The City of Pampa has implemented a ‘Babies at Work, Pilot Program.’ The program was proposed and then taken before the City Commissioners Court after Stokes had heard of the idea from another city doing a similar program. Stokes reached out to get an idea of how the program was structured and worked and then put together a plan to take before the necessary offices to get the program the green-light
“We wanted to implement this to keep babies and moms together,” City Manager, Shane Stokes said. “Of course, there are stipulations to the program, it’s not ideal for a police officer or firefighter.”
The program is ideal for employees of the city that are in an office, a setting that is manageable for the infant to be a part of. With the new program, babies from four weeks to six months are welcome to join.
“Once the baby is four weeks of age, they are applicable,” Stokes said. “We have a policy packet in place that is a requirement for approval. Along with the approval, the employee has to identify two other employees that are willing to take care of the child in the event the parent has to be in a meeting.”
City of Pampa Secretary, Barbara Stucker is the first in the program with her baby, Charlie. With this pilot program and its first test in place, the city will take into account the efficiency of this program.
“If this works and is beneficial, we’ll turn it into city policy,” Stokes said. “Of course, if it doesn’t work out, then we’ll end it and see if there’s something else worth giving a shot.”
To make sure the program has its best foot forward, there are conditions on approval, but the city wants to do what it can to help new mothers return to work without the worry about child care.
“We want to keep babies and mommas together, we don’t want a new mom being at work worried and concerned for her baby. Or having separation anxiety, so allowing them to have them in the same room solves that,” Stokes said. “It also brings a new joy to the office having a baby around. After six months, the baby will retire from the city and the mom will return to work without the baby. So we’ll have a lot of young retirements if this program goes according to plan. Charlie will be our first and youngest retirement in the history of the City of Pampa.”
This new program will now be an added benefit for individuals that work for the city, Barbara being the first in the program has been given the chance to set a new example of a working mom.
“I am so excited about this, and having her here,” Stucker said. “As a mom, having her here is so nice. It’s hard to leave your baby behind.”
Baby Charlie is now six weeks old and has already started her first job for the City of Pampa. While Charlie didn’t have much to add to the interview, Barbara gave insight into how this program came about.
“The program had already been talked about, and was approved right before I left for maternity leave,” Stucker said. “So once I was ready to come back to work, it was a relief to know that this program was ready to go. We’d been talking about it, but we weren’t sure if it was going to be approved or not.”
In the first week of the program, the City Secretaries’ office has become the hot spot for visitors.
“People want to come in and see her, it’s a great addition to the office,” Stucker said. “But the transition has been easy. People come in and see her and then go about her day, it doesn’t disturb my day.”
Stucker plans to keep Charlie in the office with her as long as she can. With lots of thanks and praise for this new opportunity for her return to work.
“I am very grateful that the mayor and commissioners approved it,” Stucker said. “Also to the staff that presented it to the court to be considered. This to me is a huge step forward for working women. Even at six weeks, coming back to work, you’re still on the swings of being a new mom and it can be hard coming back to work. This is a huge blessing for us.”
Charlie will be ‘working’ alongside her mom for the next five months, before retiring long before both of her parents. The City of Pampa remains open to new ideas to improve the workplace and for mothers and fathers.
