New and Expecting Parents
State Classified Staff
As a new or expecting parent, you’re embarking on a thrilling journey filled with love, joy, and wonder. CSU is committed to providing resources that support you through this exciting time in your life.
The information on this page provides an overview of the benefits available to you as an employee and things you will need to consider as your family expands.
Before Birth or Adoption:
Taking time off from work is crucial for new parents. It allows you to be present and bond with your child, which is essential for well-being and development. The availability of parental leave, short term disability, and family medical leave can provide a much-needed break for new parents, as well as job security and financial support during your absence from work.
For employees who live in work in the state of Colorado, CSU’s FAMLI plan provides for a portion of an employee’s weekly salary for up to 12 weeks of leave per year to care for themselves or a family member. FAMLI income replacement benefits are primary to any other leave program, like parental leave and short term disability and runs concurrently with Family Medical Leave (FML) and any other leave program to mitigate duplication of income replacement benefits.
Parental Leave
Eligible employees are entitled to receive three weeks of paid time off to care for and bond with their child, in addition to the employee’s sick and annual leave, as well as any STD benefits to which the birth parent is entitled. This parental leave runs concurrently with FMLA (if eligible) and must be taken within 12 months of the date of birth or adoption. The leave must also be taken in one continuous block.
Short Term Disability
STD pays 60% of your weekly pre-disability earnings following a required 30 calendar-day waiting period. You must use leave through the waiting period but may elect to save other accruals.
Make Whole: Employees may choose to use leave accruals to make their salary whole in an amount closest to the difference between the STD amount and the employee’s gross pay (excluding pay differential). If employees choose to be made whole, sick leave is used first, then annual and compensatory time (8/1/2020).
You may be eligible for a maximum of $3,000 per week, for up to 150 days during any 12 month period.
Family Medical Leave
Following the Family and Medical Leave Act (FML), CSU provides job-protected leave to eligible faculty and staff to care for and bond with their child. FML allows for up to 12 work weeks (520 hours for 100% FTE) of leave during a 12-month period based on certain qualifying events.
FML is unpaid leave; however, your available paid leave balance (e.g. sick, annual, parental leave) will be used concurrently with FML. Likewise, FML also runs concurrently with other types of paid and unpaid leave (e.g. short term disability and leave without pay).
You can find an in-network doctor at Kaiser or Cigna website.
Cigna Healthy Babies is a voluntary educational program for Cigna members. Their focus is on patient education concerning healthy behaviors during pregnancy, prenatal care, reducing risk factors, baby development, nutrition, and smoking cessation.
Kaiser Permanente coordinates your care before, during, and after your pregnancy to make it easier for you and your baby to stay healthy. Everyone on your care team can see your health history, collaborate quickly, and seamlessly connect you to the care you need — from prenatal specialty care to pediatric visits. And at many locations, you can save time by having your routine appointments, lab testing, and pharmacy under one roof.
The State of Colorado medical plans provide coverage for preventative screenings, wellness visits to your primary care physician and/or OBGYN, vaccinations and immunizations, and nutritional counseling.
The Employee Assistance Program offers six free counseling sessions each year that can provide support for new parents.
Daycare referrals: call ComPsych, the EAP provider, at 800-497-9133 to complete an intake questionnaire based on your location and needs. You will then be emailed a list of daycare centers/providers. You can also search online through GuidanceResources® Online (use CSUEAP to create an account). Note that you you still be responsible for contacting each provider to apply or join a waiting list.
In addition, you can access work-life assistance, legal resources, and financial resources through ComPsych. Learn more.
After Birth or Adoption:
If you are currently enrolled in a State of Colorado medical plan, your child or your partner’s child is automatically covered for the first 31 days from birth or adoption placement.
If you want to include your child in your insurance plans after the initial 31-day automatic coverage period, you need to enroll them in BenefitSolver (company key: soc) within 30 days of their birth or adoption placement. You will also need to provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate or adoption paperwork.
If you do not enroll the child within 30 days, the child will not be covered under your plan beyond the first 31 days. You will not be able to enroll the child until the next open enrollment period with coverage effective the first of the following calendar year unless you incur a separate qualifying event.
Well-Baby Visits and Immunizations
These services are covered at 100% on the State of Colorado medical plans when you see an in-network provider.
Lactation rooms provide a calm and private space for parents to breastfeed while on campus. They are non-bathroom spaces that are shielded from view and free from intrusion. They are equipped with a lockable door, a glider chair, a table, and easily accessible power outlets.
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
This account allows you to pay for eligible dependent daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars. You may contribute up to $5,000 to the account each year.
Sunshine House
The independently owned and operated Sunshine House now offers two locations in Fort Collins where CSU employees receive priority enrollment.
Early Childhood Center
The CSU Early Childhood Center works in partnership with Fort Collins families to ensure a quality educational experience for children between the ages of 6 weeks to 6 years. CSU faculty, staff, and students receive priority enrollment on a space-available basis.