Family Care Support Services at Cornell University

Cornell University offers a variety of work/life support programs, services, and resources for Cornell faculty members. Below is a brief summary of the assistance available. Please contact the Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Life Quality for more information on this programming at 101/160 Day Hall, (607) 255-3976.

Child Care

Cornell Child Care Center – Located at 150 Pleasant Grove Road, just north of the “A” commuter parking lot, this brand new, state of the art facility provides part and full time care for children ages infant-5 years.

www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/childCareCenter/index.html - (607) 255-1010

Dependent Care Consultant – CU’s Dependent Care Consultant is available to provide assistance to faculty members seeking child and elder care services either locally or internationally. This assistance may include information on babysitters/nannies/au pairs and may be for occasional, part-time, or full-time needs. Also available is information on local school districts and tools for hiring a care provider.

Eileen Whang, (607) 255-1917 or emw76@cornell.edu

Cornell Family Helper List – A list of individuals seeking positions to provide child care, elder care, house/pet sitting, academic/music/sport lessons, etc. Listed individuals are not endorsed by CU.

www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/balancing/babysitter/index.html

Day Care & Child Development Council of Tompkins County – This community organization is available to assist callers with locating regulated care providers, either center based or in-home family/group based. www.daycarecouncil.org or (607) 273-0259

Financial Assistance Programs

Child Care Grant Subsidy Program – Provides grants to benefits-eligible faculty and post-doctoral associates with annual household incomes of up to $150,000. Grants are calculated based on type of care arrangements, household income, and other criteria. Funds are provided on a pre-tax basis and are deposited into select-benefits Dependent Care Spending Account. Application deadline is typically in September.

www.ohr.cornell.edu/benefits/childcareGrant/index.html - (607) 254-KIDS/5437 - childcare@cornell.edu

Flexible Spending Account for Dependent and Health Care – Benefits-eligible faculty and post-doctoral associates are eligible to set aside money from their pay, pre-tax, to be used for dependent care and health care expenses. This must be done during Open Enrollment (November), otherwise accounts are only able to be opened if you are new to your position or have experienced a qualifying life event such as a birth/adoption.

www.ohr.cornell.edu/benefits/programs/select.html - (607) 255-3936

Adoption Assistance Program – Cornell University provides benefits eligible faculty and post-doctoral associates with up to $5,000 for the adoption of a child ($6,000 for the adoption of a child with special needs). Lifetime maximum is three adoptions.

www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/balancing/adoptionAssist/index.html - (607) 254-KIDS/5437

Available Policies

Parental Leave (Leaves for Professors and Academic Staff), including Tenure Clock Stop

www.policy.cornell.edu/Vol6_2_1.cfm - Academic Personnel Policy Office – (607) 254-4928

Lactation Time Away From Work – Requires departments to provide reasonable accommodations for Cornell women faculty to use a location for pumping/expressing breastmilk.

www.policy.cornell.edu/vol6_9.cfm - Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Life Quality – (607) 255-3976

Graduate Parental Leave – Provides provisions for graduate student families for the birth, newborn care, or adoption of a child (either six week paid accommodation or twelve month reduced load student status)

www.policy.cornell.edu/vol1_6.cfm - Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Life Quality – (607) 255-3976

Communication

Those interested in receiving information on work/life programming and support networks are invited to join any of the following listservs: parents-L, specialneeds-L, adoption-L, school-closing-L, breastfeeding-L, elder-L, lbgtfamilies-L, lifecycles-L, wellness-L, diabetes-L, cancersupport-L, and more. Two of the more popular lists, parents-L and elder-L, receive a bi-weekly newsletter on campus/community activities and workshops.

www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/mailingLists/mailingLists.html - Michelle Artibee - mla64@cornell.edu

Other Work/Life Services & Resources

Work/Life & Wellbeing Workshops and Social Networking Opportunities

A variety of workshops are held throughout the year on parenting skills, effective relationships, work/life integration, and life transitions. Also held regularly is a Caregiver Support Network and a Breastfeeding Education Series. Visit the Work and Personal Life Website for more information.

www.ohr.cornell.edu/worklife/ - (607) 255-3976

Wellness related group fitness classes, wellness workshops, health networks, and e-lists are hosted throughout the year by the Cornell University Wellness Program. http://wellness.cornell.edu/ - (607) 255-3886

A series of workshop for diverse communities (called “Sharing Our World”), targeting persons of color, LBGTQ individuals, and veterans are hosted by the Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Life Quality.

www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/recreationSocial/SOW.pdf - (607) 255-3224 - mw284@cornell.edu

Lactation Support Program www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/balancing/lactation.html

Elder Care Resource and Referral (607) 255-1917, emw76@cornell.edu, 101 Day Hall

Bring a Child to Work Day www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/recreationSocial/BACTWD/

CAU Summer Camp Programs www.sce.cornell.edu/cau/

CU Youth Sport Camp Programs www.athletics.cornell.edu/camps/youth.html

Veterans Services www.ohr.cornell.edu/Diversity/VeteransServicesatCU.htm

Transgender Resources www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/balancing/transgender/index.html

Guide to Private/Public Schools www.tompkins-co.org/youth/

Guide to Community Camps www.co.tompkins.ny.us/youth/campguide/alldetail.asp?ID=83

Work and Personal Life Website

www.ohr.cornell.edu/workLife/index.html

Contact: Michelle Artibee, Associate Director of Work/Life Programs

Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Life Quality

(607) 255-3976, mla64@cornell.edu