Becoming a New Parent

Texas State University supports families and is pleased to offer a variety of family-friendly services and resources to assist employee Bobcats when you welcome a new child into your family - through birth, adoption or foster care placement.

We understand that families are unique and therefore have different needs. When planning for a new child, we recommend contacting an HR benefits representative at 5.2557 or hr@txstate.edu to discuss leave and benefits information and find the right support to meet your family's needs.

Leave, Benefits and Resources

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Time Away from Work
- Using Short-Term Disability Insurance
  
  Texas Income Protection Plan (TIPP) offers short-term and long-term disability coverage. More information is available on the TIPP website.
  
  For questions about using short-term disability for parental leave, please contact the HR Benefits team with questions at 5.2557 or hr@txstate.edu.
- Requesting & Taking Parental Leave
  
  The following information and more details can be found in the University Leave Policy (UPPS 04.04.30)
  
  Eligibility: Employees with less than a total of 12 months of State of Texas service or who have worked less than 1,250 hours in the 12 months immediately preceding the start of leave may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid parental leave for the birth of a child or the adoption or foster care placement with the employee of a child under three years of age.
  
  Requesting Leave: The employee’s department head must receive the written request for parental leave, along with a corroborating statement from a doctor (if applicable) on an Application for Leave Approval form. The department head will forward the request for approval to Human Resources for processing.
- What is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? How does it apply to me?
  
  Care for your loved one may be applicable for FMLA. The following information and much more can be found in the University Leave Policy (UPPS 04.04.30).
  
  Please contact the Office of Human Resources with questions regarding FMLA by calling 5.2557 or emailing hr@txstate.edu.
Benefits Consideration
- Do my benefits change while I'm on leave?
  
  Contact the HR Benefits team with questions at 5.2557 or hr@txstate.edu.
- Enrolling My Child in Benefits
  
  Adoption, becoming a foster parent and child birth are qualifying life events in terms of your benefits. Through the ERS website, you may add a newly acquired or newly eligible dependent within 31 days of the date the dependent became eligible for coverage.
  
  For more information, visit the ERS website. Contact the HR Benefits team with questions at 5.2557 or hr@txstate.edu.
Mother-Friendly Worksite
- What does it mean to be mother-friendly?
  
  Texas State is proud to provide educational resources, break time and special rooms in buildings across campus for nursing mothers.
  
  We are one of the few public Texas universities to be designated a Mother-Friendly Worksite and offer accommodations across our campus.
- Guidelines to Access and Use Nursing Rooms
  
  Texas State University provides comfortable and private nursing rooms for mothers available for all faculty and staff. Read more about the guidelines to access and use the nursing rooms.
  
  Renovated rooms and supplies are made possible through a grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services as part of a Mother-Friendly Policy Initiative.
- Nursing Room Locations
  - Locate nursing mother rooms at the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses, using the the Texas State interactive map
  - Learn more about Room Details and Contacts
- Mother-Friendly Worksite & Other Supporting Policies
  Read the official Mother-Friendly Worksite Policy (04.04.61)
  
  The Texas Health and Safety Code §165.003 recognizes that a mother is entitled to breastfeed her baby in any location.
  
  Acknowledging the health benefits that breastfeeding offers to both newborns and their mothers, Congress amended the Fair Labor Standards Act requiring that employers provide breastfeeding mothers with “reasonable break time” and private space to express breast milk during the work day.
  
  Other helpful policies:
  - Faculty Workload AA/PPS No. 04.01.40 | Emergency/Work Life Workload Adjustment (section 6.14)
  - Tenure and Promotion Review AA/PPS No. 04.02.20 (8.10) | Tenure-track faculty may request suspension of the tenure clock (Section 03.01 g)
- Gift for the New Mom, from Work Life
  
  New moms and moms-to-be may pickup a free gift in the Human Resources Benefits office (JCK 360), which includes a portable Medela cool ‘N carry milk insulated storage tote for proper storage and an educational book on breastfeeding (while supplies last). Dads can also pick up a gift for their spouse.
- Health Insurance Coverage of Breast Pump Supplies
  As a HealthSelect of Texas member, breast pumps and certain breast pump supplies are covered under the plan if they are purchased within the duration of breastfeeding, as listed in the HealthSelect of Texas – Master Benefit Plan Document. Access the Master Benefit Plan Document and scroll to the section of Preventative Care Services, Breastfeeding Support, Services and Supplies.
  
  The following breast pump supplies are covered by the plan:
  - Tubing for breast pump, replacement, spare membranes, replacements
  - Adapter for breast pump, replacement
  - Cap for breast pump bottle, replacement
  - Breast shield and splash protector for use with breast pump, replacement
  - Polycarbonate bottle for use with breast pump, replacement
  - Locking ring for breast pump, replacement
  For a list of Durable Medical Equipment network providers that supply breastfeeding items, contact a Personal Health Assistant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) at toll-free 800.252.8039, or via secure chat and secure messaging after logging into Blue Access for MembersSM.
  
  As with any benefit, verify covered benefits by the plan for any changes with a Personal Health Assistant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX).
Additional Support Resources
- Child Care
  
  Visit Texas State's Child Development Center for information about on-site child care programs.
- Tips for New Fathers
  Below are resources that new dads may find helpful:
  - Just for Dad brochure
  - New Dad brochure
- Bobcat Balance: Employee Assistance Program
  
  Bobcat Balance is your work life and employee assistance program. Our program provides various free and confidential services and resources to help you through life experiences, including resource information on: child care, counseling, financial planning, legal issues (such as will creation), and much more.
- Learn about University Family-Friendly Policies
  Miscellaneous HR Policies (04.04.01)
  - Flex-Time (Section 03.03)
  - Telecommuting (Section 05.02)
  Mother-Friendly Worksite Policy (04.04.61)
  
  University Leave Policy (04.04.30)
  - Parental Leave (Section 06)
  - Children Educational Activities (Section 04)
  - Federal Family & Medical Leave Procedures (Section 07)
  - Sick Leave (Section 04)
  - Foster Parent (Section 10)
- Saving for College
  - Texas Tuition Promise Fund
  - Texas College Savings Plan
  Plan representative contact – Maricela Arce, 512.463.7570 Maricela.Arce@cpa.texas.gov