Human Resources > Benefits > Work/Life Balance > Caregiving Support

Caregiving Support

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​DePaul offers support for eligible employees who have caregiving responsibilities for children and/or adults.


Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Dependent care expenses can be reimbursed through pre-tax salary deductions by enrolling in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. Eligible expenses can be submitted for dependent children under the age of 13 or for a spouse or other adult dependent who is not able to take care of him or herself.


Bright Horizons

Benefits-eligible full-time and part-time employees have access to caregiving services through Bright Horizons, a nationally known and trusted organization that offers center-based and in-home care for children and adults. For an overview of the Bright Horizons benefit, watch this recorded webinar.

Access your Bright Horizons benefits by visiting clients.brighthorizons.com/depaulYou can also download the Bright Horizons App in the App Store or Google Play.

Questions? Call the Bright Horizons 24/7 contact center at (877) 242-2737. 

Back-Up Care for Children, Adults and Elders

Bright Horizons Back-Up Care™ provides care for your children, adult, and elder family members during a lapse or breakdown in normal care arrangements. Bright Horizons will arrange temporary care for your children or elderly loved ones and you are only responsible for a small copay with each reservation. Watch this 2-minute video to learn more!

Examples of when you can use Back-Up Care:
  • Your child’s school or center is closed for breaks or inclement weather. 
  • You have a change in your work schedule and need care before or after school.
  • Your spouse or partner (or other adult family member) is recovering from an illness or injury and needs assistance.
Bright Horizons can arrange care in high-quality centers for children, or in-home caregivers for children and elders. Care recipients may include infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, teens, and adult and elderly family members.

Benefit Details: Benefits-eligible employees have access to 15 days of Back-Up Care per calendar year. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance.​ Copays are as follows:
  • Center-based copays are $15 for one child/day ($25 max for a family)
  • In-home care is $6 per hour (up to three children)

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about Bright Horizons Back-up Care​​​​.


Pet Care

Pet care through Bright Horizons Back-Up Care™ provides access to pet care support during a lapse or breakdown in normal care arrangements.

Benefit Details: Benefits-eligible employees can trade a day of back-up care to access pet care services for their dog or cat through a partnership with Rover and Wag!. There is no employee copay to use this service.​

Find answers to frequently asked questions about pet care​.

Virtual Camps

As part of your Bright Horizons Back-Up Care™ benefit, you have the option to use your
back-up care benefit with Steve & Kate’s Camp to book online activities through their virtual
camp platform.

Benefit Details: Benefits-eligible employees can trade in a day of back-up care and in exchange they will have access to a full day of live virtual activities/programs that their child can attend. There is no limit to the number of activities the child can join throughout the day. There is no copay for the employee to use this service. ​


Virtual Tutoring

Reserve an experienced tutor to help your 5-18 year-old stay on track. Virtual tutoring can assist children and teens with reading, math, and more than 300 other subjects. Watch this 2-minute video to learn more.

Benefit Details: Benefits-eligible employees can use your Bright Horizons Back-Up Care days in exchange for 4 hours of virtual tutoring. You are only responsible for a copay of $15 per reservation. 

Follow this step-by-step guide to see how the reservation process works, and find answers to frequently asked questions about virtual tutoring​​.

Enhanced Family Supports

Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Supports offers primary child care solutions, academic support and tutoring as well as enrichment programs for children.

  • Free premium access to Sittercity ($150 value), a fantastic solution for finding babysitters, pet care providers, and housekeepers. 
  • Discounts on a local, personalized placement service that will help you find a full-time nanny. 
  • Discounts on tutoring, STEM programs, summer camps, and small-group classes for school-age children. 
  • Exclusive elder caregiving resources. 
  • Special privileges for full-time child care, such as preferred enrollment and waived registration fees at Bright Horizons centers.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Supports​​. 


Employee Assistance Program

DePaul's employee assistance program, offered by ComPsych® GuidanceResources®, offers resources and referral services for childcare and adult/elder care.

  • Find tools, resources, and information at the ComPsych website.
  • For questions or to schedule an appointment: (800) 621-4124, Web ID EAP4DPU

Gems World Academy Chicago

Children at Gems World Academy Chicago receive an early start on a world-class education in a structured and safe learning environment. GEMS Education has been the world’s foremost provider of private education for children from birth through grade 12 for over 50 years. Program and eligibility: Eligible DePaul employees (faculty and staff) receive a discount on Pre-K through Grade 12 tuition. Enrollment is based on space availability within each program. The discount program is offered to all active full-time and part-time employees who are benefits-eligible. Eligibility ends when no longer employed by DePaul University. For more information, visit the Gems World Academy Chicago website.