Work/Family Services: Childcare office changes name

Recently Faculty & Staff Childcare changed its name to Work/Family Services to better reflect the range of services provided. Here are answers to some questions the office has been receiving:

What is the Work/Family Services office?

Formerly the Faculty/Staff Child Care Office, the new name better reflects a range of services available to UW employees and their families. The University recognizes the competing demands in employee's lives. Work/Family Services coordinates programs and provides information and referral to services and resources that help you juggle those demands. These include: child care, sick child care, parent education, lactation stations, dependent care assistance, nanny share network, community resources and information.

I just found out I'm pregnant, how soon should I start looking for child care ?

It's never too soon to begin inquiring about child care and placing your name on waiting lists, especially for the UW center based programs. There are four child care centers at the University; two in family housing (Laurel Village and Sand Point) giving priority to students, one on the Seattle campus (West Campus Children's Center) and The Cottage School at Harborview, both giving priority to faculty and staff. Three of the centers serve infants through preschooler and all of the programs have lengthy waiting lists. The centers maintain their own waiting lists. Information about community based child care is also available from Work/Family Services.

What is the sick child care program and who can use it?

In addition to using accrued sick leave to care for a dependent child, the University provides another option—Tender Loving Care (TLC) at Virginia Mason Medical Center. TLC provides care for mildly ill children, aged 6 months to 12 years, who are unable to attend their regular school or child care setting because of illness. The University underwrites most of the daily fee. Any UW benefits eligible employee may utilize this service regardless of their health care coverage.

What exactly is the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)?

If you pay for child care or dependent care (young children, elderly parents, disabled adult children, etc.), DCAP provides an alternative to the traditional year-end tax credit authorized by the IRS. Using DCAP, you set aside an equal portion of your earnings each pay period, before your federal income and social security taxes are computed. The amounts set aside are then used to reimburse your dependent care expenses. DCAP is offered by the State of Washington and is administered through the UW Benefits Office. Information about DCAP is available on the web at http://www.washington.edu/admin/benefits, or you can contact Benefits at 543-2800, or via email at benefits@u.washington.edu.

For more information about Work/Family Services, call us at 543-6963, or email us at workfam@u.washington.edu. Work/Family Services, is a division of Personnel Services. Visit our web site at http://www.washington.edu/admin/personnel. ¶