School is Just Around the Corner
We know it feels like summer is just getting started, but the start of school isn't far away. Many families are gearing up for a new school year. According to the U.S. Department of Education, studies show that parent involvement in children's learning can have a positive effect on students' achievement and reduce the school dropout rate. Don't miss UW CareLink's Back-to-School tip sheet, with many practical suggestions for starting the year off right, and suggestions on how to be involved.

Online Seminar: Parents Taking Action
Parents play a crucial role in helping children succeed in school. Explore the factors that contribute to school achievement. Participants will learn strategies to help children become responsible and engaged learners. Don't miss this online seminar on August 16. Learn more by looking for online seminars at the bottom of UW CareLink's homepage. Use "UW" as the company code. Register early for this online seminar.

Back-to-School or College Readiness
Get your kids ready for school or off to college by taking full advantage of your health plan coverage for preventive care visits, sports physicals, and immunizations. Read more about how to prepare for going back to school.

Child Immunizations
Check the CDC Immunization Guide to make sure all immunizations are up to date. These services are likely covered under your health plan once the necessary deductions and co-payments are satisfied. For further details on your benefits and exclusions, contact your plan.

Discounts for Back to School
Check out UW Discounts before you purchase big ticket back-to-school items. The discount program is available to all UW faculty, staff, students, and retirees. View UW Discount Program.

Vote for the UW Combined Fund Drive!
The UW Combined Fund Drive is being recognized for a national philanthropic award. Out of hundreds of qualifying submissions, the judges determined that the UW campaign, which raised more than $2 million last year, stood out as one of the most inspiring and impactful.

If we win our category, the campaign would receive up to $10,000 in cash and prizes that would go to the Friends of the CFD general fund. But to win, we need your help. Please take a moment to vote for the UW Combined Fund Drive. Here's how:

• Visit the Classy Awards website.
• Select the Most Successful Fundraiser by an Individual or Group category.
• Scroll down to University of Washington employees and retirees.
• Click Vote.

The Top 10 Finalists will be selected by popular vote and then a panel of judges will select the winners in each award category. Please feel free to share this email with colleagues, family, and friends.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the UW Combined Fund Drive and for your help in making our campaign tops in the nation! For more information, visit the UW Combined Fund Drive website.

Socially Responsible Investing
Are you interested in achieving financial security while helping to build a sustainable world and protecting our quality of life? If so, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) may be for you. Learn more about SRI funds and the role these can play in your personal investment and retirement planning. Attend a free lunchtime seminar on Tuesday, August 16, at Harborview Medical Center. Access event information and registration.

Need Help Focusing on Your Total Financial Picture?
Schedule a free, half-hour consultation today, and let one of our fund sponsors (Vanguard, TIAA-CREF, Fidelity, or Calvert) guide you to the right resource for help with a variety of financial needs, including:

• Consolidating your retirement accounts
• College planning, estate planning, wealth management
• Identifying strategies to help you meet your retirement and financial goals

To sign up for your free consultation, register by phone or online.

Approaching Life's Financial Milestones
Regardless of where you are on your life journey, there's planning to do! Review the common (and not so common) milestone events encountered along the way, and listen to timely advice on how to approach them in a financially sound way. Attend Approaching Life's Financial Milestones on August 24 at the UW Tower, August 31 at Harborview Medical Center, or September 14 at Health Sciences. In addition, we're offering these free seminars, each designed to help you save and protect your hard-earned money:

• Credit Reporting 101
• Identity Theft—When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name
• Financial Yoga: Stretching Your Hard-Earned Dollars

Access event information and registration.

Home Maintenance Through the Seasons
Owning a home is a major responsibility and seasonal temperature fluctuations can take a toll on this important investment. Through the Hometown Home Loan Program's Education Series, you can learn what you need to do to maintain a sound and healthy home and payment options for basic home maintenance. Register to attend the Basic Home Maintenance seminar on September 20, 21, or 22 at South Lake Union, the UW Tower, or Harborview Medical Center, respectively. Also, check out the entire series of free seminars designed to help make your dream of sound homeownership a reality:

• Home Remodeling and Renovation
• Sell Your Home in Today's Market

Access event information and registration.

Homeownership Counseling
Thinking of buying or refinancing a home? Why not schedule a personal homeownership counseling session with an Affinity Loan Officer who can walk you through the process? These 30-minute, one-on-one sessions are free, private, and informative. Your spouse, partner, or potential co-signer is welcome to attend with you. Access seminar information and registration.

Help with Your Parents!
When you visited your elderly parents and family this summer, did you become concerned about their ability to care for themselves and live independently? One of the new services available through UW CareLink is the Adult/Elder Care Referral and Consultation.

Access UW CareLink through the APS HealthCare portal. To log in and register, use "UW" as the company code. Look for the LIVEConnect instant messaging tool in the upper right corner of the homepage for access to counselors who specialize in adult/elder care referral services. Or, call (toll-free, 24/7) 1-866-598-3978, TTY: 1-877-334-0489.

More Options for Help with Your Parents
The Caregiver Directory is a free service provided by the Graduate and Professional Student Senate for University of Washington faculty, staff, and students. Here you can find potential caregivers available for childcare, elder or adult care, or to run errands or do light housekeeping. To learn more, or to register as a caregiver or find one, visit the GPSS Caregiver Directory website.

Professional & Organizational Development (POD) courses are open to all UW employees, subject to supervisor/budgetary approval and UW’s release time policy. Please view our policy page for additional information.

Take a Seat
Spaces are still available in some of POD's late summer courses, including Discovering Your Dependable Strengths, Increasing Your Influence, Overcoming Barriers to Care, and Rapid Process Improvement. View remaining summer courses.

Support Professionals Development Day
Space is limited—register now for the September 8 offering of this event for UW support staff! Relax, reflect, and recharge as you attend workshops, connect with peers, and take a day to focus on you—your personal growth as an individual and your professional development as an employee. Workshop topics include project management, constructive communication, presentation skills, charting your career path, realistic optimism, and productivity in the digital age. Access event information and registration.

Class Fees Are Falling
Leaves won't be the only thing falling this September. Starting autumn quarter, registration fees for Professional & Organizational Development's training classes will drop an average 8.5%. As a recharge center, POD strives to set rates that are affordable for UW staff and departments and that enable POD to meet its expenses of salary dollars, benefits loads, office supplies, and other costs. According to POD director Ujima Donalson, "POD will continue to monitor and adjust our rates as needed, but in the meantime we're delighted to pass these savings on to UW staff and organizations." Autumn registration opens August 22, so bookmark POD's online course catalog now!

Hourly Career Counseling
As you're planning summer road trips and getaways, you may also want to think about mapping out options for your career. One-on-one career counseling can help you make the most of your strengths, prepare for a job search, or explore a new career path. Sessions are offered through Training and Organization Development Consultant Susan Templeton for $95 per one-hour career counseling session if paid with a UW budget number (with supervisor approval) or $109.82 if paid with cash, check, or credit card (due to a mandatory institutional overhead fee). Learn more about this service.

Wellness Tip
Strengthen your heart, muscles, and bones with each step. Rather than riding the elevator, consider climbing the stairs as you travel to meetings or take breaks—a quick way for you to add physical activity to your daily routine. Start by climbing one or two flights of stairs—use handrails as needed. Add more flights as you increase your stamina. To check that you're within your aerobic range, try singing a tune or reciting a poem as you climb. If you find yourself gasping for air, then slow down or pause to catch your breath for a minute. Bring your pedometer and record your steps at UWalk. Note: Always check with your doctor before embarking on any new physical fitness regimen.

MammoVan to Visit UW Tower
Women age 40+ know it's not always easy to find time to get a routine mammogram to screen for breast cancer. Thanks to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's MammoVan, now there's a faster and more convenient way to get it done. The MammoVan, a mobile mammography service, is scheduled to roll into the south parking lot at the UW Tower on 12th Avenue NE & NE 43rd Street on Tuesday, August 16. View more dates and schedule an appointment.

Save the Date for UW Benefits Fairs
Planning is underway for the upcoming Benefits Fairs to be held on November 1 at the Mary Gates Hall, November 2 at Harborview Medical Center's Research and Training Building, and November 3 at UW Medical Center/Health Sciences Building. This is an excellent time to explore the latest benefits available to you and your family. Remember, any changes to your medical and dental plans or additions to previously uncovered dependents must be made during the Open Enrollment period with changes taking effect on January 1, 2012. See more details for the Benefits Fairs.

Getting Married or Moving Soon?
Be sure to keep your profile up to date in our Employee Self Service (ESS) system so you can receive timely benefits information from the Health Care Authority at your home address. To update your name or address, go to www.uw.edu/ess and select the "Address" tab. In addition, ESS users will enjoy the convenience of viewing their earnings, taxes, retirement, investments, and health plans—all in one place!

To update your name and address in other University systems, view our name and address change webpage.

U-PASS members—Finalize Activation by August 23!
If your U-PASS is not tapped within 60 days of the date it was issued (August 23 for faculty and staff U-PASS members who received preprinted Husky Cards in the June 10 payroll distribution), it will become inactive and will require reactivation online. Your U-PASS will be available for use within 24 to 48 hours after the reactivation request at which time you will need to tap your card on an ORCA reader to finalize activation.

Learn more about transition to the U-PASS powered by ORCA here: www.u-pass.washington.edu.

Take a Break
Stop to smell the roses. Enjoy those last blooms of summer in the UW's Rose Garden surrounding Drumheller Fountain. Few things are more beautiful than the fountain, the garden with the tree-lined lawn, and, on a clear day, old Mount Rainier floating in the distance.