Login
Mission Statement
Focus Areas
Calendar of Events
FEW History
National Officers
Regions & Chapters
Federal Jobs
FEW Foundations
Awards
Mentoring Program
Military Women
People With Disabilities Scholarships
Forms and Documents
Publications
Information of Interest
Home

FEW and THE FEDERAL WOMEN'S PROGRAM

The Federal Women’s Program (FWP) was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Executive Order 11375 and added sex as a prohibited form of discrimination. The FWP has a primary responsibility to identify barriers to the hiring and advancement of women and to enhance employment opportunities for women in every area of federal service. Guidance for the FWP was originally provided by the Civil Service Commission (now OPM). In 1978 the program responsibility was transferred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The FWP is an integral part of the overall Civil Rights/Equal Opportunity Program. Each federal agency has at least one FWPM, and many agencies have established a network of managers, representatives, and committees throughout their headquarters and field locations. The FWPM acts as the agency’s contact point, source of information, and advisor to the head of the agency in matters involving the employment and career advancement of women. In field locations, FWPMs may also be appointed and serve in a similar role or as an extension of the National FWPM. All federal employees are served by the FWP, and there is no formal membership.

FEW is gathering information about Federal Women's Program.
If you are an FWPM and would like to be included in FEW's FWP Database,
click here.

Executive Order 11375
Amending Executive Order No. 11246, relating to equal employment opportunity
Signed: October 13, 1967
Federal Register page and date: 32 FR 14303; October 17, 1967
Amends: EO 11246, September 24, 1965
Supersedes in part: EO 11478, August 8, 1969

FWP TASKFORCE:

During the 2009 Annual Membership Meeting in Anaheim, CA, the membership approved a Resolution of Program Direction on the Federal Women’s Program. National President Sue Webster tasked Vice President for Compliance Michelle Crockett and Special Assistant for the Federal Women’s Program Debra Hobbs with the lead responsibility to ensure action on the resolution.

Additional committee members were added to the Taskforce and include:

• Cecelia Davis
• Denise Elbert
• Patt Franc
• Wanda Killingsworth
• Janet Kopenhaver
• Donna Knight
• Carolyn Malone
• Rhonda Trent
• Bernice Waller
• Rhonda Ward
• Sue Webster

FWP TASKFORCE ACTIVITIES:

ISSUE PAPERS:

• Federal Women’s Program (FWP) - History and Current Status
• Roles and Responsibilities for FWPMs/SEPMs
• Criteria for Appointing FWPMs/SEPMs
• Better Management of Federal Women’s/Special Emphasis Programs
• A Guide for FWPMs and SEPMs

MEETINGS:

The Taskforce meets via conference call. Other meetings take place as well. Minutes/results of these meetings are below.

March 26, 2009 CONFERENCE CALL

December 17, 2008 CONFERENCE CALL

• December 18 Meeting Synopsis
• FWP Taskforce Conference Call
• DIRECTORY OF EEO DIRECTORS
• AAPIWorking Group Survey
• Totals_1

November 12, 2008 – Meeting with EEOC Chair Naomi Earp

• Meeting with Ms Earp

November 19, 2008 Meeting with FWPIC

• Meeting with FWPIC

September 9, 2008 CONFERENCE CALL

• FWP RESOLUTION REGARDING REFOCUS ON FWP-FINAL
• FWP Letter to Congress

NEWS & VIEWS ARTICLES and WEBSITE UPDATES

Articles about the work of the Taskforce are written for FEW’s News & Views and links to those publications are below:

• April, 2009 Update
• N&V February, 2009
• N&V December, 2008
• N&V October, 2008
• September, 2008 Update

PRESS RELEASES:

• September 2009 - FEW Welcomes Doubling of Compliance Rate of Federal Agencies with MD-715 Reports
• January 7, 2009 FEW Disappointed in Low Compliance Rate of Federal Agencies with MD-715 Reports

FWP Resolution Update to the Annual Membership Meeting

• July 2009

FWP Resolution Reports to the National Board of Directors

• July 2009 (National board of director's meeting)
• May 2009
• February 2009
• October 2008

RESOURCE and REFERENCE DOCUMENTS:

• STATUS OF WOMEN IN FEDERAL SERVICE (2003) by Kay Coles James, Director OPM
• STATUS OF WOMEN IN FEDERAL SERVICE (2008)
• THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEW AND THE FWP
• POWERPOINT PRESENTATION “Sister Organizations”
  Presentation describing how FEW and the FWP work together with mutual goals and objectives formulated to eliminate sex discrimination and address issues impacting the career advancement of Women in Federal Service.
• THE HISTORY OF THE FEDERAL WOMEN’S PROGRAM
  This document contains excerpts from various websites and is not intended to be all inclusive. If you have documents you’d like included, please contact the webmaster for this page.
• OPM ANNUAL FEDERAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM (FEORP) REPORTS
  OPM has the responsibility to annually report to Congress on progress under the Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program (FEORP). The report is prepared in compliance with the law (5 U.S.C. 7201 and 5 CFR Part 720, Subpart B) and contains information on the representation of minorities within the Federal Government and best practices of Federal agencies. OPM is committed to, and is taking aggressive action to ensure, diversity in the Federal Government.