The Foreign Service Journal, May 2014

58 MAY 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSAAdvocates for Foreign Service Child Care Options One of AFSA’s five strategic goals is working to imple- ment policies that improve the quality of employees’ work and family life. For some, that means improving available child care options in Washington, D.C. State facilitates child care through three separate contract agreements at FSI, SA-1 (Diplotots) and the soon-to-be-opened SA-17 (Diplotots Too). Waiting lists range from 80-120 children (approximately nine months to one year) at FSI to 500- 800 children (2.5 to 3 years) at SA-1. Top priority at FSI is given to children of Foreign Service employees assigned to training; at SA-1 priority is given to the siblings of an already enrolled child. Identifying private child care facilities in the Washing- ton metro area can be very challenging, and many cen- ters have average wait times of two to three years (some- times longer than a typical domestic assignment). Many employees with small children who cannot get into a center ultimately choose to hire or find a nanny-share arrangement. However, both options are costly and take a lot of time to find and arrange. Employ- ees may offset some of their child care costs by participat- ing in the department’s child care subsidy program. Last year, AFSA expressed concern about child care procedures and policies at department-supported centers that appear to dis- advantage employees who are required to move every few years and those with only one child. In several letters to the department and Diplotots, we proposed that instead of relying solely on the waitlist, an initial allocation of SA-17 child care spots also be made available on a modi- fied lottery basis. Such a lottery would ensure that all employees, wherever and in whatever status, have an equal chance of securing a spot for their child. In addition, we suggested that the SA-1 and FSI waitlists be online and worldwide- available so that FS mem- bers posted overseas have access to them, and that they provide equal opportunity to single-child and multi- children families. Ultimately, the depart- ment and Diplotots decided not to change their process when opening the new center at SA-17, arguing that the sib- ling preference and waitlist were standard practice in D.C. AFSA maintains that our transient, international FS personnel system points to the need for a more custom- ized solution. AFSA will continue to advocate for a preference category system that fairly addresses the transient nature of Foreign Service families of all sizes, and for online, worldwide-available waitlists for department- supported centers. And we will continue to advocate for additional child care options, whether through partnership with third-party providers such as Care.com or inclu- sion in facility expansion plans. The department recently provided additional resources for child care, including a pilot program for emer- gency backup care cover- ing domestic and overseas locations. AFSA will support making this pilot permanent if employees find it useful. We want to hear from you about your experience with child care. How did the exist- ing process work for you? What ideas or suggestions do you have for improving the employee child care experience? Please send us your feedback at afsa@state. gov. n –Matthew Asada, AFSA State Vice President Last year, AFSA expressed concern about child care procedures and policies at department-supported centers that appear to disadvantage employees who are required to move every few years and those with only one child. AFSA @ BYU On March 20, AFSA Execu- tive Director Ian Houston spoke to a group of students at BrighamYoung University’s David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies. He discussed AFSA, the For- eign Service career, development and diplomacy as a part of AFSA’s effort to engage students and young pro- fessionals in exploring the Foreign Service as a career choice. He also met with officers of the school’s Foreign Service Student Organization, and provided advice to students who are interested in international careers. n NEWS BRIEF