The Office of Work/Life & Family Resources, in partnership with Northwestern Student Affairs and other University partners, supports the needs of Northwestern students who are parents, as they navigate the competing demands of academic and family life. Please contact worklife@northwestern.edu with questions or to set up an individual consultation.

Additional information regarding accommodations and resources for pregnant and parenting students from the Sexual Harassment Prevention Office can be found on their website.

Parenting & Childcare

Resources to support students who are parenting at any stage, from new parents to school age and beyond.

New Parents

• Schedule a New Parent Meeting with Work/Life & Family Resources
• Medical Leave of Absence

Finding Childcare

Search for child care providers, child care resource & referral services, priority enrollment child care centers, summer camps and more.

• Childcare Resources Overview
• Childcare Resource & Referral Specialist - Action for Children of Illinois
• Choosing Childcare - tips for beginning your childcare search
• Child, Family, and Pet Caregiver Search Tool - Login to the Northwestern Care.com Student Portal
• Nannyshare Network - connecting to other Northwestern families who are looking for a nannyshare
• Summer Camps

Childcare Centers - Offering priority enrollment & fee assistance to the Northwestern community.
Near the Evanston Campus:

• Bright Horizons @ Evanston
• McGaw YMCA Children's Center

Near the Chicago Campus:

• Bernice E. Lavin Early Childhood Education Center
• University Children's Center

Paying for Childcare

• Backup Care Reimbursement Program
• Childcare Fee Assistance

Center-Based Backup & Drop-in Childcare

Centers that offer special consideration for Northwestern families, for when regular care arrangements fall through.

• Backup & Drop-in Childcare

Community & Family Resources

Opportunities for families to connect with community resources, events, and activities.

• Community Family Resources Overview - Community resources in the City of Chicago, Evanston, and Suburbs

By Location:

Evanston & Northern Suburbs

• Evanston Public Library Kids' Calendar
• Family Action Network
• Gather Arts & Crafts Studio
• Kindermusik at Northwestern
• The Parent Circle

City of Chicago

• Chicago Parent Magazine
• Neighborhood Parents' Network Discount

Lactation Rooms

Locating lactation rooms on campus, requesting WildCARD access, and lactation room schedules.

• Lactation Rooms Locations & Request Access