To the Case Western Reserve University community,
In late 2022, the university convened the Child Care Working Group to help us evaluate our child care programming and to recommend ways to enhance child care options for parents in our campus community. In partnership with the Child Care Working Group, I am pleased to share that we have implemented the following Child Care Working Group recommendations:
- Launch a Child Care Subsidy Program for faculty staff, postdocs and students. Effective January 1, 2024, the university will now subsidize up to $2,000 per fiscal year to support the cost of childcare for children ages six and under. This program is available to eligible faculty, staff, full-time postdocs and full-time students. Parents must apply annually to receive the subsidy, which will be prorated for the 2024 fiscal year. The subsidy will be based on household adjusted gross income. Applications to the program will be open April 1 through May 15, 2024. Learn more about the subsidy and eligibility criteria for faculty, staff, postdocs and students.
- Expand the Child Care Support During Travel Program. The university’s Child Care Support During Travel Program will now reimburse students and benefits-eligible faculty and staff up to $1,200 per fiscal year for travel-related child care expenses. The program can be used for eligible dependents ages 18 and under. Learn more about the Child Care Support During Travel Program and eligibility criteria.
- Publicize the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff can save up to $5,000 for the reimbursement of expenses incurred for the care of qualifying family members. Learn more about the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account.
- Identify staff members to serve as points of contact for child care-related questions and to assist members of the campus community in identifying programs that meet their needs. We are grateful to the following staff members who have agreed to serve as points of contact:
- Faculty and Staff: Jen D’Amico, Benefits Manager
- Postdocs: Felicia Moss, Director for Postdoctoral Affairs
- Professional and Graduate Students: Jenn Brown, Director for Graduate Student Life
- Undergraduate Students: Allison Gillis, Assistant Dean of Students, Dean of Students Office
- Offer discounts at local child care centers. CWRU has partnered with KinderCare and The Music Settlement to offer additional child care discounts to members of our campus community. Information about a discount at Sweet Kiddles will be shared soon. Learn more about discounts at local child care centers.
- Create a centralized web presence for all child care-related programs. Our new Child Care Programs section can be found on our Human Resources website. It includes information on: our new child care subsidy program; the dependent care flexible spending account; child care support during travel; discounts at local child care facilities; Child Care Working Group members; and child care points of contact.
- Assess child care programs annually. Moving forward, we will evaluate our programs each year to ensure they are meeting the needs of our campus community.
I am grateful to the co-chairs of this working group—Vice President, Chief of Staff and Strategic Advisor in the Office of the President Katie Brancato, Chief of Staff and Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the Provost Lisa Camp, and Vice President for Human Resources Carolyn Gregory—for their leadership. I also appreciate the time and thoughtfulness of the working group’s members:
- Erika Allen, assistant professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics
- Cassi Pittman Claytor, associate professor, Department of Sociology, and acting co-director of African and African American Studies Minor
- Jennifer Cupar, chair, Faculty Senate’s Committee on Women Faculty; professor of lawyering skills, School of Law; director, Legal Writing, Leadership, Experiential Learning, and Professionalism program
- Anastasia Dimitropoulos, professor, Department of Psychology; director, Schubert Center for Child Studies
- Ray Krajci, chair, Staff Advisory Council; operations engineering manager, Sears think[box]
- Sonia Minnes, Verna Houck Motto Professor, Mandel School; research director, Schubert Center for Child Studies
- Rachel Mulheren, assistant professor, Department of Psychological Sciences
In addition, we are grateful to University Marketing and Communications for developing and designing a Child Care Programs website that is more user friendly and easier to navigate.
I encourage you to review all of the information on our new website to familiarize yourself with our programs and eligibility requirements. If you have any questions, please reach out to your appropriate point of contact.
Sincerely,
Eric W. Kaler
President