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Family Friendly Fund

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The Family Friendly Fund was created by the new article, Caregivers Recognition and Support (Article 33) in the collective bargaining agreement. Reimbursements are available to cover expenses related to caregiving needs in two categories:

(1) “To mitigate the impacts of University travel, professional development, and other work-related activities.” Most commonly, these are costs associated with minors who must accompany a member attending a conference or conducting fieldwork, but they also include the costs of additional dependent care at home necessitated by the member’s professional travel.
 
(2) “To offset costs for those members with ongoing caregiving responsibilities that occasionally or unexpectedly interfere with work demands.” Such expenses may arise when a member is asked to assist with a university event in the evening or on the weekend, or when a member’s usual caregiving arrangements are disrupted (e.g., a daycare closure) and work responsibilities require alternative arrangements at additional cost.

Thanks to our 2025-2028 contract, the definition of “Ongoing Care” has expanded. You can apply for:

  • Recurring Care: Subsidies for regular, monthly childcare or eldercare expenses.
  • Professional Impacts: Care costs while traveling for fieldwork, conferences, or workshops.
  • Unexpected Needs: Emergency care for illness, school closures, or sudden schedule changes.

What is Covered?

This fund supports care for all types of families of all kinds. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • The cost of care or travel for a dependent child or elderly family member so the member can attend a conference, professional development workshop, or conduct research.
  • Boarding or sitting for a household companion necessitated by professional travel or work attendance.
  • Emergency care costs related to illness of a dependent.
  • Additional care costs related to school, child, or eldercare closures (e.g., daycare closure  or adult day programs).
  • Costs to cover care while assisting with a University event in the evening or on the weekend.
  • Child care costs related to regular work schedule.

This list is not exhaustive, and other work-related caregiving expenses will also be considered.

Eligibility & Deadlines

  • Eligibility: Must be a PSU AAUP Employee and a caregiver (child, elder, household companion, etc…).
  • Quarterly Evaluation: Applications are reviewed after each deadline. If requests exceed available funds, the committee prioritizes them based on financial hardship and the impact on work.
  • Deadlines for final submission requests are as follows: October 1st (Summer Term) | December 1st (Fall Term) | March 1st (Winter Term) | May 1st (Spring Term)

If you are unsure about the eligibility of an expense, please submit a request for review.

How to apply:

To apply for these funds, simply complete this Family Friendly Fund application form and attach your receipts.

You may now use this form for both Pre-Approval or Final Reimbursement.

  1. Request Pre-Approval (Before you spend): If you are planning an upcoming activity and want to ensure eligibility, submit this form with an estimated cost. The committee will provide a “Conditional Approval” so you can plan with financial peace of mind. You will return to this form later to submit final receipts.
  2. Request Final Reimbursement (After you spend): If you have already incurred the expense, submit this form with your itemized receipts for processing.

Important Note on Payments: All funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis through PSU Payroll. Even if pre-approved, you must submit final receipts after the event to receive payment. These are taxable benefitsand are considered income. You can use both an FSA and this fund, but not for the same receipt. Use the Family-Friendly Fund to cover what your FSA doesn’t!

Additional Information:

There is no limit on the number of times members can apply for funds each year; however, the committee will only consider expenses incurred within the two academic terms immediately preceding the application deadline. If requests for funding exceed the allocated funds, the PSU AAUP Family-Friendly Fund Committee will make decisions about how many requests to fund and with what amount. 

Read our full contract language here: 

Article 33. Section 5

(a) There is established a fund, the Family Friendly Fund, to support members of the AAUP with caregiving needs. Monies in this fund may be allocated to mitigate the impacts of University travel, professional development, and other workrelated activities. Monies in this fund may also be available to offset costs for those members with ongoing caregiving responsibilities. Members may apply to use the fund one or more times under a process established by AAUP with OAA, and with AAUP approving individual applications for use of the funds (subject to University processes such as payroll, etc.). Monies distributed to the employee are subject to taxation. Any unused portion of the Family Friendly Fund will be rolled over to the next fiscal year.

  • For fiscal year 2024-2025, the University allocated $175,000 for the Family Friendly Fund.
  • For fiscal year 2025-2026, the University will allocate $175,000 for the Family Friendly Fund.
  • For fiscal year 2026-2027, the University will allocate $175,000 for the Family Friendly Fund.
  • For fiscal year 2027-2028, the University will allocate $175,000 for the Family Friendly Fund.

Questions? Email us at aaup@psuaaup.net