Family and Caregiving Resources

The below policy applies to all Homewood campus affiliates. Note that the first paragraph specifically addresses resources for fulltime benefits-eligible staff and faculty, discussions are ongoing to update the language. Please contact the GRO with any questions or concerns, or would like to learn about welcoming spaces on campus. JHU Guidelines to Children in the Workplace 

Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Whiting School of Engineering should contact the Associate Vice Dean for Graduate Education and Lifelong Learning, Christine Kavanagh at least 90 days in advance of the need of a new child accommodation (or soonest possible date) to coordinate a plan with their advisor/department. 

Johns Hopkins recognizes the positive benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your child. We are committed to providing you with the information and support you need if you choose to breastfeed after returning to work. The Johns Hopkins Office of Work, Life and Engagement has created a guide for breastfeeding parents who would like to continue breastfeeding after returning to a fulltime office/lab schedule. 

The Johns Hopkins Human Resources website has a list of resources for finding child care. 

Grad students and post-docs are currently eligible to use a service called LOCATE: Child Care (contracted by JHU through Maryland Family Network) for assistance in locating affordable childcare where they live or work including individual counseling and assessment as well as referrals to programs with current openings. 

Outside of JHU, the state of Maryland provides links on how to select quality child care, along with a child care scholarship program. 

Johns Hopkins University offers financial support for licensed childcare to full-time employees, full-time doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, residents, and house staff who meet eligibility requirements. Information on childcare vouchers and other offerings can be found on the JHU Human Resources Benefits & Worklife hub. 

JHU scholarships are available for the three centers that are Johns Hopkins partners: Homewood Early Learning Center, Bright Horizons, and the Weinberg Early Childhood Center. These scholarships can be used in addition to vouchers. They are open to full-time employees of the university, post-doc students, full-time doctoral and medical students, residents, and house staff. Scholarships are available on a rolling basis, so a family can use them as soon as a spot opens in one of the three centers.  Read about Scholarships to JHU Partner Centers. 

The Homewood Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Parental Concerns Working Group is co-advised by the GRO Family/Health advocacy chair (when in office), a representative from the HW-PDA Eboard, in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs at WSE and Student and Academic Affairs at KSAS.  

The group is responsible for identifying pressing issues unique to grad and postdoc families- from childcare, new child accommodations, schools, balancing the academic load; identifying and clarifying resources both on and off campus; building community amongst grad and postdoc families, and advising leadership on needs and relevant policy development. 

Accomplishments include: highchair placement in Homewood campus dining facilities, the creation of a new child accommodation policy for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and stocking the Hopkins Food Pantry with baby food, diapers, supplies, and feminine hygiene products. 

For more information, please [email protected].