Support Resources

Please take a careful look at the following resources, offered to help us create a safe community of inquiry for all. These include information about reporting harassment, our community's code of conduct and a set of links to related, outside resources.

Measuring Organizational Culture and Climate

During the summer and fall of 2021, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), with support from Smithsonian Civil Program (SI Civil), worked with the Smithsonian Organization and Audience Research (SOAR) team to conduct a survey about the cultural climate at STRI.

The survey was the first cultural climate survey conducted at STRI, and we thank the nearly 800 community members who responded. Data from this survey will be used as a benchmark to measure success and improvements going forward.

You can read the executive summary and full report here:

STRI Cultural climate survey full report 2021 | STRI climate survey executive summary

Let’s create a safe environment

Brochure
Digital | Print | Grayscale

Flyer
Digital | Print| Grayscale

Poster
Digital| Print | Grayscale

Flowchart
Digital | Print | Grayscale

Smithsonian Work Policies

Failure to comply with SI and STRI policies and local laws might be a cause for termination of employment with STRI, termination of your project and/or official relationship with STRI, and the cessation of collaboration with STRI
SI Code of Ethics
Expectations of Conduct
All STRI operations and initiatives are required to be conducted with the utmost concern for the safety and security of individuals, the upkeep of infrastructure and equipment and the preservation of the environment. Therefore, it is required of all STRI employees, research collaborators, students, invitees and subcontractors to comply with the policy requirements of SD 419 -Smithsonian Institution Safety and Health Program

SI Civil: Report an Incident

If you see it, feel it, or hear it, we want you to…Voice It

https://www.si.edu/sicivil

Any Smithsonian employee or affiliated person may contact SI Civil for more information or to report an incident of harassment or workplace-violence* related behavior at any time. There are multiple ways to report incidents through the SI Civil reporting process.

How to Report

You can report an incident to SI Civil using one of the methods below.

Call the Hotline

Call the Voice it hotline 24 hours day, 7 days a week. You will be connected to a live operator who will take your report and submit directly to SI Civil. You may also submit reports through the hotline anonymously.

Hotline Numbers:

1-866-995-6445 (U.S.)
800-0329 (Panama)
También disponible en español.

Report Online

Voice It is a user-friendly method to report incidents of harassment or other concerning behaviors in the workplace. Visit the Voice it website to submit your report on a secure website. You may also submit reports anonymously.
https://smithsonian.gan-compliance.com/p/Case?locale=en-US
También disponible en español.

Speak to SI Civil

You may also submit a report directly to SI Civil staff or contact us with any questions.
Please email to setup a time to speak with us either in person, over the phone, or Zoom/Teams:
sicivil@si.edu

Additionally, you may contact the SI Civil Branch Manager:

SI Civil Program Contact Information
sicivil@si.edu
www.si.edu/sicivil

Jaime Velasco
SI Civil Specialist (located at STRI)
(+507) 6379-8468
velascoje@si.edu

Amanda Jones
SI Civil Manager (DC)
(+001) 202-633-6379
jonesam@si.edu

Any Smithsonian/STRI Supervisor

STRI is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free from any form of harassment. All Smithsonian supervisors are obligated to report harassment that they witness or that is reported to them. Retaliation against individuals who report inappropriate behavior is prohibited by Smithsonian policies.

*Note that reporting to STRI HR, SI Civil, or a supervisor is confidential to the greatest extent possible. Please see the SI Civil Handbook for further information regarding confidentiality. Completely confidential resources may be found below.

How to speak to a confidential resource:

If you are not sure about filing a report or would like to discuss your options or specific situation with an office that operates under principles of confidentiality, you may contact the Smithsonian Ombuds or the Employee Assistance Program. Visit this website for current contact information: https://www.si.edu/sicivil/resources.

Ombuds
The Smithsonian Ombuds is a neutral party to whom Smithsonian employees and affiliated staff can bring any work-related problem, concern or complaint that cannot be resolved through normal channels. The Ombuds will respect confidentiality when requested, listen to the problem and discuss steps to take to help you reach a fair resolution.

Please call or write to make an appointment.

Ombuds Shadella Davis, 202-633-2008 (confidential voicemail), davissm@si.edu

Employee Assistance Program
The Smithsonian Employee Assistance Program is a service available to all Smithsonian employees and academic appointees (fellows, research associates, post-docs, interns, etc.).

at no cost. It is staffed by professional counselors who will help you address problems that can adversely affect job performance, reliability, and personal health.

EAP Counselors
Tim Holloman 202-633-1054, hollomant@si.edu
Debbie Burney 202-633-1099, burnede@si.edu
Karen Howard 202-633-1104, howarka@si.edu

Panama STRI EAP Counselor (Spanish and English):
Dra. Kathina Melo de Castillo
Clinical Psychologist
Cell phone number +507-6121-2970
E-Mail: MeloAK@si.edu

The Panama Clinic/ Tower A
Floor 10, Office No. 1008

Additionally, the Smithsonian partnered with Inova Employee Assistance to provide employees and members of their households’ additional services.

Inova EAP Website www.inova.org/eap
Click on “Member Log-in”:
Username: Smithsoniang
Password: Smithsoniang
Select preferred language.
Click the LiveConnect chat button (if a Spanish-speaking counselor is needed, you can request one).

Inova EAP Phone 800-2602 (can also call free through computer using Skype, if a Spanish-speaking counselor is needed you can request one).