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Membership Information

Are you passionate about child care and work life issues surrounding families?  Would you like to contribute to the policies and programs supported by NIH? Then the NIH Child Care Board is for you!

The Child Care Board is looking for motivated individuals from diverse backgrounds to promote affordable, accessible, and quality child care and additional related services to the NIH community. Membership is open to all NIH federal employees who work on or off the NIH campus. Members shall be selected in such a way as to span the interests of NIH employees and their dependents, and shall represent the diverse population of the NIH community. Applicants shall have a strong interest in issues related to child care.

The Board meets six to seven times a year beginning in September through August. Board meetings are held during workdays, generally for two hours, and held in an NIH conference room/via Zoom. The ability to attend meetings is critical to the Board's effectiveness and active participation on Board committees helps to accomplish the activities/objective/tasks outlined on the Board's Work Plan.

Position Description for Voting Members

Background/Mission of NIH Child Care Board

The NIH Child Care Board is comprised of voting members who have applied for a position, have been recommended by the Child Care Board, and have been appointed by the NIH Deputy Director of Management. The voting members work with ex-officio, non-voting and liaison members to promote affordable, accessible, and quality child care for the NIH community and advise the NIH regarding child care services and policies.

Membership Terms

Voting members shall serve on the Board for a term of three (3) years, not to exceed two (2) full terms. The terms for voting members are staggered. No more than one-third of the voting Board members are replaced in any given year in order to preserve continuity and effectiveness of operations.

Duties/Responsibilities

In this position, one will serve as a member of the NIH Child Care Board for a period of three (3) years or less, depending on whether the appointment is for a full or partial term. A critical responsibility is to attend the Board meetings as an active participant, including voting on policy issues. The incumbent will work as an effective team member in identifying activities, priorities and recommendations for the Board. In doing so, the member will serve on various committees or take on specific assignments to advance the work of the Board. Examples of such work include:

  • Participating in presentations to Executive Officers, Scientific Directors, and other Administrative Officials to raise the visibility of child care issues within the NIH community.
  • Assisting with the preparation of the Board’s Annual Report.
  • Serving as an advocate for affordable, accessible, quality child care for the NIH community.
  • Communicating information to the NIH Community pertaining to child care issues.
  • Receiving suggestions and recommendations from the NIH community.
  • Providing effective input to the Board for consideration and approval.
  • Serving on at least one Board committee (e.g., Back-Up Care, Childcare Subsidy, Communications and Outreach, Innovative Programs, Membership, or Childcare Waitlist).

Requirements

The applicant will demonstrate a strong interest in issues related to child care and parenting issues. The applicant will also represent the interests of other NIH employees and their dependents and ensure that the interests of the diverse population of the NIH community is an integral part of the decision-making process.

Since meetings are held during the workday, supervisory concurrence must be attained prior to submitting an application to serve on the Board. Participation on the Board is an official duty and may be included as a non-critical element on an employee’s performance plan.

Voting Members are prohibited from being an officer, member of the board, trustee, employee or partner of any NIH-sponsored child care center/program. The incumbent may not have any financial interest in such a program, either themselves or through their spouse or minor child, except that they may have a dependent in such a program, provided that they receive approval to participate from the appropriate ethics official.

The NIH Child Care Board does not have oversight of the NIH-sponsored Child Care Centers.

Membership Application Information

Recruitment for new members is typically conducted during the spring and summer months. Membership orientation is conducted before or during the September Board meeting of each year. If you are interested in serving on the NIH Child Care Board, you may self-nominate by completing the online Membership Application.

Click here to complete the Membership Application. 

You must submit your completed application with your supervisor's signature prior to the established deadline to be considered for a Voting Member position.

If you are unable to open the link above and would like to have a membership application emailed to you, please contact the NIH Child and Family Programs Team at (301) 827-3250.

Submit a Membership Application

All nomination applications/letters should be mailed or emailed to:

Program Manager, NIH Child and Family Programs
Division of Amenities and Transportation Services, ORS
Building 31/1A08 (MSC 2009)
susan.borst@nih.gov

The Program Manager will forward all nominations to the Board's voting members for review and consideration. The Board shall provide in writing its recommendations to the Division of Amenities and Transportation Services (DATS) Director.

The DATS Director will forward the nomination packet to the NIH Deputy Director for Management (NIH DDM) for appointment consideration. The NIH DDM shall notify applicants in writing of their appointment to the Board.