State Department Resources for Foreign Service Families
Family Liaison Office: Employment Services
Official Website: http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/
Contact FLO at flo@state.gov.
The Family Liaison Office (M/DGHR/FLO) advocates with management on family member employment issues, develops and runs programs to promote family member employment, and provides counseling and referral for spouses. We also support the Community Liaison Office Coordinators (CLOs) overseas in their efforts to help family members address employment issues. The following employment resources are available in the Family Liaison Office in Washington:
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Individual Counseling: Family members may make an appointment to discuss U.S. and overseas employment plus job search techniques.
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Employment Planning Workshop: This workshop, sponsored by the Overseas Briefing Center and the Family Liaison Office, is offered four times a year. Designed for Foreign Service spouses, it covers interests/skills assessment, job search techniques, application form and resume preparation guidance, and information about the overseas and D.C. job markets.
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American Family Member Associates Program (AFMA): This program is closed. The Office of Overseas Employment (PER/OE/HRM) will maintain applicant and membership files for five years after the closure of the program (December, 1998). During this time files will be retired as AFMA members security clearances expire, they obtain other Department of State employment, or PER/OE/HRM is advised they are no longer interested in employment with the Department of State.
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Family Member Employment Report: FLO compiles reports from overseas posts listing positions in and outside the Mission that are currently held by family members. Widely used by employees in the bidding process, it includes information on freelance employment, work permits, and the overall employment situation.
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Functional Training Program: FLO coordinates registration for spouses going overseas in consular, administrative, and computer courses at FSI on a space available basis.
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Bilateral Work Agreements: The Family Liaison Office works to establish bilateral agreements and de facto arrangements that permit eligible family members of U.S. Government employees to work on the local economy of the country to which they are assigned. Read Understanding Bilateral Work Agreements from FS Direct, published by the Family Liaison Office.
Information about Family Member Employment available from the Family Liaison Office. Many of these publications are downloadable from the Family Liaison Office web page.
Direct Communication Project
- Paper No. 2: Bilateral Work Agreements and De Facto Work Arrangements for FS Family Members
- Paper No. 8: Employment Factors for USG Family Members Overseas (chart in revision)
- Paper No. 9: Executive Order 12721 on Noncompetitive Eligibility
- Paper No. 11: Information on The Resume Connection
- Paper: No. 12 FAST-TRAIN Foreign Affairs Spouses Teacher Training Project (brochure)
- Paper No. 16: Functional Training for FS Family Members
- Paper No. 17: Guidelines for Describing Volunteer Activities
- Paper No. 18: How to Prepare Your SF-171
- Paper No. 20: Overseas Briefing Center Course List
- Paper No. 21: Overseas Employment Information for Teachers
- Paper No. 28: Adult Education Opportunities
- Paper No. 29: Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members is a book covering job search techniques, Washington area employment, overseas employment, portable careers and skills, applications and resumes, interviews, volunteer options, and resources.


