Family Matters

Family Matters because we are a university primarily for women. Women are historically the main caregivers within our society; therefore, they carry extra responsibilities that can hinder academic goals. As an inclusive university, we recognize that the term caregiver means parenting as well as additional caring roles that impact women and men. Among the many members of our university community are parents and those taking care of family elders, serving as foster parents, raising younger siblings, and other meaningful caring roles. Propelled by our core value of caring, and guided by our values of well-being and opportunity, the Family Matters initiative seeks to create and sustain a culture of caregiver inclusion and support.

Ultimately, caregivers are the heart of our society. As a campus with a heart, we want to see our community members not only survive their chosen academic environment but also flourish within it.

Texas Woman's will be known for our family-friendly campuses that invite and welcome full family participation in the life of the university. We will make being a family member caregiver congruent with being a student, staff member, or faculty member by creating family supports backed by transparent and well-disseminated, family-friendly policies.

Strategies

• Facilitate access to safe and affordable childcare services
• Create family caregiving policies that are transparent and accessible for all
• Identify family caregivers and their needs
• Provide accessible information for family caregivers regarding resources, services, and policies
• Create and identify family-friendly spaces on campus

Success Measure

• Achieve recognition as a leader in the US as a family-friendly campus
• Model Title IX and family-friendly policies and practices
• Exemplify collaboration and partnerships with child care centers

The Team

• Amy O’Keefe, MSEd, co-chair
  Executive Director, CARE
• Catherine Dutton, PhD, co-chair
  Associate Professor, Department of Human Development, Family Studies & Counseling, College of Professional Education, Denton Campus
• Kelsey Zemler, member
  Manager of Business Intelligence, Institutional Research and Data Management
• Aimée Myers, PhD, member
  Assistant Professor & Associate Director, Academic Assessment
• Cynthia Evetts, PhD, member
  OTR, Professor & Director, School of Occupational Therapy, Denton-Dallas-Houston