Resources for Students with Children
If you are looking for information not found on this page,
please contact kids@gsc.upenn.edu.
PennCard and Campus Services
Your spouse/domestic partner can access many campus services, but he/she will need a
PennCard first.
A spouse/domestic partner PennCard provides access to
certain libraries, free Penn transit, and other services on campus.
You and your family members can also use Penn's
recreational facilies, but each family member must each have a valid PennCard.
Please note that for the most part, young children's access is restricted and
only allowed when accompanied by a parent/guardian. We advise you to discuss
with recreation membership staff what will be appropriate for your children before
purchasing a PennCard and gym membership.
Health Insurance
Penn requires that all full-time and dissertation students have health
insurance. Students can elect the
Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) or other acceptable alternative coverage.
Penn Student Insurance Plan
The
Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) is available for all students, as well as
their dependents (spouses, domestic partners and children). You will be
automatically enrolled in the PSIP unless you provide proof of acceptable
alternative coverage by the deadline. However, your dependents are not
automatically enrolled in PSIP; you must enroll them through the on-line system.
For more information about PSIP, the costs, and how to enroll, go to
the Student Health Insurance
website.
Private Insurance
There are other health insurance options in addition to PSIP, but your
private insurance must qualify as acceptable alternate coverage.
The Student Health Insurance
website has more information about
acceptable alternate coverage requirements.
For more information about private health insurance options, including options
for low-income families, please visit the
Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Low-income families may also want
to review information about the Children's
Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Additional information about these programs and other
social services for Pennsylvania residents is available through the
Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website.
Finally, there is also useful information at
Covering Kids & Families.
Healthcare
Student Health Service
You and your spouse/partner can use Penn's Student Health Service, even if
you are not enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Your spouse/partner
needs a
PennCard and will be charged on a fee-for-service basis.
The Student Health Service website has
more information. Children, however, are not eligible to use Student Health, so you
will need to find a pediatrician for your children. Your health insurance plan can
help you identify an appropriate pediatrician.
Healthcare during Pregnancy
Expectant mothers can go to Penn's Student Health Center for
Women's Health
services, which are available even if you are not enrolled in the Student Health
Insurance Plan. The
Penn Pregnancy Center and Penn Ob/Gyn
Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) offer classes, information, and newsletter for Penn
employees, students, and their spouses. To participate, you must have health
insurance that allows you to receive care at HUP.
Additionally, the Philadelphia
Alliance for Labor Support provides
trained labor and birth support people (doulas) free of charge to women who
would otherwise be unable to access doula care.
Finally, you can also check your health insurance carrier for a list of
Ob/Gyn doctors in their network.
Childcare
There is a daycare facility on campus: The
Penn Children's Center is located at 3160 Chestnut Street; be aware that there
is a long waiting list to enroll.
Penn Children's Center is running an Evening Childcare pilot program
The pilot program, beginning October 1, 2012, will provide two evenings of child care services at the Penn Children’s Center in the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 semesters,
available to all Penn faculty, staff, and students. Care will be available from 6 PM – 8 PM on Mondays and Thursdays, for children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years.
In addition, the Parent Infant Center
is located near campus. The University maintains a list of
all childcare centers near campus.
Pennsylvania's Human Services Department provides an
on-line childcare provider search database to find providers throughout the state. In addition, Pennsylvania's Department of Education provides
a helpful checklist
when looking for a provider.
Low-Income families may qualify for
Pennsylvania's "Child Care Works" Subsidized Child Care Program.
For more information about these programs and additional resources for
Pennsylvania parents, check out the
Child Care Information Services of
Philadelphia website.
Housing
Students with spouses/partners can apply for campus housing in Sansom Place.
There is currently no campus housing for students with children; however the
Office of Off-Campus Services
can help students with families to find suitable housing. You should also
review information about the various
neighborhoods in Philadelphia to decide what's best for you and your family.
Schools in Philadelphia and Surrounding Areas
Local public schools:
In addition, the Philadelphia region offers several alternatives to public schools:
You may also find the information and rankings from Great Schools to be helpful. This nonprofit organization collects, manages, and
freely distributes information about private and public area schools with parents as the primary audience.
Parenting Resources on Campus & on the Web
New Parents at Penn
Supports new parents and parents-to-be, including students, employees and partners.You can also find
a
New Parents @ Penn Group on Facebook.
Working Parents' Association @ Penn
A virtual community that shares discussions about the struggles and joys
as we juggle our roles as workers and parents in and out of the home.
Join the online group!
Grad School Mommy
A blog by a woman trying to manage her roles as parent, wife, and PhD student.
Written by a former Graduate Fellow of Penn's Grad Center.
Children's Health Tips
Health tips from the physicians at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
NewsforParents.org
Provides clear, concise, jargon-free news and information related to
children's health, development and education.
Penn Special Delivery
Penn Special Delivery is a prenatal membership program for students and employees and spouses
at the University of Pennsylvania. Registration is necessary. Call as soon as you know
you are expecting so you don't miss out on any services, which include free childbirth classes;
no personal balance billing of co-pays for certain fees not covered by insurance; prenatal appointments;
and more. Call 1-800-789-7366 to confirm your eligibility.
Baby Changing Stations on Campus
Several campus buildings have baby-changing stations located in their
bathrooms.
Several other buildings
are scheduled to get baby-changing stations, including the
