Finding childcare
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Finding childcare
Use our resources to evaluate options and learn about centers and schools offering benefits to Northwestern employees
Work/Life and Family Resources
What is work/life?
Assistance, advice, connections
Work/life means striving for healthy integration of competing work and personal priorities. Northwestern offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes programs, services and consultations to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities.
View work/life benefits by audience
See the specific benefits available to Northwestern faculty, staff, graduate students and postdocs.
Explore work/life resources
Find services for your family
Whether you are looking for information or resources, or you are new to parenthood or the University, we offer many programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare. We also assist caregivers who are concerned about a senior or adult relative’s immediate needs, are interested in learning about resources or are simply thinking about planning for the future.
Paying for childcare
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Paying for childcare
Take advantage of center-specific fee assistance, reimbursement for back-up care and more
Adoption assistance
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Adoption assistance
Use our Adoption Assistance Reimbursement Program to recoup partial or full adoption expenses
Lactation support
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Lactation support
Learn about using break time for lactation and find the dedicated lactation rooms on both Evanston and Chicago campuses.
Parenting networks
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Parenting networks
Connect with other parents through a variety of local parenting organizations and online groups
Senior & adult care
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Senior & adult care
Find caregiver support, including in-home and backup care assistance, an onsite support group and more
Flexible work arrangements
Northwestern supports flex work arrangements where possible. Options might include flextime, a compressed workweek, telecommuting and job sharing. Learn more about flexible work at Northwestern.
Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a program for faculty and staff, is a network of services, including short-term counseling, to help you and your household family members cope with everyday life issues. Take advantage of EAP services.
Schedule a consultation
Staff from HR are happy to provide one-on-one assistance to Northwestern employees.
New parent consultation
- Learn about the benefits Northwestern offers new parents
- Navigate parental leaves, and returning to work
- Start the conversation about childcare
Flex work consultation
- Understand types of flex work arrangements
- Connect to resources to create a flex work pilot plan with your manager or employee
- Explore tips for building a successful flex arrangement
Caregiver consultation
- Learn about the benefits Northwestern offers senior & adult caregivers
- Connect with support around family care leaves of absence
- Connect you with a senior & adult care advisor, on-site caregivers’ group, and on-site 1:1 support from a senior care specialist
We also provide general consultations about work/life and family resources. These consultations help you understand the resources Northwestern offers to faculty, staff, and students navigating work/life challenges; register for workshops on work/life topics, or schedule one for your school or department; and navigate time and workflow.