BC Rec named family-friendly winner

The Boulder Creek Parks and Recreation District was named a winner of the 2009 Family-Friendly Workplace award.
District officials say they foster a workplace that allows mothers with children to teach classes and take their children to the workplace.
“I found with this demographic that moms would be, and are, some of my greatest teachers,” said Christina Horvat, district manager.
Instructors who are also young mothers are able to include their children in their classes or let them play off to the side.
Horvat said staff meetings are sometimes conducted in the parks, while children play on nearby playgrounds.
“We have an open-door policy, and we have kids running in and out of here all the time,” Horvat said. “It just works here.”
The United Way of Santa Cruz County Success By Six program and the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition announced the winners this week.
Besides the recreation district, the Seniors Council of Santa Cruz County and Women’s Crisis Support were also named family-friendly workplaces.
There were six applicants for the award. The three winners were named and three honorable mentions given.
Board president Eric Hammer praised Horvat’s leadership in creating an environment where mothers can work part time and still be with their children.
“Our programs are filled, kids are there and people are happy,” Hammer said.