Faculty Parental Wellness Program

MGB Parental Leave
Steps to take: 

1. Employee should go to leave portal, which has step by step process listed
2. Request leave through Peoplesoft 60 days before going out
   1. If you would like more info before 60 days ahead of time, you should attend a leave webinar, look through the leave portal, or check out knowledge articles on AskmyHR
3. You will then be assigned a subject matter expert with more contact info

Resources

• PWP one-page summary of BWPO/MGPO Parental Leave Policy
  • For information about how extended personal leaves work within the 26 weeks of MAPFML, see this AskMyHR webinar at 4:02-5:10 and 8:14-10:36.
• MGB Leave of Absence Portal
  • The portal is personalized for the employee, which means monthly-paid MD/PhD employees on the BWPO/MGPO monthly payroll will see their specific policies. BWPO and MGPO benefit consultants are also familiar and can help clarify the pay policies that apply to the professional staff who are out on a leave.
  • Contact the BWPO Professional Staff Benefits Office: bwhprofstaffbene@partners.org
  • MGPO Professional Staff Benefits Office
• Health Care Provider form (complete and upload when requesting leave)
• Leave of Absence Checklist - Maternity Bonding

Other

• Parking and MBTA Tips when preparing for/returning from leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) FMLA & Maternity Leave
  • The Mom Project – Returning from Maternity Leave Checklist

• EAP Lactation Resources (includes link to MGB lactation room locations)
• Kelly Mom
• EAP Parenting Webinars – Register for upcoming webinars or view recording of previous presentations
• MGB Lactation Room Access Request Form
• Emergency Lactation Supply Program
• MGH Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Breastfeeding Resources
• MGH IHP Breastfeeding Support Group
• SimpliFed Virtual Lactation Services
• Lactation consultant visits and support classes can be reimbursed through Mass General Brigham Health Plan
• Low Milk Supply Foundation
• Milk Storage Info

• RVU Lactation Credit Program Resources
• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
• This resource is helpful if you want to do a deeper, evidence-based dive into a single lactation topic.

Lactation Room Locations

• BWH/BWFH & MGH
• Mass Eye and Ear
  • Mamava, Inc. Lactation pod in the 7th Floor Family Waiting Room. Please contact Nancy Cottone, Director of Planning with any questions
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospitals
  • Brighton: Lactation room is located on the 3rd floor of the facility (room #3018). Please see one of the administrative assistants on the 3rd floor to reserve the room. Staff need to bring their own pump and supplies.
  • Cambridge & Charlestown

Pump Tutorials

• Willow Pump Tutorial
• Unimom Opera Pump Tutorial
• Spectra S9 Pump Tutorial
• Spectra S1 & S2 Pump Tutorial
• Medela Pump in Style with MaxFlow Tutorial
• Elvie Pump Tutorial

Have a new pump to suggest for a tutorial? Email us at parentalwellness@mgb.org.

• The Ammon-Pinizzotto Center for Women’s Mental Health at MGH
  • Open for consultations, and there’s usually a short wait (typically no longer than 2-3 weeks). 
    • Please note: they are not able to take on ongoing patient care, but rather provide an outpatient consultation service for non-urgent consultations for patients and their prescribers. To make an appt for a consultation, please call 617-724-7792.
  • Also offer Perinatal Mental Health CME/CE online courses at no cost to the MGH community of providers. Access here.
• MGB Mental Health Resources
  • For MGH Employees (also includes links for all MGB employees)
  • For BWH Employees (also includes links for all MGB employees)
  • For SRH Employees: The Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Physician and Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Well-Being Committee was established in 2023 and has three primary aims: to amplify and cultivate positive aspects of work, to mitigate or reduce negative aspects of work, and to celebrate the community of Spaulding physicians and APPs more often together. Please contact Chloe Slocum for more information.
  • PWP Contacts for Mental Health
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program
• Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms: has resources for providers and patients, including help with referrals to providers.
• Women & Infants Day Hospital: a program in Providence, Rhode Island that some MGB patients greatly benefit from.
• Postpartum Depression
  • US. Dept. of HHS – Office on Women’s Health -Understanding Postpartum Depression
  • Postpartum Support International
    • Online support meetings
    • Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
  • Mass PPD Fund
• JFCS Support
  • In person/virtual groups for parents of infants
  • Visiting Moms Program (up to age 1)
  • Early Connections®/Conexiones Tempranas (EC/CT) Clinicians
• Resources from Bright Horizons

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• General New Parent Resources
  • KidsHealth - Advice on children's health, behavior, and growth – from before birth through the teen years
  • Pathways – Resources and Helpful Answers for Expecting and New Parents
  • Nurture by Naps – Total Support, from Pregnancy through Childhood
• Supports for New Dads
  • Fathers.com
  • City Dads
• Fun Things to do with Kids in New England
• Life Coach Vicki Hoefle
• Think:Kids Program - a Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS) approach proven to reduce challenging behavior, teach kids the skills they lack, and build relationships with the adults in their lives.
• BCH Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders

Recommended Media about Parenting

• Fair Play - outlines a system for how to divide up household tasks fairly, based on your needs.
• Social Media and Adolescent Health
• Smartphones vs. Smart Kids
• How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7
• Teaching children about financing
• Podcasts
  • Good Inside: a weekly parenting podcast with Dr. Becky answering real parents’ questions
  • ParentData with Emily Oster: brings Emily together with other experts in areas of pregnancy and parenting to talk about some of the most complicated of these issues

Support groups for parents at MGH

Peer Mentoring for Parents: The CFD's Peer Mentoring for Parents Program was created to offer parents the opportunity to increase personal well-being and professional productivity by empowering learning and problem-solving in a space of trust and both practical and emotional support. Meetings are organized and facilitated by the MGH CFD in conjunction with the Faculty Parental Wellness Program for these parental groups:

• Parents of middle and high school age children
• Parents of elementary school age children
• Parents of children from newborns through preschoolers who identify as non-birth parents (traditionally fathers)*
• Parents of children from newborns through preschoolers who identify as birth parents (traditionally mothers)*

*We encourage individuals of all gender identities and methods of family building in our program! For our early parent groups, we encourage you to pick the group that you feel might be the best fit, and please email us at parentalwellness@mgb.org if you have any questions about potential discussion themes or suggestions regarding inclusive language.

Please sign up here if you are MGB faculty and a parent in one of these categories interested in joining a peer mentoring cohort.

 

Monthly Online Discussion & Support Group for Moms: Monthly Zoom meetings that allow mothers to share and learn with their colleagues, no matter the age of their children. During each session, experts share information, leaving plenty of time for questions and discussion. Mothers are welcome to join and leave the session as their schedule allows. If you’re interested in joining a session, or receiving more information about the Mothers’ Group, please email Joan Sapir: jsapir@partners.org. 

Local parenting groups

GardenParents | Tinyhood - an online forum for parents that started out of the South End and now includes all of Boston and neighboring towns/cities.

South Boston Moms Club - a growing 400-member strong, non-profit organization passionate about supporting Southie and Seaport families and encouraging a strong sense of community. Only for parents with a South Boston/Seaport zipcode.

 

The Nanny Network: an email distribution list where MGB-affiliated faculty and trainees can recommend and view available nannies in the area and submit posts seeking childcare recommendations.

Support through the Employee Assistance Program:

• For employees and/or family members wanting to explore childcare options with an EAP Consultant, please call us at 866-724-4327 for an appointment.
• If interested in a childcare search only, please fill out the Child Care Search Request Form. Note: childcare searches will take 2-5 business days. If the situation is urgent, please call EAP.

Childcare through Bright Horizons (MGB Benefit)

MGB employees can access center-based or in-home childcare managed by Bright Horizons. Go to this link and click “Join Today” at the top of the page. You will be prompted to create an account that will link to your MGB information and benefits.

MGB employees have access to the following (and more):

• Family Concierge Service: Free personalized and unlimited support to navigate your Bright Horizons childcare benefits.
• Center-Based Backup Care (well child): You can reserve care at the MGH Backup Center, BWH Backup Center or another more convenient participating Bright Horizons location.
• In-Home Backup Care (well or mildly ill child): You can request an in-home care provider as well. We have been told that care for a mildly ill child at home is harder to fill.
• 24/7 Bright Horizons Support for urgent needs.
• Webinars to learn more about your benefits and navigating parenthood (click here for the 2024 schedule).

• Parenting-related Benefits through MGB
  • Flexible spending accounts for medical expenses and dependent care
  • Financial Planning Program (for MGPO Professional Staff only)

• HMS Shore Awards

For MGH Faculty only

• Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards
• Caring for Dependent(s) Travel Awards
  
• DOM Parental Research Scholar Awards (Medicine faculty only)

NIH-Related

• Childcare Support for NRSA Fellows

• Extend your ESI Status

• Application for Career Awards Supplement [may need to search for updated PA]

 

Upcoming Webinars

Parental Wellness Program Summer Series

Parents with kids of all ages – join us for 3 talks this summer with MGB pediatricians who will give some practical tips, resources, and answer audience questions. If you have any questions ahead of time, please add them when you register using the links below:

Tuesday, July 16th, 12-1pm: Ask the Allergist - Food Allergy Q&A
Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, Director of Food Allergy Advocacy, Education, and Prevention at MGfC
Register and add questions here

Thursday, August 1st, 12-1pm: Pediatric Dermatology
Elena Hawryluk, MD, PhD, Director of Pediatric Dermatology at MGH
Register and add questions here

Monday, August 19th, 12-1pm: Adolescent Medicine
Julie Potter, MD, Physician at MGfC Adolescent Medicine
Register and add questions here

The Phenomenon of College Student Isolation & Disengagement
Tuesday, July 30, 12-1pm on Zoom
Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

Our panelists, two of whom work in college settings, will provide an inside view of the current atmosphere in colleges as well as a brief rundown of services to support college student well-being. They will discuss how parents can best educate their children in developing resilience and celebrating humanness in its many manifestations.

Panelists:
Gwendolyn “Wendy” Adam, PhD, MSW, LICSW, Director of Integrative Wellbeing Services, Williams College
Peter Marcus, PsyD, Staff Psychologist, MGH Department of Psychiatry
Rev. Elyse Nelson Winger, University Chaplain, Tufts University

Bright Horizons webinars to learn more about your benefits and navigating parenthood (click here for the 2024 schedule).

Recordings

Encouraging Independence in Kids

Dr. Elana Kagan explored questions about how parents can foster independence in their children and how to encourage them to take on certain responsibilities. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

Managing (and Preventing) Anxiety & Depression in Our Children
Based on current research and over 30 years of clinical experience, Lynn Lyons talked about the common traps adults fall into and the key adjustments needed to prevent and help mental health challenges in our kids. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

Looking Ahead to College Panel
Drs. Sue Slaugenhaupt, Bo Rueda, and Anne Levy shared their experiences with their children heading to college in the aim of creating a community of support and understanding, a safe space to discuss concerns, confusions, and questions. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

The Crucial C's and Family Meetings
Professional Parent Educator Vicki Hoefle gave a 2-part talk where she introduced concepts and strategies for building and maintaining a cooperative, engaging, and respectful environment for both adults and children, especially when challenging behaviors arise. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.
Part 1 Recording
Part 2 Recording

 

• Meeting outline for birth parents
• Meeting outline for non-birth parents
• Form to submit PWA mentoring hours
• Recorded PWA Training