The USC Center for Work & Family Life has been honored with a Best Practices award by the California Psychological Association, the professional organization for psychologists. John Gaspari, the center's executive director, accepted the award on behalf of the university on April 12.

USC was the only university recognized by the association. Other winners included Chevron and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Originally, the Center for Work & Family Life had submitted an application for the association's Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, which recognizes businesses that demonstrate concern about the psychological well-being of their employees. The association's review committee found the center's application compelling enough to conduct a site visit. The committee was so impressed with the center's approaches to addressing the psychological health of its workforce that it gave the center a Best Practices award. The center narrowly missed a Psychologically Healthy Workplace honor.

"This is great recognition the university is receiving for its long-standing and constant commitment of leadership, attention and resources to support the psychological well-being of its employees," Gaspari said. "My staff and I are very proud."

Awards are given every year in every state. Criteria for the awards, which have been established in conjunction with the American Psychological Association, are quality of vision/mission statement; quality of work environment; employee involvement; family support; employee growth and development; and health, safety and security. The award is available to all workplaces -- for-profit and non-profit.

The Center for Work & Family Life, which is affiliated with the USC School of Social Work, provides services for USC faculty, staff and their families to help ensure a healthy balance between their personal and professional lives. The free, voluntary and confidential services include counseling; departmental consultation; family and dependent care resources; health and wellness initiatives; and relocation assistance.