Students of any gender enrolled in GSAS PhD programs are eligible for the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) program following a childbirth or adoption event.
Eligible GSAS PhD students receive a one-time supplemental stipend payment. This funding is intended to help with the additional expenses associated with a childbirth or adoption event. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the award amount is $7,319.
The contract between Harvard University and the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU-UAW) Local 5118 establishes a fund of $830,000 annually to subsidize the costs of childcare expenses of eligible salaried student workers. Information on the HGSU_UAW childcare fund can be found here.
2023-2024 Dates & Deadlines:
Application due October 31, 2023
Submit application by email to: kelly_nicolas@hms.harvard.edu
For students being paid from a T32 or F31 grant, NIH offers up to $2,500 in support for qualified childcare costs provided by a licensed childcare provider during the term of appointment. Childcare is supported for children up to age 13 (age 18 for children who are disabled). Contact dms_accounting@hms.harvard.edu if you think you qualify.
Harvard GSAS Student-Parents Organization
Provide a supportive community for fellow graduate students with children and host a variety of community-building events and initiatives.
Harvard Student Spouses and Partners Association
Promotes social fellowship and intellectual enrichment.
WATCH (Web Access to Care at Harvard) Portal
Connects student parents with providers of long- and short-term childcare, including occasional babysitting.
Office of Work/Life
The Office of Work/Life administers a variety of programs that provide support to the University’s graduate students, staff, and faculty.
Child Care Centers that are Harvard Affiliated (Cambridge and Longwood)
The ChildCare@Harvard website has a lot of information regarding what to ask and what to look for when you are looking for childcare.
Care.com
Care.com allows families to search for, vet, connect with, and ultimately select caregivers in a low-cost, reliable, and easy way. The site helps parents identify babysitters, nannies, childcare centers, family day care, camps, tutors, and special needs providers.