Over 200 GSA childcare experts have met with other childcare professionals and educators from other agencies and institutions to discuss and drive practices underlying GSA-managed federal childcare centers.
GSA said it provides space and childcare services for more than 8,400 children in 111 centers in GSA-managed properties across the country and in Puerto Rico.
According to GSA, attendees at the three-day Orlando conference attended training on programs and seminars on topics such as developing literacy in young children, fighting childhood obesity, creating and using outdoor playgrounds, and building green and sustainable child care facilities.
"By providing high-quality, dependable day care in safe and secure environments, our children get the fresh start they need to be successful later in school," said Anthony Costa, acting commissioner of GSA’s Public Buildings Service.
"Federal employee recruitment, job satisfaction and retention, and employee wellness and work/life balance are enhanced, since parents enjoy quality, convenient and safe child care at or near their place of work," he added.
Federal agencies could see increased childcare options. GSA is participating in an experiment with OPM, Interior and the Federal Reserve – neighbor-agencies in Washington D.C. – to collaborate on a "work-life" campus that acting GSA administrator Paul Prouty said includes centralized childcare and other amenities such as a farmers market and common indoor and outdoor atriums.
OPM director John Berry said such a campus could showcase ways the federal government can improve wellness and morale while serving as a model to other agencies as to how they might pool resources.
