Adding a child to your family (due to birth, adoption, legal guardianship, etc.) may create an event in which you can enroll your child in your current benefits plans. More information about the eligible events may be found at the following links:

• Birth & Adoption
• Legal Guardianship

Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions families make. Here is a resource that may be helpful to families as they look for new care: Child Care Resource and Referral for Families.

In addition, the university’s Employee Assistance Program offers the following:

WorkLife Consultation and Referral Services –WorkLife Services assists parents with childcare needs. Employees should contact (833) 539-7285 to speak with a consultant. A WorkLife consultant can help identify the resources that best meet your needs and match your criteria.

Employees may choose to enroll in the Dependent Day Care Flex Spending Account to put away money pre-tax for childcare costs or costs related to other dependent care.

There are highly rated childcare options in the Oshkosh community.  Parents and guardians can search the Youngstar child care quality rating toolkit for additional options.

UW Oshkosh is required by the Fair Labor Standards Act to provide “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk.”  UW Oshkosh is also required to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.”  The Gender Equity Council has a list of lactation spaces on campus that are currently available to employees and students.  This list is often updated; if you notice any issues with current lactation spaces, or if you are in need of additional space, please contact the Gender Equity Council.   Discrimination or retaliation against lactating parents is a violation of federal law.

See this Fact Sheet for more information about your rights. Employee health insurance providers are required by the Affordable Care Act to cover the cost of a breast pump and lactation support services.  The Birthing Center at Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh includes certified lactation consultant support services.  The Breastfeeding Alliance of Northeast Wisconsin also has a list of lactation resources in the Fox Valley.  The UW Oshkosh Children’s Learning and Care Center is a breastfeeding-friendly childcare provider.  The center has a lactation room on-site and the staff in the infant rooms work with nursing parents to cater to their baby’s individual needs.