Childcare
The Office of Work/Life Resources is available to assist you with a variety of childcare needs. Whether you are looking for information or resources, or you are new to parenthood or the University, we offer many programs to help you locate quality, affordable childcare.
Action for Children:
Northwestern faculty, staff and students have access to to this free enhanced child care resource and referral services.
Call (773) 356-8135 to reach a designated Northwestern representative.
The Action for Children consultation services include:
- Parent consultations about the variety of state-licensed child care options available.
- Child care provider referrals that are customized to the search criteria provided by the parent.
- Up-to-date information on more than 4,500 child care centers, family childcare homes, nannies agencies, sick care, camps and before and after school programs in Cook County and the surrounding area.
- Printed resource materials to help parents throughout their childcare search, including tips for interviewing and selecting a quality provider.
- Information about financial assistance, including state subsidy programs and providers that offer sliding scale fee programs.
NOTE: Action for Children does not provide recommendations among its listed licensed childcare programs. Families must screen providers thoroughly.
Childcare Centers
These centers offer priority enrollment for University faculty, staff and students:
- Bright Horizons at Evanston, convenient to the Evanston campus.
- McGaw YMCA Children's Center, convenient to Evanston campus.
- University Children’s Center, convenient to the Chicago campus.
- Harkness House for Children, ten minutes north of the Evanston campus in Winnetka.
- Baby Toddler, convenient to the Evanston campus.
Back-up childcare: Help when care arrangements break down.
Community Childcare Resources
- Chicago-Area Childcare
- Childcare Network of Evanston
- Family Child Care Connections of Evanston
- The Parent Circle
- Winnetka Alliance
- Wilmette Childcare
- Skokie Childcare
In-Home Care Resources
Preschools
Additional Resources
- Faculty Resources, leave and dependent care travel grant information
- Summer Camp Resources at and near Northwestern
Services for Northwestern employees:
- Fee assistance programs for specific centers or pre-tax deductions
- Mothers' rooms -- Access to private rooms for nursing mothers on the Evanston and Chicago campuses.
Websites: