USDANEWS                                                           VOLUME 57 NO. 5 — JUNE-JULY 1998

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I read the story in the Jan.-Feb. 1998 issue of the USDA News publication concerning nursing mothers facilities located at USDA sites around the country, and I want to thank you for your support of nursing mothers in the Department.

With the opening of that latest facility in Washington, DC, I'm assuming there are on-site daycare facilities there too. I work at the Agricultural Research Service research station in Prosser, Wash., and was wondering if there was a way to get some of those "family friendly" programs at small USDA locations.

Right now I'm most interested in daycare. There are many ARS moms and dads and Washington State University moms and dads (we share this facility with WSU) who have daycare concerns.

A happy employee is a productive employee. A worried parent isn't a productive employee. Thank you for your interest.

Kristin Victry
Prosser, Wash.

Dear Kristin,

Thank you for your letter. USDA supports the provision of affordable and convenient child care options, in addition to nursing mothers facilities, for its employees.

USDA employees and their agencies may request space in their building for a child care facility. Typically, that request should be accompanied by supporting information that indicates the need for, the amount of employee interest in, and the estimated use of such a facility. The request would be made to the management of that facility--whether it is USDA or the General Services Administration. Upon receipt of the request, the facility management should give it full consideration.

If a child care facility is approved, current guidelines allow the Federal Government to pay for the space and utilities costs associated with a child care facility. All other child care-related costs would be the responsibility of the users of the child care facility.

USDA employees in at least 31 field locations across the country have already been successful in establishing child care facilities.

I invite you to contact either the local administrative support office servicing your area, or the Real Property Branch in our Office of Procurement and Property Management (202-720-3141), for details about how this information may apply to your particular office location. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this matter.

Dan Glickman
Secretary

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sec. Glickman invites employees to communicate with him either through regular mail (c/o Sec. Dan Glickman, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250) or electronically at agsec@usda.gov

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