Family Resources

About

The Family Resource Center (FRC) at the University of Chicago is a welcoming space where families from the university community can access resources, information, and supportive programming and services. Since it was founded in 2006, the FRC has been a vibrant hub for graduate student and postdoc parents to network and engage with each other. Students can also join the Student Parent Listserv, a virtual resource where students can post questions, swap baby gear, and share advice with other student parents.

Location and Hours of Operation

The FRC is located at 950 East 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637

Phone: 773-795-KIDS (5437)

Hours:

• Academic Year: Monday – Friday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM and Saturdays, 10:00AM-4:00 PM
• Summer: Monday-Friday, 10:00AM-4:00 PM
• Closed during University holidays and breaks

Announcements and Programs

• The FRC will reopen June 18th. Hours of operation will be Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm.
• The FRC will be closed on Saturdays.
• Summer Drop-In Procedures
  UChicagoGRAD and the Family Resource Center will continue to provide free drop-in childcare for master’s, PhD and professional student parents during summer quarter, beginning Monday, June 18^th through Friday, August 17^th. Monday through Friday, 10a – 4:00p we will have three morning slots for children and three afternoon slots for children available every day to provide childcare on a first-come, first-served basis.  Underutilization in our initial pilot program, due to registration and student parent scheduling challenges, necessitated a change in the method students will secure childcare slots in this summer’s program. This summer will be a drop-in only program wherein students come to the FRC when it opens to secure a slot from 10:15-12:45  and come in at 1:00 to secure a slot from 1:15- 3:45. Students may sign up to have their child(ren) at the FRC while they work elsewhere in the building. Please note, this service is only available to UChicago students and not to non-student parents. The student parent must stay in the building while their child(ren) is at the FRC.

Policies, Procedures, and Required Forms

The FRC is free to all student families and postdocs.

A nominal fee of $100 per quarter or $350 for 12 months applies to staff/faculty/alumni earning over 90K annual income. For those earning less, the fee is $50/quarter or $175 for a full year.

All families must register with the Family Resource Center and submit the mandatory Consent and Release form found here.

At least one UChicago-affiliated family member per family will be required annually to come to the FRC to present a valid university ID card, fill out membership renewal forms, and participate in an orientation session, which will include an overview of FRC policies and procedures (available also in Spanish).

Child Care Cooperatives

The FRC facilitates child care cooperatives by connecting student and postdoc parents with similar child care needs. Those who are interested in learning more about this initiative should contact Lizanne Phalen.

Parent Resource Guide

Download the 2017-18 Parent Resource Guide here.

The University of Chicago offers need-based, annual child care stipends in the amount of $2,000 per year to eligible PhD student applicants. While not covering the bulk of child care expenses, these stipends are intended to help alleviate some of the financial hardship our student parents face while allowing them flexibility to tailor child care to their needs. Priority will be given to eligible applicants with the greatest need.

Application Process

Applications are accepted quarterly, beginning fall quarter 2017. One application per family will be considered. Application deadlines are 5:00 p.m CST on the following dates: June 22, 2018, October 5, 2018, January 11, 2019, and April 5, 2019. Incomplete applications and applications received after the 5:00 p.m. deadline will not be considered until the following deadline. Applicants are expected to provide information that is true, complete, and given in good faith. Applicants who falsify any information or supporting documentation will be required to pay back the stipend in full, will be deemed ineligible for future stipend awards, and will be referred for area disciplinary action. Students must apply annually and receiving the stipend in a previous academic year does not guarantee future support.

Download application here.

Eligibility

One application per family will be considered, and students of any citizenship may apply. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria below may apply, but applicants with the greatest need will be given preference. Students must apply annually and receiving the stipend previously does not guarantee future support. Child Care Stipend applicants must:

• Have dependent child(ren) born on or after July 1, 2007;
• Be registered in the quarter in which you receive the stipend, as a full-time UChicago PhD student in good academic standing;
• Be in good academic standing; and
• Hold valid visa and be eligible to receive income at the time of award (if applicable).

For security reasons we cannot accept applications via e-mail. Submit completed applications and materials via hard copy or fax (773.702.1194) to:

Lizanne Phalen
Family Resource Center
950 E. 61st St.
Chicago, IL  60637

Information for Awardees

Stipend payments are taxable to the recipient, and depending on the student’s immigration status, the University may have a legal obligation to withhold income taxes from the payment and report it. Recipients should consult a tax advisor for an understanding of their reporting obligations to the IRS. In order to receive the stipend, domestic students may be asked to provide copies of the Form W-9 and foreign students may be asked to provide copies of Form W-8, Form UPP-192, I-94 cards, and Form DS-2019. Child care stipends may also affect student loan borrowing eligibility, and awardees should consult Student Loan Administration with questions related to student loans. Stipend recipients who do not provide appropriate documentation when requested will forfeit their awards.

Questions

Contact Lizanne Phalen with questions.