About Us
Our Mission
The Office of Child Care and Family Resources (OCCFR) strengthens UW–Madison by expanding access to high-quality child care and education programs, providing family support, and administering the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (CCTAP) for parenting students. By supporting faculty, staff, and students as they balance work, academics, and family life, OCCFR fosters a thriving campus community, enhances productivity, and improves recruitment and retention.
Our Vision
We envision a campus where all UW families have access to affordable, high-quality child care and parenting support that empowers them to succeed academically and professionally.
Our Impact
185%
Increase in enrollment capacity within the UW–Madison Child Care & Education System since 2015
958
Hours of discounted, back-up child care used by UW–Madison students and employees through KidsKare
153
UW–Madison students received hands-on teaching and learning experience at campus child care centers
Core Beliefs
We believe that a family-friendly campus is essential to the success and well-being of all UW families. By recognizing their unique responsibilities and contributions, we are committed to strong support systems, including access to high-quality, affordable child care and education programs.
Commitment
We strive to foster a welcoming and supportive environment where every family feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive, enabling them to achieve their academic and professional goals.
Respect
We believe in a culture of service leadership where gratitude, kindness, and open communication guide our interactions with everyone we serve.
Collaborations
We believe that working together with campus and community partners yields the most transformative outcomes for families and children.
Future Generations
We believe that high-quality child care has a lasting impact, improving the health and educational outcomes of young children and ensuring a brighter future for their families for generations to come.
“Life as graduate students has been far less burdensome because of OCCFR’s kindness and understanding. We are deeply grateful. CCTAP has become more than a support program—it has become part of our family.”
What We Do
At the Office of Child Care and Family Resources, we support parenting students, families, and early childhood educators across University of Wisconsin–Madison. Through financial assistance, family programming, partnerships, advocacy, and investment, we help ensure access to high-quality child care and a more family-friendly campus.
Administer child care tuition assistance programs
We manage a financial assistance program for eligible parenting students: the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (CCTAP). We also coordinate access to KidsKare, a reduced rate back-up child care program open to students, faculty, and staff.
Offer parenting education, events, and family resources
We create opportunities for connection through events like our annual Lil’ Badger Bash and Backpack Giveaway or parent programming like our free parenting classes. We also coordinate other resources like our parent resource newsletter, Badger Buzz, and the Campus Lactation Space Map.
Create access to high-quality early child care
We continuously work to address the need for affordable, high-quality child care by building strategic partnerships with Campus and Network Child Care Centers, as well as family child care providers, which together make up the UW–Madison Child Care & Education System.
Support early childhood educator recruitment, retention, and professional development
We support programs within the UW–Madison Child Care & Education System by offering professional development, grants, and funding for national accreditation in order to create access to high-quality and enriching child care. Through student teaching assistant jobs, internships, and research opportunities at our campus centers, we also advance the University’s commitment to teaching and learning while preparing a workforce of future early childhood educators.
Advocate for a parent and family-friendly campus
We are a powerful voice for UW parents and families. We chair the University Child Care Committee, made up of campus leadership, faculty, staff, and students to address the ever-pressing needs of early childhood care and education, in order to build access to high-quality care so UW families can thrive academically and professionally.
Grow investments for campus child care and early childhood educators
We steward your generous gifts, which help children thrive in top-notch learning environments, ensure that struggling parenting students stay on the path to degree completion, and empower our early educators to achieve their vast potential.