Author's Note ixIntroduction xiiiChapter 1 Parental Leave Is a Mess--Let's Fix It! 1Chapter 2 The 10A Transition Touchpoints Framework 13Phase One Preparing for Leave: Work Focus 31Chapter 3 Phase 1: Preparing for Leave Overview 33Chapter 4 Touchpoint 1: Announcement 39Chapter 5 Touchpoint 2: Assess 51Chapter 6 Touchpoint 3: Action Plan 67Chapter 7 Touchpoint 4: Acknowledge the Transition to Parenthood 97Phase Two During Leave: Parent Focus 109Chapter 8 Phase 2: During Leave Overview 111Chapter 9 Touchpoint 5: Appropriately Keep in Touch 115Chapter 10 Touchpoint 6: Advocate 125Chapter 11 Touchpoint 7: Arrangements for Return 143Phase Three Returning from Leave: Working Parent Focus 155Chapter 12 Phase 3: Returning from Leave Overview 157Chapter 13 Touchpoint 8: Acknowledge the Transition to Working Parent 163Chapter 14 Touchpoint 9: Adjustment 171Chapter 15 Touchpoint 10: Access to Career Development 189Rounding Out the Human Experience 205Chapter 16 Additional Challenges and Resources 207Appendix 1: Values Exercise List 219Appendix 2: Free Resources from the Center for Parental Leave Leadership 221Appendix 3: An Emerging Working Parent Support Ecosystem 223Appendix 4: Recommended Reading 233Endnotes and General References 237Acknowledgments 253About the Authors 257Index 259
AMY BEACOM, EdD, is founder and CEO of the Center for Parental Leave Leadership, the first consultancy in the U.S. to focus exclusively on parental leave. Drawing on over 25 years in executive leadership development and coaching, Amy consults with Fortune 100 companies, international organizations, working parents, and more to transform the way our companies and our country engage with the parental leave transition.SUE CAMPBELL is a writer, author, and coach who has worked with the Center for Parental Leave Leadership since its early days, helping to communicate the transformative impact of their core mission. Her writing, often focused on issues important to parents, has been published in many outlets, including Prevention, Good Housekeeping, Scary Mommy, and Mamalode.