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Work/Life Family Resources

 

Overview

The Federal Government supports employee engagement in the community and home in a variety of ways, in order to foster a workforce that best meets the needs of the American public.  As the nation's largest employer, by supporting Federal employees in balancing the responsibilites of work, family, and community, we also help create healthy communities for all citizens. 

Reference Materials

Child Care Subsidy

Child care can be extremely expensive, especially for lower income families, but without quality child care arrangements, working parents are hard-pressed to remain effective either at work or at home. Federal agencies, at their own discretion, can now use appropriated funds, including revolving funds otherwise available for salaries, to assist lower income employees with the costs of child care.

This Child Care Subsidy Program applies to employees whose children are under the age of 13, or disabled and under the age of 18, and are enrolled, or will be enrolled, in licensed family child care homes or center-based child care. The child care must be licensed and/or regulated by State and/or local authorities.

OPM issued final regulations (5 CFR Part 792) effective March 24, 2003 implementing the Child Care Subsidy Program legislation, entitled "Agency Use of Appropriated Funds for Child Care Costs for Lower Income Employees." The authority was first established as a pilot program by Congress in Public Law 106-58, sec. 643 (September 29, 1999) and was made permanent in Public Law 107-67, sec. 630 (November 12, 2001).

Further information is available in OPM's Guide for Implementing Child Care Legislation and the 2009 Child Care Subsidy Report.

Child Care Data Call

As required by regulation, OPM issues an annual call for Child Care Subsidy data to all participating agencies or agency components at the beginning of each calendar year.  The data are compiled and an information copy of the results is sent to Congress.

Complete your agency's annual Child Care Data Call.

Note:

The following is a list of Federal agencies or agency components that currently have a Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP). If your agency or agency component is not listed, then that agency or agency component does not have a CCSP. Please contact your agency or agency component's work life coordinator to find out what other options are available to you for child care services and/or child care assistance programs. If you do not know who your work life coordinator is you may use our Agency Points of Contact Search Tool to locate your work life coordinator.

Child Care Subsidy Agency Points of Contacts
Federal Agency2012 Federal Agency Point of ContactFY 2012 Income Ceiling2012 Program Administration
U.S. Agency for International Development

Carrie Dailey

Phone: 202-712-4406

Email: cdailey@usaid.gov

 

Bernadette Mitchell

Phone: 202-712-5366

Email: bmitchell@usaid.gov

FEEA
Central Intelligence Agency Kartinia Morton
Phone: 703-613-7883
Email: KartinDM@ucia.gov
$70,000 Federal Employee Education and Assistance (FEEA)
Customs and Border Protection

Sara Harrington

Phone: 202-863-6247
Email: sara.r.harrington@cbp.dhs.gov

$50,000 GSA
Department of Education Jackie Maddox
Phone: 202-401-3088
Email: Jackie.Maddox@ed.gov

Deborah Bell
Phone: 202-205-0664
Email: Deborah.Bell@ed.gov
$50,000 Department of Education
Department of Housing and Urban Development Deborah S. Rizzo-Meyer
Phone: 202-402-5399
Email: Deborah.S.Rizzo-Meyer@HUD.gov
$69,999 First Financial Associates, Inc.
Department of Housing and Urban Development/Office of Inspector General Laigen Sanet
Phone: 202-402-4965
Email: lsanet@hudoig.gov
$69,999 First Financial Associates, Inc.
Department of the Interior Joy Buhler
Phone: 202-219-0811
Email: joy_buhler@ios.doi.gov
$60,000 GSA
Department of Labor Susan Allen
Phone: 202-693-6677
Email: Allen.susan@dol.gov
$59,999 First Financial Associates, Inc.
Department of State

Judy Ikels
Phone: 202-261-8161
Email: IkelsJG@state.gov

 

Tammy Simms

Phone: 202-261-8180

Email: SimmsT@state.gov

$75,000 FEEA
Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration Danielle Medina
Phone: 202-493-5491
Email: Danielle.Medina@faa.gov
$72,000 DOT-FAA
Department of Transportation/Federal Railroad Administration Shantal Spencer
Phone: 202-493-1318
Email: shantal.spencer@dot.gov
$85,000 FEEA
Department of Treasury/Bureau of Public Debt Deanna Van Meter
Phone: 304-480-8431
Email: deanna.vanmeter@bpd.treas.gov
$75,000 Bureau of Public Debt
Department of Treasury/IRS Office of Chief Counsel Susan Nieser
Phone: 202-622-5277
Email: Susan.L.Nieser@irscounsel.treas.gov
$51,500 FEEA
Department of Treasury/U.S. Mint

Gretchen Wilson

Phone: 202-354-7729
Email: gretchen.wilson@usmint.treas.gov

$60,000 U.S. Mint
Environmental Protection Agency Diane T. Johnson
Phone: 202-564-7858
Email: Johnson.dianet@epa.gov
$75,000 FEEA
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Sidney Chapman
Phone: 202-502-6475
Email: Sidney.Chapman@ferc.gov
$56,297 FERC
General Services Administration (GSA) Marge Higgins
Phone: 202-501-3764
Email: marge.higgins@gsa.gov
$64,400 GSA
Health and Human Services/OS/AoA Rebecca Donnelly
Phone: 301-443-2232
Email: rebecca.donnelly@psc.hhs.gov
$50,000 First Financial Associates, Inc.
Health and Human Services/CDC Connie Blalock
Phone: 770-488-1915
Email: csb1@cdc.gov
$65,000 FEEA
Health and Human Services/FDA Rebecca Donnelly
Phone: 301-443-2232
Email: rebecca.donnelly@psc.hhs.gov
$75,000 First Financial Associates, Inc.
Health and Human Services/HRSA Sheila Keenan
Phone: 301-443-2899
Email: skeenan@hrsa.gov
$75,000 FEEA
Health and Human Services/NIH

Tonya Lee

Phone:301-435-1999
Email: leet2@od.nih.gov

$70,000 FEEA
Health and Human Services/PSC Rebecca Donnelly
Phone: 301-443-2232
Email: rebecca.donnelly@psc.hhs.gov
$75,000 First Financial Associates, Inc.
Health and Human Services/SAMHSA Rebecca Donnelly
Phone: 301-443-2232
Email: rebecca.donnelly@psc.hhs.gov
$50,000 First Financial Associates, Inc.
National Labor Relations Board Felecia Newman
Phone: 202-273-3988
Email: Felecia.Newman@nlrb.gov
$50,346 First Financial Associates, Inc.
National Science Foundation Susanne Bolton
Phone: 703-292-7488
Email: sbolton@nsf.gov
$75,000 FCCS
Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Christian Leatherbury

Phone: 301-415-1921
Email: christian.leatherburydaniels@nrc.gov

$70,000 FEEA
Office of Personnel Management Karen Nahas
Phone: 202-606-1724
Email: Karen.Nahas@opm.gov
$60,000 FCCS
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation April Edwards
Phone: 202-326-4110 x 3430
Email: edwards.april@pbgc.gov
$76,000 FEEA
Railroad Retirement Board Ruthie Maldonado-Delwiche
Phone: 312-751-4925
Email: Ruthie.Maldonado-Delwiche@rrb.gov
$60,000 FEEA
Securities and Exchange Commission Liz Hamel
Phone: 202-551-4112
Email: hamell@sec.gov
$62,668 FEEA
U.S. Department of Agriculture/FAS Mika Cross
Phone: 202-260-8075
Email: mika.cross@dm.usda.gov
$60,000 NA
U.S. Department of Agriculture/FSA

Mika Cross
Phone: 202-260-8075
Email: mika.cross@dm.usda.gov

 

Charlene Baker

Phone: 202-260-8075

Email: charlene.baker@dm.usda.gov

$47,000 GAP Solutions, Inc.
U.S. Department of Agriculture/REE

Mika Cross
Phone: 202-260-8075
Email: mika.cross@dm.usda.gov

 

Charlene Baker

Phone: 202-720-4802

Email: charlene.baker@dm.usda.gov

$60,000 Easy Pay
Veterans Affairs Katie McCullough-Bradshaw
Phone:202-461-7076
Email: Katie.McCullough-Bradshaw@va.gov
$59,999 Veterans Affairs

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Child Care & Parenting

Child Care

For families with infants, toddlers, and school-aged children, child care can be a real challenge whether it's finding programs, paying for care, juggling multiple and conflicting school schedules, or managing before-and after-school issues.

Many Federal agencies provide assistance to employees through multiple means, including on-site child care, resource and referral services, and the child care subsidy program. Many Federal employees also have access to the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account program, which can be used for child care or camp.

Below are resources for Federal Work/Life coordinators and employees on child care.

Parenting

Beyond child care, there are many other parenting issues that can be supported through workplace programs and access to resources.  We encourage you to review the applicable resources created by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management below.

Support for Nursing Mothers in Federal Agencies

On December 20, 2010, President Obama delegated authority to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide guidance to executive branch civilian employees on workplace accommodations for employees who are nursing mothers. This delegation is in support of section 4207 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Act), Pub. L. 111-148, which added a new subsection (r) to section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) (codified as amended at 29 U.S.C. 207). This new subsection requires an employer to provide employees with (1) a reasonable break time to express breast milk for her child for 1 year after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express milk; and (2) a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public which may be used by the employee to express breast milk. While subsection (r) applies only to employees who are subject to section 7, which sets forth the FLSA overtime pay provisions, the rationale for the policy contained in that section applies to all executive branch employees. In accordance with the authority delegated to OPM by the President on December 20, 2010, and in order to ensure consistent treatment of nursing mothers within the Federal workforce, agencies should also apply the requirements of subsection 7(r) of the FLSA to Executive branch civilian employees who are exempt from section 7 of the FLSA. I am providing guidance to agencies to assist them with implementation. For more guidance on the implementation of this policy, please review OPM's Guide to Establishing a Federal Nursing Mother’s Program and and Memo on Nursing Mothers in Federal Employment.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA) can be used to pay for eligible child care expenses that allow you (and your spouse if you're married) to work, look for work, or attend school full-time. You may elect up to $5,000 each year.

For more information about eligibility and enrollment, visit the DCFSA website.

Dependent Care

An increasing number of American employees face the challenges and responsibilities of caring for an aging family member or friend. Approximately 25.8 billion Americans spend an average of 18 hours a week caring for an ailing relative. Caregiving - providing care for children and/or dependent adults - is one of the greatest joys and challenges of adult life. Employed caregivers can face difficult choices as they try to meet the sometimes competing demands of personal and professional life. Workplace support cannot only have a tremendous impact on the work/life and well-being of caregivers, it can also help employers to recruit and retain the best possible workforce, and ensure that employees are productive in their work.

The Handbook of Elder Care Resources for the Federal Workforce

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is committed to helping employees who care for elderly parents and older persons to meet their personal, family, and professional obligations.  To support that effort, OPM developed the Handbook of Elder Care Resources for the Federal Workforce.  This resource introduces Federal employee caregivers to available services that can help caregivers make informed elder care decisions.  It also shares practical tips and solutions to complicated aging issues. 

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account for Caregivers

You can use a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) to pay for eligible dependent care expenses that allow you (and your spouse if you're married) to work, look for work, or attend school full-time. You may elect up to $5,000 each year.

Equal Employment Opportunity Resources on Caregiving

Although Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) statutes do not prohibit employment discrimination based solely on parental or other caregiver status, there may be circumstances under which discrimination against a working parent or other caregiver constitutes unlawful disparate treatment under Federal EEO statutes. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued the following guidance addressing these issues:

Information on Protections for Federal Employees

Federal employees, former Federal employees and applicants for Federal employment who believe they have been subjected to illegal discrimination or prohibited personnel practices, should promptly contact the relevant office(s) within their agencies. In addition,

Leave & Workplace Flexibilities

The Federal Government's leave programs and workplace flexibilities are specifically designed to help employees better manage their professional and personal responsibilities. Because the implementation of these programs typically involves issues of pay and leave, more detailed information can be found on OPM's Pay & Leave pages. However, we have compiled a list of OPM resources and information below relevant to families.

If you have questions regarding these programs, please contact OPM's Pay & Leave Group at Pay-Performance-Policy@opm.gov.

Data Call

As required by regulation, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management issues an annual call for Child Care Subsidy data to all participating agencies or agency components at the beginning of each calendar year.  The data are compiled and an information copy of the results is sent to Congress.  Agency designated Points of Contact have access to the Child Care Subsidy Data Call to report data about their program.