Recognize that balancing work and home life can be difficult for everyone at times, and especially for parents. Check in with mothers and fathers to see how they are doing. Parenting is often difficult and asking for help can be hard. Acknowledging this and offering support is an important connection for all families.

Decide what “family-friendly” means for your business. Family-friendly policies in the workplace make it possible for employees to more easily balance family and work obligations.¹ Read below for ways to do this:

• Support mothers who choose to breastfeed. Offer private areas for pumping breastmilk and access to a refrigerator to safely store it. Where feasible and safe, allow breastfeeding mothers to bring their babies to work. Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses, which means fewer sick days for parents and research suggests that having babies present at work can boost morale².
• Offer a secure schedule for shift workers. A set schedule can help parents to plan for their childcare needs. This also reduces stress and increases reliability.
• In business settings that allow, offer flexible working arrangements that permit parents to choose when they work while still meeting the hourly requirements for their job.
• Allot time for parents to participate in parent-teacher conferences and medical appointments.
• Offer parents an opportunity to work remotely on certain days, hours, or a pre-determined period.

Getting involved in your community is an excellent way to give back and foster camaraderie among employees—and increase recognition for your business. Here are a few ideas:

• Participate in United Way of Day of Impact.
• Visit Volunteer Spokane to sign up to volunteer, attend a workshop, or sponsor a poverty simulation exercise.
• Consider sponsoring a youth sports team at Spokane Youth Sports Association (SYSA), Spokane Eastside Reunion Association (SERA) or the Police Activity League.
• Encourage employees to become mentors through Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Communities in Schools, or their child’s school.
• Partner with local non-profits to donate supplies,food, or participate in community events.
• Provide your services on a volunteer basis. For example, a design firm can create marketing materials for a nonprofit’s community event or a financial advisor can offer free financial management classes at a community center.

Provide training to employees about how to communicate with and support parents in your place of business, especially during stressful parenting and family situations. A simple smile or gesture to a customer or client recognizes that parenting in public is difficult and sometimes "kids will be kids.”

Share resources like Parenthelp123 with employees. Parenthelp123connect families to a range of health and community resources.

Join an organization that advocates for the well-being of children and families. There are many to choose from, but here are a couple of examples:

• Become a member of Our kids: Our business. As a member, you can attend their annual event in April, which offers training and information on how you can better support the well-being of Spokane’s children or host an educational presentation to help others learn about child abuse and neglect in our community.
• Participate in “Pinwheels for Prevention,” a national movement held during Child Abuse Prevention month in April. Each year, organizations, businesses and individuals plant “gardens” of blue pinwheels, the symbol of a safe and carefree childhood, as a commitment to supporting public policies that promote the well-being of families and children and the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
• Advocate for policies that support children and families such as affordable health care, quality childcare, and other social supports. Without having basic needs met, employees can not work at their full potential.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer a variety of actions, both large and small, that businesses can take to support families and prevent child abuse.

Learn how to promote safety in your place of business. Domestic violence impacts many families and poses a risk to every workplace in America. An employee who is not safe at home can’t perform their best work. Learn more.

There’s a lot to know about child abuse and neglect and its effect on a community. Prevent Child Abuse America explains why reducing adverse childhood experiences, also known as ACES, is an investment in the future—for everyone. Want to know more about brain development? Check out this document.