Patti Mehrens, Chief of Child Development at the Headquarters Air Force Services Agency received the Ahren's Advocate of the Year Award. Throughout the years, Patti has worked and consulted with the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) on various topics including supervision, age-appropriate design, fall zone surfacing, height of equipment, home vs. commercial use equipment and equipment for children under two. She has worked to assess each of the playgrounds operated by the child development centers and youth programs at all eight bases in HQ PACF in conjunction with the assessment course that was taught. Patti sent two local nationals to attend the National Playground Safety School at UNI. She secured funding for five early childhood outdoor play inspection program courses for the Air Force Child and youth professionals. In addition, she invited NPPS to present at a joint Air Force and Navy Training for Child and Youth professionals. She partnered with NPPS and an A&E firm to develop standardized requirements for infant, toddler, and pre-school outdoor play environment for armed forces. She has been active to make the play areas for the Air Force the safest and most appropriate for the armed forces children in the world.
Congratulations, Patti!