This handbook was developed primarily to put employees in touch with the many free resource organization and agencies around the country that can help you meet dependent care needs. It also provides practical tips on how to find quality child care, information about Federal personnel programs that can help to balance work and family responsibilities, and places to call for further information on related topics, such as obtaining financial assistance. Appendices: on-site interview; nursing home tips and checklist, telecommuting, monitoring the quality of care selected, caregivers, legal definitions, and much more.

Approximately 700,000 Federal employees have children under age 13; at least an equal number of Federal employees are estimated to have concerns about their elderly parents and relatives. This handbook was developed primarily to put government employees in touch with the many free resource organizations and agencies around the country that can help them meet their dependent care needs. It also provides practical tips on how to find quality child care, information about federal personnel programs that can help to balance work and family responsibilities, and places to call for further information on related topics, such as obtaining financial assistance. The handbook is divided into three parts: Child Care, Elder Care, and Work and Family Programs. Part I suggests practical steps to take in finding quality child care, including questions to ask during the initial telephone screening and a checklist of things to observe when visiting child care centers or homes. It also provides a directory of resource and referral services around the country, and a list of federal and national organizations that can help parents learn about quality child care. Part II explains a variety of community resources that are offered around the country to help older adults function independently, and discusses housing options, financial and medical considerations, nursing homes, and home health care agencies. It also provides a short summary of the services provided by federal and national organizations which can help employees meet their elder care needs. The last part provides information on the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM's) Work and Family Program Center and government-wide personnel flexibility; and on programs, policies, and leave options to help employees balance their work and family demands. (Author/EV)