Los Alamos, community providers teaming on child-care survey

Contact: Steve Sandoval, (505) 665-9206 (99-113)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Aug. 9, 1999 ­ A survey to assess childcare needs is being conducted by the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory and community childcare providers.

The survey by Los Alamos' Diversity Office and the Women's Diversity Working Group is available through the Laboratory's World Wide Web page at http://pearl1.lanl.gov/childsurvey/. Hard copies also will be available at a number of locations around the community, including Los Alamos' Community Relations Office on Central Avenue downtown, local banks, the Family YMCA, Los Alamos Medical Center, county and school administrative offices, the Los Alamos Small Business Administration office, at local child care providers in Los Alamos and White Rock, the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce and Mesa Public Library.

In addition, a flyer announcing the survey was being included in utility bills of Los Alamos County residents scheduled for delivery this week.

Respondents have until Sept. 30 to complete the survey online or return hard copies in person to the Community Relations Office or by mail to Mail Stop A117, Los Alamos, N.M. 87545.
Community respondents also can return it to their employer for collection, said Laura Jones of Los Alamos' Geoanalysis Group and a member of the Women's Diversity Working Group. Only one survey per household should be completed and returned, and survey respondents will remain confidential, she added.

The survey asks respondents, among other things, if they are looking for childcare, if they or their coworkers have experienced difficulties with childcare arrangements, in which geographic area they currently are receiving childcare, and whether the Lab should be involved in addressing childcare needs.

The survey also asks respondents to indicate what percentage of total gross income is dedicated to childcare, how they came to learn about their current childcare provider and what kinds of barriers they have encountered in trying to meet childcare needs.

The 28-question survey also includes an area for written comments; respondents may attach additional sheets for their written responses.

Residents of outlying communities also are encouraged to complete the survey because a large number of Laboratory employees and subcontract personnel live outside Los Alamos, Jones added.

Numerous studies have shown that a major issue for Laboratory employees is access to quality day care. At Los Alamos, a 1995 study determined that over a one-year time span the Laboratory lost $1.5 million in productivity and more than 10,000 workdays because of childcare related issues.

Facilities throughout the Department of Energy complex have responded to this issue by establishing childcare centers on or near DOE property.

Last spring, Laboratory Director John Browne and Martha Krebs, director of DOE's Office of Science, announced plans for a child development initiative to serve the Lab workforce.

"The Laboratory, DOE, and local childcare providers have an opportunity to work together towards meeting the unmet demand for care," said Jones. "In this spirit, the Laboratory strongly encourages the community at large, existing providers and community organizations to become involved during the planning and implementation phases of the Lab's childcare project.

"While you may not currently have children, your productivity at work may be impacted by child-care arrangement difficulties of coworkers," Jones said. "And, you might have children in the future. In either or both cases, your input is extremely valuable."

For more information, call 665-4113, or write to lanlchild@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

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