FORT IRWIN — Army policy allows for Child Youth Service offices to close twice a year and Dec.  21 was one of those days. CYS buildings were closed as about 85 providers participated in training that included youth safety, customer service, stress management, team building, process-focused and educational art for all youth ages, conducting proper observation skills and sharpening communication skills with parents, staff and children, among other trainings. These bi-annual trainings can also include general training for Drug & Alcohol Awareness and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).

Providers are divided into different groups as they learn and engage in different scenarios, including Functional Fitness activities that can be incorporated with child learning.

The training took place at the Middle School and Teen Center (MST), Samuel Adams and the FCC office building.