The Office of Child Care & Family Resources supports University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty and staff families through the following programs and resources (please note, UW-Hospital employees are not eligible for these services):
- Priority Child Care Enrollment Access: All UW-Madison families receive priority enrollment access at our UW Campus and Network Centers, as well as with 60+ accredited family child care providers.
- Parenting Classes & Education: Our parenting classes, including workshops, an infant playgroup, online modules, and free 1:1 parenting consultations with Dr. Laura Froyen, are open to faculty/staff (and spouses/partners).
- Lactation Room Map: We maintain a campus lactation room map, and fund furniture and amenities for new lactation rooms.
- Parent Support Listserv: All UW families are welcome to subscribe to our Parent Support listserv, which includes our monthly Badger Buzz newsletter.
- Parent Resource Specialist: Our Parent Resource Specialist is available to answers questions and share resources with UW families.
- More Family Resources: Explore more resources related to housing, transportation, food and basic needs, healthcare and mental health, reporting, and emergency assistance.
For questions about UW benefits, (paid parental leave, unpaid FMLA, dependent care FSA, etc.) please connect with the HR Contact for your division, school, or college. For free, confidential counseling and consultation for life transitions, physical or emotional health issues, and relationship challenges, please reach out to the Employee Assistance Office.
Financial Assistance
KidsKare Program (Hourly/Back-up Child Care)
The KidsKare program makes backup care affordable for UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff by offering reduced rate ($5/hour) backup/hourly child care at Little Chicks Academy Child Care Center. Faculty and staff can receive 30 hours each fall and spring semester.
University Staff Child Care Grant
This is a one-time grant for University (formerly Classified) staff. Priority is given to lower income employees with infants (0-2 years-old) and to families dealing with an unexpected life event that affects the family's ability to cover child care.
State/County Child Care Funding
There are several child care financial assistance programs available through the city of Madison and the State of Wisconsin. Visit this page to learn more about these non-UW financial assistance options for child care.
UW Benefits
UW Paid Parental Leave Policy
UW–Madison will be implementing a new policy to provide eligible employees with up to six weeks (240 hours) of paid parental leave within a 12-month period for the birth or adoption of a child, effective July 1, 2024.
Family & Medical Leave
Learn about your rights to take job-protected leave with continued medical benefits when you need time off from work to care for yourself or a family member who is seriously ill, to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, or to attend to the affairs of a family member who is called to active duty in the military.
Dependent Care FSA
Most faculty and staff are eligible to sign up for a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account to use money taken pre-tax from monthly income to pay for dependent care. Sign up for this benefit during Open Enrollment or by contacting the Human Resources Department.