• Adoption: Exploring Your Options [pdf] — As you begin to consider whether your family is ready to engage the adoption process, refer to this guide to help you assess and prepare.
• Guide for New and Expecting Parents [pdf] — This guide outlines some of the primary considerations related to welcoming a child, with special attention to the CMU programs, services and benefits that can help.
• Lactation Support Program — There are several lactation rooms on and off campus for breastfeeding individuals to express milk. These spaces are open to students, staff, faculty and guests. Users may need to request access to the space and are responsible for following the guidelines for lactation room use. The university also provides lactation-related support resources, including how to obtain a pump, how to address concerns, and where to go for additional support and guidance.
• Leave Options:
  • Guide to Time Off Options for New Parents [pdf] — Faculty and staff members have various leave options to take time away from work to care for children or family members.
  • Faculty Parental Leaves of Absence — Eligible faculty members are entitled to paid parental leave when adding a child to their family.
  • Staff Parental and Maternity Leave Program — The university provides paid leave for eligible staff members adding a child to their family.
  • Student Maternity Accommodation Protocol and Loans — The university offers two leave options for students who give birth during the course of the semester, and financial assistance is also available through an interest-free loan and stipend continuation. 

• On-Campus Child Care Options:
  • Children's School — Run by CMU's Department of Psychology, the Children's School offers developmentally appropriate preschool and kindergarten classes, as well as a laboratory for research in child development. Space is limited, so early inquiry is encouraged. Visit the Children's School Admissions page for an application to join the waitlist.
  • Cyert Center for Early Education — The Cyert Center is full-day child care and education program for children ages 12 weeks through kindergarten available to CMU faculty, staff and graduate students. Full-time benefits-eligible employees may be eligible for a Sliding Scale benefit that reduces the cost of tuition. Visit the Cyert Center website for enrollment information.
• Choosing Child Care:
  • Child Care Options to Consider [pdf]
  • Choosing High-Quality Child Care [pdf]
  • Interim Care Options [pdf]
  • Child Care in Pittsburgh: What to Expect [pdf]
  • Hiring an Au Pair [pdf]
  • Hiring a Nanny [pdf]
  • Allegheny County Child Care Finder
  • Pennsylvania COMPASS Child Care and Other Early Learning Programs Search
  • Pittsburgh Parent Child Care and Preschool Directory
• Financial Assistance:
  • Affording Quality Child Care [pdf]
  • Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
  • Cyert Center for Early Childhood Education Sliding Scale Benefit
  • GSA Child Care Grant — available to full time graduate students 
  • The CMU Pantry — provides students with food resources in addition to stocking such items as diapers and formula
• Concierge Service — Provides CMU faculty, staff and graduate students with information, support, guidance and education on all dependent care related topics, such as searching for child care centers to meet your needs, providing resources to assist in a nanny search, explaining how to set up a care share, finding options for interim or gap care, explaining federal assistance programs, and assisting with DCRAs and the Sliding Scale benefit. For assistance, contact the concierge service with the details of your request.
• CareLink — A network exclusive to members of the CMU community, you can use CareLink to both offer services and request help. Access CareLink to find assistance with child care, tutoring, pet care and household help.
• Care for Business — Eligible employees and graduate students receive a free premium membership to Care.com, where they can search provider profiles or post jobs. The program also provides access to emergency backup care options at a subsidized rate to cover unexpected gaps in care for children and adults. Specialists are available to help families looking to hire in-home caregivers, which can make the process of hiring a caregiver much simpler. The program also includes the LifeMart discount program, which provides discounts on a variety of products and services including child care.
• Forming Care Shares [pdf] — Use services provided by the university to create a shared child care arrangement. 
• Au Pair in America — Provides intercultural child care for your family. Au pairs offer child care that is flexible and dependable, full-service, and an enriching experience for the entire family. Au Pair in America offers a 5% program discount plus no application fee for all CMU faculty and staff; use discount code 402.

• Tutoring Resources for Families [pdf]
• Navigating Elementary School Options: Finding a Program That Works for Your Family [pdf] — This guide provides detailed information on school options in the Pittsburgh area, including factors to consider when comparing schools, regional school listings, and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program.
• Concierge Service — Provides CMU faculty, staff and graduate students with information, support, guidance and education on all dependent care related topics such as navigating public, charter and private school options; finding before and after school care and summer camps, finding tutoring programs and enrichment activities to meet your needs, and backup care for school closures.  For assistance, contact the concierge service with the details of your request.
• CareLink — A network exclusive to members of the CMU community, you can use CareLink to both offer services and request help. Access CareLink to find assistance with child care, tutoring, pet care and household help.
• Care for Business — Eligible employees and graduate students receive a free premium membership to Care.com, where they can search provider profiles or post jobs. The program also provides access to emergency backup care options at a subsidized rate to cover unexpected gaps in care for children and adults. Specialists are available to help families looking to hire in-home caregivers, which can make the process of hiring a caregiver much simpler. The program also includes the LifeMart discount program, which provides discounts on a variety of products and services including child care.
• Forming Care Shares [pdf] — Use services provided by the university to create a shared child care arrangement. 
• Pre-College Programs — Rising high school juniors and seniors can apply for CMU's Pre-College programs, which aim to mirror the undergraduate experience at CMU.
• Summer Camps [pdf] — This guide provides an overview of topics related to summer camps for children.

• Tuition Benefits — Benefits-eligible faculty and staff members can receive tuition remission or assistance for themselves and their dependent children. Courses may be taken at CMU or at another institution.
• 529 Plans — A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account that can be used to pay for qualified education costs, including college, K-12, and apprenticeship programs.

View listings of virtual and in-person activities, enrichment and classes by age group:

• Preschool and Elementary [pdf]
• Middle School [pdf]
• High School [pdf]

• Preventive Health Care for CMU Benefit Plan Participants — Faculty and staff members who have university-offered health plans qualify for certain preventive care benefits, which may include vaccines, exams and diagnostic tests. Review the preventive care guidelines for your specific health plan for more information.
• UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh — Renowned for its outstanding clinical services, research programs and medical education, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has helped establish the standards of excellence in pediatric care.
• UPMC Children's Express Care — After-hours children's urgent care facilities throughout the Pittsburgh area.
• UPMC Magee-Women's Hospital — One of the nation’s top hospitals specializing in women, Magee combines a wealth of specialty services with a traditional focus on gynecologic and obstetric services.
• West Penn Pregnancy, Birth and Newborn Services — West Penn Hospital offers care, services and support for pregnancy, labor and delivery, and neonatal care.
• The Midwife Center for Birth & Women's Health — The Midwife Center is a licensed and accredited freestanding birth center. The Center's Midwives and Nurse Practitioner take care of the reproductive health needs of individuals of all ages.
• Allegheny Health Network Urgent Care — Allegheny Health Network provides a variety of urgent care locations that offer care after normal business hours or when doctors' offices are closed.
• MedExpress Urgent Care — MedExpress offers in-person urgent care locations in addition to virtual visits.

• Pennsylvania's Promise for Children — Tools to help your child learn and grow
• Trying Together — Nonprofit organization that provides advocacy, community resources and professional growth opportunities for the needs and rights of children, their families and the individuals who interact with them
• Fred Rogers Productions: Parent Resources — Topics and advice from The Mister Rogers Parenting Book
• Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative — A group of organizations highlighting the importance of play, engaging in advocacy and hosting events
• Zero to Three — Organization focused on children from birth to age three, with articles and information on a variety of parenting topics
• Kidsburgh — Online community with articles, information, guides and resources for family-friendly events and activities in Pittsburgh
• Pittsburgh Parent — Magazine that covers topics related to family life, parenting, and events for children; with directories on child care programs and summer camps
• Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library — Allows families to borrow toys at no cost and offers an indoor play space and art room

• The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers — This agency provides early intervention service coordination for children with developmental concerns.
• The PEAL Center — Provides resources for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. 
• Matilda H. Theiss Child Development Center — Through UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, this center offers support for early childhood mental health.
• Allegheny Intermediate Unit — This agency provides special education and support services to local schools in addition to programming and education for families.
• The Children's Institute — The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh is the leader in innovative and integrated health care, education, and social services for children and youth with special health care needs.
• TEIS Early Intervention — TEIS provides early intervention services for children ages 0–3, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, developmental therapy and/or nutrition services.

• Care for Business — Eligible employees and graduate students receive a free premium membership to Care.com, where they can search provider profiles or post jobs. The program also provides access to emergency backup care options at a subsidized rate to cover unexpected gaps in care for children and adults. Specialists are available to help families looking to hire in-home caregivers, which can make the process of hiring a caregiver much simpler. The program also includes the LifeMart discount program, which provides discounts on a variety of products and services including child care.
• Concierge Service — Provides CMU faculty, staff and graduate students with information, support, guidance and education on all dependent care related topics such as researching long term care facilities; identifying assistance programs; finding senior centers, activities and companionship programs; finding in-home care agencies or explaining the Care for Business benefit; finding groups to offer support for elderly relatives or caregivers. For assistance, contact the concierge service with the details of your request.
• Area Agency on Aging — Assists Allegheny County residents 60 years and older to live safe, healthy and, when possible, independent lives. Services include health insurance counseling, protection from abuse and neglect, senior community centers, support for parenting grandparents, transportation, services for older adults who wish to remain in their homes, advocacy for people receiving long term care, and caregiver support.