Here's everything you need to know about taking time off work, enrolling your new child in benefits, and resources to help you take care of yourself and your new bundle of joy.

• Talk to your department head or manager and your personnel administrator about Family Medical Leave for prenatal care or the placement of a child for foster care or adoption.  If you are giving birth, remember to submit your request to use any paid leave and/or file a claim for short-term disability through VSDP. Learn more about family medical leave here.

• Carefully check with your benefits programs offered in support of pregnant women, new parents through birth or adoption, and baby benefits. 

• If you are adopting, there are a number of resources available online or through the National Council for Adoption. For information, visit http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/  or talk with the agency handling your home study.

• Start researching child care. Talk with friends and neighbors about the centers they use. Make a list of centers to visit. E-mail worklife@vcu.edu for assistance in locating child care providers in your area.

• Also start looking for pediatricians. Talk with friends and neighbors for suggestions. Visit and interview pediatricians. Check your health plan to be sure that the pediatrician participates with VCU health plan providers. Also visit VCU Health to search for pediatricians and other health doctors at https://www.vcuhealth.org/find-a-provider/find-a-provider

• Schedule childbirth classes. Many area hospitals offer these classes as a free service. Check the hospital your doctor uses to see if classes are available.

• A good way to keep in shape is through pregnancy exercises and yoga classes. VCU offers employee discounts to yoga and area fitness centers.

• The Employee Assistance Programs have a wealth of information for new parents including a homecoming checklist, advice for new Moms, a baby wish list, an article about breast feeding and returning to work, budgeting for new parents, and information for those wanting to adopt including "Selecting an Adoption Agency," family and parenting issues for adoptive parents, and legal and financial issues in adoption. There is also an online search for child care services. Take advantage of these resources by visiting your health plan's Employee Assistance site.

• Before you bring your baby home, learn more about child passenger safety. In addition, find a convenient location for a car seat inspection.

• Don't forget that you have 60 days after the birth, adoption, or placement for adoption to add your child to your health plan. A copy of the birth certificate must be provided. This can be done through EmployeeDirect or by completing a paper enrollment form and submitting it to VCU Benefits at PO Box 842511, fax at (804) 827-4728 or e-mail benefits@vcu.edu.

• Consider enrolling in a Health Flexible Spending Account and/or Dependent Care Account Flexible Spending Account.

• Consider the purchase or make changes to your optional life insurance. Having or adopting a baby is a qualifying event for purchasing or making changes, but it must be done within 31 days of the qualifying event.

• Consider updating your beneficiaries. Please return forms to the Virginia Retirement System. Directions are on the form.

• Start a college savings program.  It's never too early. More information is available at http://www.virginia529.com/.

• Got the baby blues? Mood swings after the birth of a baby are not uncommon. It isn't a character flaw or weakness, it's simply a complication of giving birth. Check out CommonHealth resources and videos on stress management through the "Dial It Down" program. If stress lingers, contact the Employee Assistance Program for help. More information is available at your health plan's Employee Assistance site.

• When you return to work, remember VCU promotes a family friendly work environment that includes support of breastfeeding mothers. View a list of on-campus lactation sites.

Also remember, Work/Life resources is available to help. Please contact worklife@vcu.edu if you have questions or we can help in any way.

Child Care Search

Work/Life Resources can provide assistance in locating child care centers or private providers in the area. For more information, email worklife@vcu.edu.

On-Campus Childcare

VCU Child Development Center
1128 Floyd Ave.
Richmond, VA 23284-2510
(804) 828-7377

VCU Health System Child Care Services
607 N. 10th St.
Richmond, VA 23298
(804) 828-7651

VCU Health System Child Care at VDOT
1201 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-1635 

Off-campus childcare

VCU Health System Child Care at Northside
800 W. Graham Rd.
Richmond, VA  23222
(804) 888-8222

The Learning Experience (TLE): For children 6 weeks to 5 years old (summer, spring and winter programs up to 8 years old). The centers are open year round, Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and only close on seven holidays throughout the year. All VCU employees receive a 10% discount off of regular tuition plus waived extended care fees at all TLE participating centers. For more information, contact one of the centers listed below: 

8710 Park Central Dr.
Richmond, VA  23227
(804) 265-3054

4683 Pouncey Tract Rd.
Glen Allen, VA  23060 
(804) 360-4226 

The Get Well Place

Child sick but you still need to come to work? Sick child care is available at The Get Well Place at Rainbow Station. Visit the center to pay the annual $40 registration fee in advance of using the program. If advance payment is not possible, registration can be made on day of use. Immunization history must be provided.

Interested in becoming a foster parent? For more information, visit:
HopeTree Family Services
Lutheran Family Services

Additional resources

• Care.com
• ChildSavers
• Choosing a child care provider
• DisABILITY Navigator
• Lead with Love: Strengthening Families Through the Coming Out Process
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Parents: The Anti-Drug 
• Resources for Parents in the Workplace
• Sittercity Babysitting

Divorce can present a number of issues that require attention.  This list will help guide you through some of the actions you may need to take:

• If you are carrying your ex-spouse or step-children on your health coverage, you will need to remove them when they lose eligibility. Contact VCU HR at 804-828-0177 for instructions and forms needed to complete this step.
• You may be considering changes to your beneficiary designations. To update your life insurance beneficiaries, complete the [FORM] and to update beneficiaries for TIAA or Fidelity Investments accounts, make changes online at tiaa.org/vcu or www.netbenefits.com/vcu. To do this, please complete the Deisgnation of Beneficiary form available at https://www.varetire.org/pdf/forms/vrs-2.pdf 
• If you participate in a COVA Health Plan, you have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for yourself and your family members. The EAP provides helpful resources and access to counseling visits at no cost.  Anthem participants may login at anthemeap.com with employer name Commonwealth of Virginia and Aetna participants may log in at www.mylifevalues.com with username and password COVA. 
• The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides access to free legal consultations and ongoing discounts for the services of network attorneys. Contact your EAP for details.  The EAP web sites also provide templates for certain legal documents, including wills and health care directives.
• Make use of VCU’s relocation resources if needed to locate a new residence or secure discounts for home financing. You can find more information at https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/moving-and-relocation/ 
• Contact your financial institutions for information about how to change account names as needed.
• Contact the Social Security Administration for information regarding how divorce may affect your future benefits, or to obtain a new Social Security card if you make a legal name change.

Intimate Partner Violence Crisis Fund

The VCU Division of Trauma, Injury and Violence Prevention Program, Forensic Nursing, Department of Care Coordination and Institute for Women's Health have established a crisis fund that provides monetary assistance and community resources to persons experiencing a domestic or sexual violence crisis.

Funds assist VCU or VCU Health System employees and their children in increasing their safety and becoming more independent and in helping them connect to community resources and services. For more information, visit the VCU Institute for Women's Health website or contact Jean Cheek at jcheek@mcvh-vcu.edu.

Resources for domestic and sexual violence prevention

For free, confidential assistance, 24 hours a day, please call the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Virginia Hotline at (800) 838-8238.

• Title IX
• Signs of Abuse and Abusive Relationships-HelpGuide.org
• VCU Institute for Women's Health
• VCU Police (Rape Aggression Defense Classes)
• VCU Wellness Resource Center
• Richmond YWCA
• Safe Harbor
• Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance

Adult day care center on the MCV Campus. This facility is open to dependents of VCU faculty, staff and students. The program is designed for older adults who need socialization and supervision during the day. For more information, contact Dee Caras at dcaras@mcvh-vcu.edu or (804) 828-8027.

Taking care of a parent or spouse? You are not alone. VCU has partnered with Senior Connections and other organizations in the Richmond community to offer assistance. Contact worklife@vcu.edu for more information. 

The Disability Navigator website is designed to meet a wide range of concerns unique to the disability community, features thousands of programs and services as well as hundreds of educational articles.

Senior Services

In Richmond

• Door to Door Solutions
  Owner: Katie Hamann
  Phone: (804) 261-4124
• Family Care Services - Adult Day Care
  VCU Health System
  Phone: (804) 828-8027
• MoveMyMom LLC
  Phone: (804) 338-2647

In Virginia

• A First Class Move (Falls Church)
• Busy Buddies, Inc. (Springfield)

In the U.S.

• National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) 

Eldercare resources

• Aging:
  • Aging with Dignity
  • Virginia Center on Aging
• Alzheimer's:
  • National Alzheimer’s Association 
  • Richmond Area Alzheimer’s Association, including support group meeting schedule and caregiver workshops
• Family Caregiver Alliance
• Protecting Seniors from Online Scams
• Retirement planning resources 
• SeniorAdvisor.com
• SeniorNet
• ShirleyBoard, an online community for people caring for aging loved ones

Dealing with a family addiction issue? VCU and local providers offer quality education and support to families of people struggling with substance use disorders.  The sessions titled "Why Can't They Just Stop? Education for Families of People Who Struggle with Addiction" are held every Thursday from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Northstar Community, 563 Southlake Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23236. No registration is required.  For more information, contact Thomas Bannard at recovery@vcu.edu or at (804) 366-8027.

Getting married? Congratulations. Here's some resources to help you with planning a wedding or honeymoon, and addressing issues related to your benefits, etc.

• Visit the knot website at https://www.theknot.com/ (or similar sites) for local wedding vendors, checklists, a personalized wedding plan based on your budget, guest list manager, registries, etc. There's a wealth of information online to help you in planning your special day.

• Carefully check your health insurance plan's Employee Assistance program for information and services related to real estate, legal services, financial tools, renter's rights, etc. There's also a wedding countdown checklist for handling wedding details.

• Need wedding bands or planning a wedding or honeymoon? Check out VCU's discounts on jewelry, airport parking, auto rental, hotels, and other travel resources.

• Where to get a marriage license? A license is issued by the clerk of the circuit court in any county or city in the Commonwealth. Marriage licenses issued in Virginia are for marriages performed in Virginia only. You will need to present a valid photo ID and a certified copy of your birth certificate. The marriage must be performed within 60 days after the license is issued.

• Be sure to review and compare health benefits. Decide if you'll be enrolling your spouse on your health plan or if you'll drop your benefits to enroll with your spouse. To add your spouse to your VCU plan, your marriage must be recognized in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the employee must include a photocopy of a certified or registered marriage certificate. The Health Benefits Enrollment Form, found on the forms page, must be submitted within 60 days of the marriage.

• Will you go on your spouse's insurance? If you drop your medical insurance to go on your spouse's plan and your spouse loses his or her job, that is considered a qualifying event, and you can reenroll within 60 days of the qualifying event.

• Looking for a new home? Check out VCU's relocation resources with two local real estate firms who will be glad to assist you in purchasing or renting a new home.

• Consider whether to participate in Flexible Spending Accounts, or if already participating, whether you need to increase or decrease your contributions to cover your spouse's uncovered health and dental expenses with tax free dollars. If you are gaining a dependent, you may want to begin a Dependent Care Account to pay for day care or other allowed expenses.

• Consider changing your tax withholding. It's a fact that getting married will affect the amount of taxes you pay. The primary determining factor of your tax status is whether you are a one or two-income couple. You may wish to consult with a financial counselor to discuss your situation. If you decide to change your tax withholding, completed forms should be returned to the Payroll Office at PO Box 842511 or at payroll@vcu.edu (see Payroll forms on the Forms page).

• Consider the purchase or make changes to your optional life insurance. Getting married is a qualifying event for purchasing or making changes, but it must be done within 31 days of the qualifying event.

• Update your beneficiaries. Please return forms to the Virginia Retirement System. Directions are on the form.

• If you change your name, first contact the Social Security Administration to change your name on your social security records. Your name on your payroll records must match the name on your social security card. Please provide Human Resources with a copy of your new social security card and an updated Personal Data Form.  Fax the form AND a copy of the Social Security card with your new legal name to HR at (804) 837-8250 or email to hrdocs@vcu.edu. (Use the Personal Data Form under Employment forms on the Forms page)

• A new address and emergency contact can be changed on the Personal Data Form or on eservices/VCU Self Service.

Also remember, Work/Life resources is available to help you and your family to achieve meaningful work/life balance. Please contact worklife@vcu.edu if you have questions or ways we can help.

Grief may be experienced in response to physical losses, such as death, or in response to symbolic or social losses such as divorce or loss of a job.  The grief experience can be affected by one’s history and support system. Taking care of yourself and accessing the support of friends and family can help you cope with your grief experience.

There is no right way to grieve. It is an individual process and a natural part of life. Life won’t be the same after a loss, but experiencing your grief will allow you to adjust to life after loss.

Grief lasts as long as it takes to adjust to the changes in your life after your loss. It can be for months, or even years. Grief has no timetable; thoughts, emotions, behaviors and other responses may come and go.

This list will help guide you through some of the actions you may need to take and provide resources:

• Contact the Social Security Administration for information regarding how death of a spouse or loved one may affect your future benefits.
• You may need to update your beneficiary designations. To update your life insurance beneficiaries, complete the [FORM] and to update beneficiaries for TIAA or Fidelity Investments accounts, make changes online at tiaa.org/vcu or www.netbenefits.com/vcu. You can also contact VCU HR at 804-828-0177 for more information.
• If you were carrying someone who passed away on your health care, you will need to remove them. 
• If you had optional life insurance, please contact VCU HR at 804-828-0177 for assistance on how to submit a claim for the life insurance.
• If you participate in a COVA Health Plan, you have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for yourself and your family members. The EAP provides helpful resources and access to counseling visits at no cost.  Anthem participants may login at anthemeap.com with employer name Commonwealth of Virginia and Aetna participants may log in at www.mylifevalues.com with username and password COVA. 
• The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides access to free legal consultations and ongoing discounts for the services of network attorneys. Contact your EAP for details.  The EAP web sites also provide templates for certain legal documents, including wills and health care directives.
• The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides numerous articles, on demand webinars, and workshops. You can find these under the Aging tab as well as doing a keyword search on “death”
• Make use of VCU’s relocation resources if needed to locate a new residence or secure discounts for home financing. You can find more information at https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/moving-and-relocation/ 
• Contact your financial institutions for information about how to change account names as needed.
• Some additional helpful resources are located on the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization website nhpco.org and http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3367
• Help Guide – Coping with Grief and Loss https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm/

Lactation rooms

Are you a new mom seeking a comfortable, serene place to breast-feed your little one or pump in privacy? VCU offers lactation rooms on the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV Campus.

Monroe Park Campus

James Branch Cabell Library

901 Park Ave.

Richmond, VA 23284-2033

Room Locations: 4th Floor and Basement

Pump available? Yes, Medela Symphony

Hours: Open when library is open.  See website for hours.

Access: See Information Desk Staff in the Lobby on 1st Floor for access code

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

School of Business, Snead Hall

301 West Main Street

Richmond, VA 23284

Room Locations: B4219

Pump available? No

Access: Email roommgr@vcu.edu for temporary or long-term access. 

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

MCV Campus

VCU Medical Center Main Hospital

1250 E. Marshall Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Room Location: 4th floor, room 507

Pump available? Yes, Medela Symphony

Hours: 24 / 7

Access: Visitors must register at VCU Medical Center Gateway Building concierge, 1200 E. Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23219.  Concierge will give a temporary code.

VCU Health and VCU Team members must register with their work ID at HR4U.

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

VCU Medical Center Main Hospital

1250 E. Marshall Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Room Location: 6th floor, Labor & Delivery Unit

Pump available? Yes, Medela Symphony

Hours: 24 / 7

Access: Check in with L&D Unit front desk receptionist

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? No, VCU and VCUHS team members only

VCUHS Department of Human Resources

701 E. Franklin Street, 9th floor

7th and Franklin Building

Richmond, VA  23298-0066

Room Location: 9th Floor

Pump available? Yes, Medela Symphony

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday

Access: See HR receptionist to gain access, 804-628-4748

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? No VCUHS and VCU only

Nelson Clinic

401 N. 11th Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Room Location: 6th Floor, Room 601

Pump available? Yes, Medela Symphony

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday

Access: See Women’s Health front desk staff on 6th floor for door code

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

VCU Health Education and Professional Development

Nelson Clinic

2nd Floor

401 N. 11th Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Room Location: 2nd Floor

Pump available? No

Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday - Friday

Access: Check in with receptionist

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? No, VCU and VCUHS team members only

Sadie Heath Cabaniss Hall

VCU School of Nursing

1100 E. Leigh St.

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Room Location: 3rd Floor

Pump available? Yes, Medela Symphony

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday

Access: Check in at front desk on the 1st floor to get the key

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

Sanger Hall

1101 E. Marshall St.

Richmond, VA 23219

Room Location: Basement, Room B1033B

Pump available? No

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday

Access: Check in with the front desk receptionist

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Children's Pavilion

1000 East Broad Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Room Locations: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Floors

Pump available? Yes, Medela Symphony

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday

Access: Check in with front desk receptionist on each floor

Open to Employees, patients and visitors?  Yes

Other Locations

VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital

1755 North Mecklenburg Avenue

South Hill, Virginia 23970

Room Location: 2nd Floor

Pump available? No, but one can be borrowed from the Garland Birthing Center

Hours: 24/7

Access: See Visitors Desk receptionist

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

VCU Health Stony Point 9000

9000 Stony Point Parkway

Richmond, VA 23235

Room Location: 1st Floor, Women’s Health

Pump available? No

Hours: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday

Access: Check in at Women’s Health front desk on the 1st Floor

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

Family Care Center

607 N. 10th St.

Richmond, VA 23219

Room Location: Ask front desk receptionist

Pump available? Yes, Medela Symphony

Hours: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm

Access: Ring doorbell to unlock door, check in with front desk receptionist

Open to Employees, patients and visitors? Yes

*Locations in bold indicate for VCU and VCUHS team members only.

Looking for summer day camps for the kids? VCU has programs to keep your vacationing children happy, active and creative this summer.  For information, click on the link below.

VCU Summer Youth Programs

Also available to employees is Camp Kesem--a free camp run by VCU student volunteers to provide year long support services to children affected by a parent's cancer. This year's summer camp will be held at Camp Bethel in Fincastle, Virginia from August 4 to August 10, 2019

Still looking for camps?  Please try one of the links below for summer programs for youth in the city and surrounding counties.

Richmond Parks and Recreation 

Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation

Hanover County Parks and Recreation

Henrico County Parks and Recreation

New Kent County Parks and Recreation

Or check out the below list for camps from Richmond Family Magazine or ACA-accredited camps throughout the United States.

Area Summer Camps

This listing from Richmond Family Magazine offers a comprehensive resource for day and sleep-away camps in the local area for all ages and interests.

American Camp Association (ACA)

This listing includes a searchable database of ACA-accredited camps throughout the United States.