Child and Family Resources
Northwestern supports the healthy integration of students’ personal, academic, and professional priorities and is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students. The Graduate School (TGS) provides a variety of resources and information as well as a dedicated Dependent Care Specialist for individual work/life consultations.
Family leave information
- Parental Leave of Absence: Parental leaves are available to active students of all gender identities and gender expressions in The Graduate School who experience the birth or adoption of a child for whom they have parental responsibilities.
Childcare
The University offers the following resources for parents seeking information on childcare.
Finding childcare:
- Childcare Resources: Learn about area childcare centers, community resources, and free childcare referral services
- Care.com for Northwestern Graduate Students: Find babysitters, nannies, pet sitters, and more
- Back-up Care: For when your regular child care is unavailable
- Summer Camps: For school-age children
- Sitters and Tutors Network: Student-provided sitting and tutoring services for the Northwestern community.
Financial assistance for childcare:
- TGS Graduate Student Childcare Grant: Portable childcare grants for eligible graduate students for day care or an in-home provider
- Fee Assistance: Discounted tuition on a sliding scale at four area childcare centers. Cannot be used with the TGS Graduate Student Childcare Grant.
- TGS Dependent Care Grants: Taxable funds to assist PhD and MFA students with dependents so that they may participate in professional development meetings and opportunities including research-related travel.
- Backup and Drop-In Care: Northwestern offers a subsidized childcare backup care program through Care.com
Health insurance
The University offers students the option of enrolling dependents in the student health insurance plan. Learn more on the Student Health Insurance website. Please note that you may now pay for dependent coverage up front or on a quarterly basis. For additional information, please go to Aetna's Dependent Enrollment page, enter your Student ID and date of birth, and then click on "View Plan Details" (and scroll down) to review the quarterly payment schedule. Please select an option via the drop down box on the Aetna payment page.
The All Kids program provides comprehensive, affordable health insurance to Illinois children whose families cannot afford private health insurance. All Kids also offers two health insurance programs for pregnant women. Parents who meet certain income requirements may have access to coverage through Illinois FamilyCare Health Insurance.
Accommodations
Lactation support
Providing a family-friendly environment for faculty, staff and students is important at Northwestern. Read about Lactation Support on the human resources website.
View lactation resources and maps of lactation rooms for Evanston and Chicago.
Relocation
There are many housing options available to students both on and off-campus. TGS is also working with Graduate Housing to offer priority applications for students who are parents at the Garrett Place Apartments.
The HR Well-being team is happy to help you find schools, pet care, community information and other area family resources.