State of California

  M E M O R A N D U M

  REFERENCE CODE:
  2003-023

  DATE:
  July 9, 2003

  TO:
  Personnel Officers
  Employee Relations Officers
  Work and Family Department Representatives

  FROM:
  Department of Personnel Administration
  Policy and Operations Division

  SUBJECT:
  Work and Family Resource and Referral Service

  CONTACT:
  Rosanne McHenry, Work and Family Program Coordinator
  (916) 327-0522
  FAX: (916) 324-0524
  Email: RosanneMcHenry@dpa.ca.gov


  The Department of Personnel Administration (DPA), through the Work and 
  Family Labor Management Committee (Committee), is launching the new 
  Resource and Referral Service for dependent care.
  
  The Resource and Referral Service is a new State-negotiated benefit 
  which uses a comprehensive, case management approach to quickly 
  respond to employee dependent care needs.  This service is now 
  available via toll-free telephone or Internet 24 hours a day, seven 
  days a week to all State employees, both represented and excluded, 
  regardless of time base (includes part-time, intermittent, and 
  seasonal employees). 
  
  Call toll-free at 1-866-896-1835 (1-800-873-1322 TDY) or visit 
  www.lifecare.com (Company Code:  California).  For the Internet site, 
  follow the prompts to register and login to the site, or call the 
  toll-free number for assistance.  An introductory memo and 
  informational brochure are attached.
  
  Whether the dependent is a young child, adult, or elder, the service 
  is designed to locate immediately available dependent care resources 
  within the employee's own community.  Day care, emergency care, 
  after-hours care, weekend and holiday care, in-home care, summer 
  camps, special programs for children and adults, residential and 
  health care programs for elders, and many more resources can be 
  accessed through this customized service approach. 
  
  Following an in-depth review of employee dependent care needs, a case 
  management specialist conducts an intensive search for dependent care 
  providers.  Within minutes, information is posted to the employee's 
  online resource center, a secure Web site customized for each 
  individual.  For employees without Internet access, information is 
  immediately faxed or mailed.  
  
  Within three to five days of the initial employee contact, dependent 
  care provider referrals with confirmed openings are forwarded to the 
  employee via the Internet, e-mail, fax, phone, or U.S. mail.  
  Employees then contact the selected providers, decide which provider 
  most closely meets their requirements, and enroll their dependent(s) 
  into the selected program.  Later, case management specialists will 
  recontact employees to learn if the referrals matched their dependent 
  care needs.  Ongoing resource and referral information is provided to 
  the employee for as long as required.  There is no limit to the number 
  of visits or inquiries an employee can make.  This new service will 
  help take the burden of finding affordable, reliable dependent care 
  off the shoulders of State employees.  Staff can work knowing their 
  dependents will be well cared for.  
  
  COMMUNICATION TO DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES 
  
  A post card mailer will be sent to all State employees, advising them 
  of this new benefit and how to access the service (sample post card 
  attached).  Additionally, quantities of the Resource and Referral 
  Service brochure, poster, and introductory memo will be sent to the 
  departmental Personnel Officers and Work and Family Representatives 
  for distribution to all employees within their departments.  
  Departmental representatives and Personnel Officers are advised to 
  contact the DPA Work and Family Program Coordinator at (916) 327-0522 
  if additional quantities of the brochure and memo are needed. 
  
  Your help is also needed to advise State of California employees of 
  this new benefit.  Please forward this information to employees in 
  your department through all appropriate venues.  Employees should also 
  be directed to the Work and Family Web site at 
  http://www.dpa.ca.gov/workingfamilies or the Resource and Referral 
  Service at www.lifecare.com for more detailed information.  
  
  PROGRAM BACKGROUND
  
  The Committee was established as a result of the contract negotiations 
  in 1999 between the Administration of California Governor Gray Davis 
  and the employee organizations representing the State's 21 bargaining 
  units.  The mission of the Committee has been to identify, recommend, 
  and advocate family friendly policies and programs that support 
  California state employees in balancing their work and family needs.  
  Through these new benefit programs, it is expected that locating 
  affordable, reliable dependent care will become more manageable for 
  State employees.  As the program progresses and the benefits are used 
  by employees, we will keep you advised of the outcomes.  
  
  
  
  
  Bob Painter, Chief
  Policy and Operations Division
  
  Attachments will be distributed via mail.