DePaul University
PAE-T2-4: Childcare

DePaul provides integrated benefits, policies and programs to support DePaul families with children in a comprehensive manner. DePaul University has integrated the range of family care supports and resources in a central Work/Life website at: http://hr.depaul.edu/Work_Life/index.html. The site has been in place and regularly expanded since 2007 to aid DePaul families with dependent care related issues. The following sections focus on family care. 1) Caring for Family Those with care responsibilities have temporary back up care available through Bright Horizons Back-Up Care Advantage program. The program is available to all benefits eligible faculty and staff - approximately 1700 individuals and their families. The service includes fees for in-home and center-based care for children and in-home care for adults. Formalized programs and benefits include: Family Medical Leave Sick Pay, Short and Long Term Disability Dependent Care Flexible Spending adoption Assistance Dependent Life Insurance 2) Child Care Resources Through the university's employee assistance program Perspectives Ltd. faculty and staff may utilize the online child care resource and referral service to identify child care that meets their needs. Additionally, the university has identified local resources to aid informing choices about types of care, evaluating types of care based on one's needs, and informational resources in the Chicago metropolitan region. 3.) Lactation Support Guidelines Mothers with nursing children can continue to do so with two Nursing Mother Room locations at the main Lincoln Park and Loop campuses. The university supports this program through a formal policy called the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act which stipulates nursing mothers are afforded the time and appropriate space to express their milk. These rooms are accessible by faculty, staff, and student mothers. 4.) Workplace Flexibility Flexible work is an important support at the university that defines for staff ways to shift schedules, hours and workweeks to balance professional and personal obligations such as care giving. The university formalized these programs into two key policies: Flexible Work Arrangements (compressed work weeks, flexible start and end times and ad hoc telecommuting) and Voluntary Reduced Work Time (reduced work week without loss of benefits). 5.) Adult-Elder Care Adult children, particularly those with disabilities, may be excluded from traditional forms of support. The Bright Horizons Back Up Care Advantage Program provides support for adult children who are dependents. Our resource page for adults and the elderly connect families with local, regional and national organizations that provide information, support networks and research on a range of care giving issues.