Feature Story:

Caring for Its Own

The Department of State supports its employees and their families from infancy to maturity in many ways.

iplotots Child Development Center: Diplotots, located in Columbia Plaza, provides a nurturing educational environment for children whose parents work at the Department of State. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, Diplotots supplies much more than child care. The center's highly qualified professional educators administer an enrichment program focused on education and social development in pleasant and safe surroundings.

An active tuition assistance program enables many children to participate whose parents might otherwise be unable to afford such a quality child care program. The board raises money to support needs-based scholarships through community fund raisers, the United Way/Combined Federal Campaign and private contributions. While Diplotots feels strongly that all State children deserve the very best possible educational opportunities, limited resources restrict the number of tuition grants available each year. Additional child care spaces are available for State Department children at the nearby National Science Foundation with whom State is a consortium partner. For more information, contact Linda Taglialatela at (202) 647-5591 or Michael Rafferty at (703) 875-6060.

Foreign Service Youth Foundation:The Foreign Service Youth Foundation supports young people moving from culture to culture with Foreign Service parents. Teens experience the disruptions of an internationally mobile lifestyle and face challenges as they enter new international communities and upon their return to the United States. FSYF offers programs, produces publications, presents an annual Foreign Service Youth Award and provides social activities for these young people. It also sponsors "Around the World in a Lifetime," a teen club for all young people whose parents have been members of an embassy or consulate community. AWAL members prepare a monthly newsletter, gather at a monthly "Basement Meeting" to explore values and concerns, enjoy training and social events and provide each other with a support network. The newest addition to FSYF is the pre-teen club, "Globe Trotters," which offers similar support and activities for younger children. For more information, contact Huong Bach at (703) 749-7742.

Secretary's Scholarship Fund for the Children of the Nairobi Bombing Victims: Five American victims of the Nairobi bombing are survived by young children who range in age from 11 months to 16 years. In 1999, Secretary Albright established a scholarship fund to provide financial assistance for the children's college education. The fund is managed by the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, a nonprofit organization that administers programs on behalf of many government agencies and is supported primarily by private donations. For more information, contact Kendall Montgomery at (202) 736-4302.

AFSA Scholarship Fund: The American Foreign Service Association Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance to Foreign Service families through two programs. The Merit Award Competition, cosponsored by the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide, is open to Foreign Service high school seniors. This one-time-only award recognizes students' academic and artistic accomplishments. Selected students receive $1,500 cash awards.

The AFSA Financial Aid Program offers needs-based awards for Foreign Service college students. Aid ranges from $500 to $3,000 annually. Students must take a minimum of 12 credits a semester and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to qualify. Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired and AAFSW also support this program. For more information, contact Lori Dec at (202) 338-4045.

The FSN Emergency Relief Fund:The Foreign Service National Emergency Relief Fund responds on a permanent basis to general crises or humanitarian requests on behalf of FSN employees working for the U.S. government. In addition to grants to FSN colleagues and their families in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, grants have been made to FSNs in Athens following the recent earthquake; in Caracas after the devastating floods in December of 1999; and in Freetown where FSN homes were destroyed during Sierra Leone's eight-year civil war. Four FSNs in Freetown wrote to say: "To tell the truth, we were shocked and overwhelmed and tears were shed realizing that we have colleagues who are so concerned about the welfare of others and giving us such a surprising support. Your contributions came in at a time when we needed such help. It was really appreciated because it is not easy to start a new life." For more information, contact Donna Bordley at (202) 647-5031.

The Senior Living Foundation of the American Foreign Service:The Senior Living Foundation assists elderly retired members of the Foreign Service and their family members who have become physically or mentally unable to cope with life's changes. In many cases, these people have barely enough financial resources to cover their normal living expenses. The foundation has provided a grant for home health care and durable medical equipment for a 76-year-old divorced Foreign Service wife; monthly support for groceries and transportation to medical appointments for a 64-year-old divorced Foreign Service wife; and a temporary grant to cover assisted living facility fees for a 90-year-old Foreign Service widow. For more information, write the Senior Living Foundation of the American Foreign Service, 1716 N St., NW, Washington, DC 20036, or call (202) 887-8170.