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Family Support Solutions

The NIH values family life. We want to make sure that you know about of all the resources available to you.  Scroll this page to find out more!
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NIH Back-up Care Program
Offers NIH Federal employees access to child and adult/elder back-up care when they need to be at work and their regular care is unavailable. The NIH Community has access to the following back-up care programs:  center-based child care, in-home child care, in-home mildly ill child care, in-home adult/elder care, and self-care.  For more information about this program and how to register, click here.
NIH Sponsored
Child Care Centers
The NIH recognizes the important role high quality, affordable and accessible child care plays in the lives of NIH employees.  Each of the NIH sponsored centers, is held to the highest standards of quality and must comply with Maryland Child Care Licensing Standards as well as maintaining accredidation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).   To learn more about the centers, click here.
NIH Parents LISTSERV
NIH Parenting Listserv is an interactive e-mail list, with more than 1,500 members, managed through the NIH LISTSERV, it makes it easy for you to request and share information about child care and parenting issues with other NIH parents.  For more information and how to subscribe, click here.
Ask the Parenting Coach
The NIH Parent Coach can help you navigate the stages of childhood and parenthood.  Receive guidance and answers to your specific questions on physical, social, mental and emotional matters, within 48 hours.  This service is free to the NIH community and their spouses.  To contact the NIH Parent Coach, email your questions to: nihparentingcoach@adventisthealthcare.com
Lunch and Learn Seminars

Parenting/Adult Dependent CareSeminars cover parenting issues from infancy to adolesence as well as adult/elder dependent care issues from the emotional impact of caring for an adult dependent to legal issues.You can print out the handouts to follow along with presenter(s) and take notes.  To view the various topics available, please click here.

 
Parental Leave 
This Office of Human Resources guide provides an overview of the resources available to employees for pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, surrogacy, and foster care purposes. Click here to download a copy.
 
Nursing Mothers Program

The NIH Nursing Mothers Program (formerly kknown as the lactation program) provides services that address many of the concerns that current and future mothers have.  The program provides emotional support and worksite assistance nursing mothers need to make the return to work less stressful. 

  • Prenatal breast feeding education classes taught at various locations on campus
  • Telephone support while on maternity leave, providing advice and problem solving during the first critical weeks;
  • Return to work consultation; and
  • mps.

For more information and to find lactation rooms click here.

 
Caring for a Sick Child
It can be hard to concentrate on your job when dealing with a sick child, parent, or other family member.  However, there are many resources to help you deal with both the emotional and logistical challenges.  In addition to the NIH Back-up Care Program, the NIH Voluntary Leave Bank, and the NIH Child and Adult/Elder Care Resource Referral Service, the resources below provide additional information and support.

 

  
Child Care Subsidy Program
Federal Employees of the NIH may be eligible to receive a child care tuition subsidy if their children are enrolled in licensed child care programs and their total adjusted household income is $75,000 or less per year. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, click here.
NIH Child Resource and Referral Service
The NIH community has free, unlimited access to a Work/life Specialist, who can help you assess your parent/caregiving role and support you by providing a range of resources and referrals for children and adults. This highly personalized professional service is available by calling
1-800-777-1720 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. For more information on this program, click here.
Legal & Financial Resources
Legal Consultation
 
  • Free, 30-minute telephone or in person consultation with an attorney
  • Referral to a local attorney
  • Discounted services available
  • 24 hour emergency services
Topics include:
  • Civil/Consumer Issues
  • Personal/Family
  • Real Estate
  • Criminal Matters
  • Estate Planning
Financial Consultation
  • Free, 30-minute telephone consultation with a financial professional
  • Local refferrals and discounts available for complex issues
  • Seasoned financial professionals and CPA's
Topics include:
  • Tax/IRS
  • Budgeting
  • Credit
  • Debt
  • Retirement/401(k)
  • College Funding
  • Social Security/Medicare
  • Mortgages/Refinancing
Identity Theft Protection
  • 30-minute free consulation with a highly trained Fraud Resolution Specialist
  • Assists members with restoring their identity and good credit
  • Provides members with a free "ID Theft Emergency Response Kit" 
  • Administers the costly steps to dispute fraudulent debts as a result of ID theft
  • Follow-up with the member and monitor the Fraud Resolution progress
Resources Are Only a Call Away!
1-800-777-1720
Need to Care for Yourself or a Family Member But Don't Have Enough Leave?
Medical conditions can happen at any time, without any notice, and can require hundreds of hours of leave.  The NIH Voluntary Leave Bank is like an insurance policy for your income and your stress level, in case you find yourself in an unexpected personal or family medical care situation with not enough earned leave.
 
NIH Federal civilian employees may become members of the NIH Leave Bank during Open Enrollment periods or within 60 days of their Enter-on-Duty date. To join, the employee simply makes a one time contribution (through ITAS) of one pay period of annual leave (i.e. 4, 6, or 8 hours depending on your leave category).  Then for that entire leave year, if you exhaust your own paid leave for a medical emergency and need more, you can request to draw leave from the Bank.  Recipients must meet eligibility requirements and be approved by the Leave Bank Board.
 
Unlike the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program, which continues to operate also, with the Leave Bank there’s no waiting period and all personal information remains confidential.
 
Leave Bank FAQs, important dates, and other key information are all online through the Leave Bank web page, including contact information by phone or email.
NIH Workforce Eligibility Matrix
In a joint venture the office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Women's Employment Committee and Ofice of Human Resources (OHR) created the Workforce Eligibility Matrix.  The Matrix is a tool designed to assist the NIH Workforce in identifying available resources. For additional information on the matrix go here.