Family Friendly Awards Celebrated in Tulare and Kings Counties

Three awardees in Tulare and Kings Counties were recognized for family friendliness on December 12, 2017. The Society for Human Resource Management of Tulare/Kings County collaborated with the Tulare County Breastfeeding Coalition and the Kings County Breastfeeding Coalition to present the Family Friendly Awards, which celebrate the efforts of employers to promote family wellness and bonding.

Tulare County Office of Education and Valley Adult Day Services received the Family Friendly Employer Awards.  Maria Huerta, a manager at McDonald’s in Corcoran, was presented with the Family Friendly Advocate Award.

The Tulare County of Education Conference Center has a private pumping station for breastfeeding mothers, where they also have access to a small fridge for storage. This lactation room is open for both employees and conference attendees. TCOE also has other family-friendly policies in place.

Valley Adult Day Services in Porterville allows breastfeeding mothers to bring their infant(s) to work. According to Cheri Taylor, the Executive Director, this policy helps the senior residents too. The organization also designates a group counseling room as a pumping space.

Maria Huerta has advocated for mothers’ rights in her workplace. She encourages breastfeeding employees to take pumping breaks even when the restaurant is busy. She also reminds employees that customers may nurse their babies in public, as California law allows.

Nomination Form

(Spanish) Nomination Form

Family Friendly Awards Flyer