Thank You to Staff Who Offered Their Time and Ideas to Make Staff Care a Priority

Posted to the Gratitude Blog Feb 14, 2012 11:46 AM by Emily Doerr

Last week I had the opportunity to officially open up our brand new Staff Care Center, an impressive new resource to empower and strengthen all our staff.

This new space represents our effort to proactively support the enormous talent within our Agency--to make USAID and even more attractive home for the most diverse and committed development professionals in the world. In just the last year, we have established a suite of new policies to help staff cope with personal and professional challenges. We introduced a new telework policy to facilitate flexible work schedules and accommodate special needs. And we've established an employee resilience program to specifically support our staff in high threat environments.

Staffed with experienced clinical social workers, the new Center will provide confidential, free support for you and your eligible family members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week all year. I encourage you to take advantages of these programs, whether you are looking for some support caring for a child or parent or need a little help readjusting to life back home after serving on the frontlines of poverty and conflict.

As the father of three small children, I know how challenging it can be to balance the responsibilities of office and family life. And with our Agency's commitment to saving lives and protecting vulnerable people around the world, it is very important to me that everyone at USAID has the support and care they need to succeed in our mission.

Thank you to staff across bureaus and offices who offered up their time and ideas to make staff care a priority. I specifically want to thank Bernadette Mitchell and Carrie Dailey in HR's Staff Care Unit; Deborah Eason and Terri Craig, our clinical social workers; and our colleagues in the long-standing Staff Care Working Group.

I truly appreciate it,

Raj