Parent and Caregiver Success
Supporting students and employees who are balancing their academic or professional journeys with the demands of parenting or caregiving.
About Us
The Parent and Caregiver Success team works to build community and meet the needs of students and employees who are pregnant, parents and caregivers. We provide services and programming, and offer one-on-one support, navigation, and referrals. We work closely with a range of campus and community partners.
We're Here to Help!
Have questions? Expecting and need guidance on organizing your parenting journey? Contact Lynn Wilkins, manager of the Parenting and Caregiver Success program, or visit our office at JAC Central – Suite G from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lynn Wilkins
Parent and Caregiver Program Manager
Serving our Campus
Pregnant, Parenting, or Caregiving Students
Through programs, initiatives, services, and referrals, we help student parents navigate the challenges of reaching their academic goals while parenting. We listen to student parents so we can work effectively to build community and create pathways to success.
Pregnant, Parenting or Caregiving Employees
With employee resource groups for parents and caregivers, resources like the Caregiver Resource Library, and connection to community supports, we serve and support employees who are navigating parenthood or caregiving.
Lactation Spaces and Support
A campus-wide network of lactation spaces serves UM employees, students, and visitors. Our new Breastfeeding Support Series, with meetings facilitated by a certified lactation consultant, provides a supportive place for nursing parents to ask questions and learn – and for UM to better understand the needs of this group of parents on our campus.
Additional Campus Accommodations and Resources
The Title IX office helps pregnant members of the University community understand their rights and can help with accommodations, especially regarding academics.Employees can find help with parental leave questions from the Office of Human Resources, and can seek additional information about work-life integration from the career-life connectors.
Grove Grocery Diaper Bank
Keeping a baby or toddler in diapers is an expensive part of parenting. In partnership with Grove Grocery, we’re proud to introduce Growing with Grove Grocery, an on-campus diaper bank that helps mitigate diaper need for our students and employees. GGG offers diapers, wipes, and assorted baby supplies through Grove Grocery’s Kinard Hall location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click below to browse answers to common questions.
The University Counseling Center offers a respectful and supportive environment, staffed by licensed professionals. Students can click here to schedule an appointment; sessions are free. Employees should call 662-915-3784 to book; employees receive one free session and three additional sessions at a payroll-deductive cost of $30 each.
Employees may also seek counseling resources through AllOne Health, UM’s Employee Assistance Plan provider. Start by calling 1-888-993-7650 to explore your options. Employees and each member of the household may receive up to six counseling sessions per issue per calendar year. Find more information here.
Employees can also participate in Employee Resource Groups such as the Parent Resource Network and Caregiver Resource Network. Brows ERGs here.
If you have questions about the logistics of making it work as a student or employee and as a new or expectant parent, give Lynn Wilkins with Parent and Caregiver Success a call at 662-915-1295 or lwilkins@olemiss.edu.
For pregnancy-related accommodations, email pregnancy@olemiss.edu.
To discuss leave, contact the HR leave specialist at leave@olemiss.edu or 662-915-7431.
Other questions? HR can guide you. Reach them at 662-915-7431.
We see you, and we know it’s a lot to continue providing your baby with breastmilk once you return to school or work. Here are some ways we can help:
Lactation Spaces: UM has a network of private, comfortable lactation spaces spread around campus, all available to employees and students. Many can also accommodate visitors to campus. Find a complete list here. We can also help develop pop-up lactation spaces for departments that have a temporary need such as a visiting speaker or job candidate who needs a lactation space in a building that doesn’t have one. Email Lynn Wilkins at lwilkins@olemiss.edu to find out more.
Breastfeeding Support: Join us for a casual, supportive conversation each month, facilitated by a certified lactation consultant, in our Breastfeeding Support Series – open to students and employees. Check the UM Events calendar for upcoming sessions, or reach out to the Parent & Caregiver Success team with any questions.
If you’re an employee in need of a lactation consultant, check here and scroll down for information on a service that can connect you and work with your insurance.
UM’s Break Time for Lactation policy helps nursing employees and supervisors understand how to handle time spent nursing or pumping during the work day.
Oxford Moms and Tots regularly updates their list of child- and family-friendly activities, resources, and events in the area, making it a great resource for staying connected with local opportunities for families. Click here to learn more.
UM Means Family!
When we support parenting students and their children, we make a two-generation impact. Helping student parents persist and graduate stabilizes families and promotes self-reliance – and their children have a front row seat to the value of hard work and educational attainment. Join us in our mission and make double the impact!