Wellness at work emanates from our ability to manage our own well-being. It's a simple concept to articulate, yet challenging to accomplish. Prioritizing wellness presents unique difficulties that span every age and role in life. For my new grandbaby, wellness encompasses nutrition, sleep, dependency, love, and nurturing. As for children enrolled in childcare centers, it entails reliable quality care that fosters an environment where they can thrive, grow, and have their physical, emotional, social, and learning needs fulfilled. For their parents, it brings peace of mind knowing that their children are being attentively cared for by trained and proficient early childhood experts, allowing them to focus on work. Our elders face distinct challenges of their own, as wellness revolves around their physical needs, increased social connection, and often, reliance on others (such as family or caregivers) during the twilight of their lives when they yearn for independence and autonomy.
During my brief tenure at NIH, I have discovered valuable resources that can assist NIH employees and their families in achieving wellness. Have you tapped into these resources? Are you reaching out to utilize these support structures so that you do not feel alone in your journey? Here is a flyer that highlights many helpful resources available to you and your loved ones. Visit the Child and Family Programs webpage for additional information and to unlock the treasures of living a life of wellness through NIH Child and Family Programs.
Family Resources - Are you facing the challenges of parenting, childcare, adult or elder care needs, financial planning/legal matters, or identity theft? Do these challenging family obligations coincide with managing your work and professional responsibilities? NIH employees, trainees, and contractors have free and unlimited access to a Work-Life Specialist who can assist you with your caregiving role. They can support you by providing a range of resources and referrals. You can contact them by calling 1-800-777-1720, Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, or by visiting the Family Resources page on the NIH website.
The Employee Assistance Program offers free and confidential counseling services for employees. These services include assessment, short-term counseling, and referral services. For assistance, you can reach the EAP Consultation at (301) 496-3164 or visit the EAP: RESOURCE ROOM page on the NIH website.
Back-up Care Resources are available to NIH federal employees and fellows/trainees. These resources provide access to backup care services, including center-based child care, in-home child care, in-home mildly ill care, in-home adult/elder care, and self-care services (when YOU need care) or when your regular child or adult/elder care is unavailable. To learn more, visit the NIH Back-up Care Program webpage or call (877)-242-2737.
The Subsidy Program allows NIH employees to potentially receive a childcare tuition subsidy if their children are enrolled in licensed childcare programs and their total adjusted income is $100,000 or less per year. For further information, please visit the NIH Child Care Subsidy Program webpage.
Lunch and Learn Webinars are offered on the third Thursday of every month from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. These webinars cover diverse topics, including infants/toddlers/preschoolers, school-agers and teenagers, parenting support, adult/elder dependent care, and work-life balance. Announcements for these webinars can be found in the NIH Calendar of Events, ORS Snapshot, and through various Listservs. By registering for these events, you will receive the recorded links, handouts, and supporting materials. All webinars are archived on the Lunch and Learn Seminars page of the NIH website.
NIH-Sponsored Child Care Centers and Consolidated Wait Lists - Wait Lists are available for all three centers located in Montgomery County, MD. NIH offers space and support services to three independently owned and operated licensed childcare programs. Two centers are located on the Bethesda campus, while one center is situated off-campus in nearby Rockville, MD. For more information about childcare options, please visit the NIH Child Care Centers webpage. Our centralized waitlist is managed by Adventist HealthCare/LifeWork Strategies. For additional details and registration information, visit the NIH Child Care Center Wait List webpage.
