Child Care Links Seeks Entrants for "Family Friendly Employer of the Year" Contest

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Child Care Links, a local non-profit organization which provides a number of child care resources to Tri-Valley denizens, is now accepting nominations for their "Family Friendly Employer of the Year" award. Child Care Links sponsors the award as a way to publicly recognize and thank local employers who support their employees as they balance work and family responsibilities.

The award has been won in past years by a number of Hacienda companies, including AT&T. Award winners demonstrate exemplary policies and benefits for working families.

Nominated companies must meet a number of criteria in order to win. The employer must recognize the responsibilities that employees have to both their jobs and their families and offer strong support to help employees balance those duties. Winning employers demonstrate a strong commitment to employees by offering benefits or policies that support working families, such as Dependent Care Assistance Programs, job-protected family leave, flexible or part-time job sharing options with benefits and opportunities for advancement, resource and referral services, parent/family education programs, financial assistance with child care costs, or an employer-sponsored child care program. Points will also be awarded for company support of community programs that benefit children and working families. Finally, employers must have an office in Pleasanton, Livermore, or Dublin to qualify for the award.

To nominate your employer or another exemplary business, download a nomination form from the Child Care Links website at www.childcarelinks.org and return it with a short essay detailing how the nominee meets the award criteria.

Child Care Links is also a great resource for companies that want to expand the resources they offer for working parents. The organization offers subsidized child care services, referrals to licensed providers, family education and support services, and custom consulting for employers regarding child care issues.

For example, Child Care Links is now offering a variety of workshops on work and family issues, all offered free of charge to any area employer. Topics include "Choosing Child Care," "Balancing Work and Family Life," "Parenting Skills," "Car Seat Safety," and "Child Development." Workshops are offered on site at the employers and are ideal for presentation during the lunch hour. Topics may also be customized for specific employee groups.

For additional information on any of Child Care Links' services or on the Family Friendly Employer of the Year award, contact Shauna Brown at (925) 249-3925.

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