helping to reduce the stress of finding reliable care during frequent relocations and demanding schedules.