Monday, April 18, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
A Message for Parents
As a Management Officer at ten hardship posts, including Mozambique during their civil war, and as a parent at nine of those posts (and now in Washington), I have always advanced child safety and health among my highest priorities (e.g. "childproofing" every residence in every post in which I have served).
As AFSA's VP, I have obtained OBO agreement to prioritize the construction of earthquake-resistent housing in every seismic-zone post, to add poisonous plants to their official list of items to be corrected before leasing a house (and to things OBO will pay for, if necessary, if issues arise), and to withold special-project funding (punish) posts that refuse to surround swimming pools with barriers adequate to keep small children from wandering into the pool zone.
I convinced the A bureau to reimburse fees charged by airlines (on official travel) to enable families to sit together, or charged extra for bulkhead seats (prefered by people travelling with babies); as well as to require posts (within some limitations) to provide home-to-school transportation on an equal basis to kids attending both American and non-American schools at posts where, for instance, there is both an American International School and a French Lycee.
I have urged HR to expand teleworking options for employees who are away from post pending childbirth, or in the months following birth; and to be more understanding regarding the travel needs of single parents (e.g. paying for even older children to accompany a parent on EVT, if there is no one at post who can take care of them).
I have successfully urged HR to allow EFMs to attend courses at FSI regarding family separation, and am now seeking to make it mandatory to provide both partners (and even older kids) additional training at government expense, in what to expect and how to seek help with regard to family issues stemming from family separation or PTSD.
I convinced FSI to include English as a Foreign language on their list of online courses, to help foreign-born EFMs.
And of course, I have continuously ensured that both maternity and paternity leave are among our priorities when lobbying congress.
The Foreign Service is a way of life for both employees and their families. In many ways it is a wonderful environment in which to raise children and in which to grow up (I was a Foreign Service Brat myself). But it can be increasingly dangerous, unhealthful, and stressful, and I promise to do everything in my power to protect kids and minimize the hardship to families.
As AFSA's VP, I have obtained OBO agreement to prioritize the construction of earthquake-resistent housing in every seismic-zone post, to add poisonous plants to their official list of items to be corrected before leasing a house (and to things OBO will pay for, if necessary, if issues arise), and to withold special-project funding (punish) posts that refuse to surround swimming pools with barriers adequate to keep small children from wandering into the pool zone.
I convinced the A bureau to reimburse fees charged by airlines (on official travel) to enable families to sit together, or charged extra for bulkhead seats (prefered by people travelling with babies); as well as to require posts (within some limitations) to provide home-to-school transportation on an equal basis to kids attending both American and non-American schools at posts where, for instance, there is both an American International School and a French Lycee.
I have urged HR to expand teleworking options for employees who are away from post pending childbirth, or in the months following birth; and to be more understanding regarding the travel needs of single parents (e.g. paying for even older children to accompany a parent on EVT, if there is no one at post who can take care of them).
I have successfully urged HR to allow EFMs to attend courses at FSI regarding family separation, and am now seeking to make it mandatory to provide both partners (and even older kids) additional training at government expense, in what to expect and how to seek help with regard to family issues stemming from family separation or PTSD.
I convinced FSI to include English as a Foreign language on their list of online courses, to help foreign-born EFMs.
And of course, I have continuously ensured that both maternity and paternity leave are among our priorities when lobbying congress.
The Foreign Service is a way of life for both employees and their families. In many ways it is a wonderful environment in which to raise children and in which to grow up (I was a Foreign Service Brat myself). But it can be increasingly dangerous, unhealthful, and stressful, and I promise to do everything in my power to protect kids and minimize the hardship to families.
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