Human Resources

💙 National Foster Care Day

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💙  Supporting Foster Families at MSU

Each year, National Foster Care Day is recognized on the first Tuesday in May to raise awareness and support for the more than 390,000 children and youth in the U.S. foster care system. It’s a time to honor foster parents, social workers, volunteers, and the many individuals who dedicate their lives to creating safe, loving environments for children in need.

Whether you’re a foster parent, considering fostering, or supporting someone who is, MSU offers resources to help employees navigate the foster care journey.

👨‍👩‍👧 Foster Care in Missouri

Foster care provides temporary homes for children who cannot live with their biological families. In Missouri, the Department of Social Services (DSS) works to ensure children are placed in nurturing environments and supports individuals and families who step up to provide that care.

📚 Learn more about becoming a foster parent or find support resources through: 🔗 Missouri Foster Care & Adoption Resources

👶 Parental Leave & the Shared Leave Pool

At Missouri State University, qualifying employees may be eligible for up to 2 weeks (80 hours) of Shared Leave for the adoption or placement of a child through foster care or legal means—without having to exhaust their sick or vacation leave.

📌 Learn more about the program:
🔗 MSU Shared Leave Pool

Employees are also encouraged to donate vacation hours to help keep the pool funded and available for others during critical life events.

🕒 Special Opportunity — Now through June 30:
The donation maximum has been temporarily increased from 48 to 64 hours through the end of the fiscal year, giving employees who previously donated the full 48 hours the opportunity to contribute an additional 16 hours.

💡 Policy Note:
“Employee contribution may not exceed 48 hours, unless the Office of Human Resources has communicated a need for additional days. In that case, employee(s) may contribute additional day(s) up to the limit requested at that time.”

📊 The Shared Leave Committee is working to raise awareness and reach a goal of 2,500 donated hours by June 30. Donations can be made in 1-hour increments, and while any amount is helpful, employees must have contributed at least 8 hours to be eligible to apply for shared leave benefits themselves.

📝 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Eligible MSU employees may take up to 12 weeks of protected leave under the FMLA for certain family and medical reasons, including:

  • Adoption or placement of a child
  • To care for a newly placed foster child
  • To care for a family member with a serious health condition
  • For personal medical leave

FMLA leave may run concurrently with other paid leave options, including sick leave, vacation, and shared leave, depending on the situation.

Learn more:
🔗 MSU FMLA Information

🧠 Mercy EAP – Parenting, Adoption, and Legal Support

MSU’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), powered by Mercy, provides free, confidential support to employees and their household members. The EAP includes:

👶 Parenting & Adoption Resources

From understanding adoption and child development to work-life balance and childcare resources, Mercy EAP offers online tools and educational content to help employees thrive as caregivers.

🔗 Access the EAP Portal:
Username: MSU | Password: MSU

⚖️ Legal Assist Services

Mercy EAP also includes Legal Assist—a service offering consultations for a wide range of personal legal matters, such as:

  • Adoption
  • Divorce/custody
  • estate planning, wills, and trusts
  • Landlord/tenant issues
  • Real estate
  • Bankruptcy and more

📞 Get support from a licensed attorney:

  • Free 30-minute consultation (per legal issue)
  • 25% discount on most attorney fees if further services are needed
  • Options for telephonic or in-person consultations

Learn more:
📄 Legal & Financial Flyer (PDF)

💛 Thank You to Foster Families

To all our MSU employees who are current foster parents, pursuing licensure, or supporting youth in care—we thank you for your compassion and commitment. If you have questions about any of the resources listed above, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Office of Human Resources.

📢 Stay Connected
✔️ Follow the HR Blog for benefits updates
✔️ Explore the Employee Wellness Blog for more support tools

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