- 1 semester during pregnancy or a semester when the child is born/adopted
- Receive base grad assistant stipend, healthcare
- Still contracted for 20 hours, so can still qualify for State and Federal food and daycare subsidies
Childcare
- Bright Horizons at USC – UPC Child Development Ce
- Bright Horizons
- Other USC-affiliated early childhood education programs
Subsidies
- GSG Child Care Subsidy Grant USC $1800/semester
- WiSE Pregnancy fellowship 50% fellowship only for those departments
- WiSE childcare subsidy grant $2500/semester only for those departments
- Emergency fund $1000/year
- Student Basic Needs Supplemental Funding $1000
- Campus Support and Intervention Emergency Loan Program
Campus Resources and Support
- Lactation policies
- Lactation room locations
- Food Pantry
- Tommy’s Closet
- Family Caregivers Support Center
- USC Community Resource Center for Aging
- USC Fit Families
- Gender Equity Programs
- Student Basic Needs Housing Resource Guide
- Campus Support & Intervention – Within the Office of Campus Wellbeing and Crisis Intervention (usc.edu)
- It is a one-stop-shop for care and support, troubleshooting and advocacy. Helps students to connect with campus resources and provides options and pathways for success. Includes Health Leave Coordinators.
Healthcare and behavioral health and support
Academic and Graduate Assistant Work Accommodations
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- Although a normal pregnancy does not qualify as a disability under ADAAA, complications associated with pregnancy (e.g. gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, etc) that significantly limit one or more major life activities may constitute a need for disability accommodations. Students who are pregnant and have a complication associated with the pregnancy should register with OSAS and work with their office to establish necessary accommodations.
- If you have a pregnancy with complications or it has in some way caused you a disability, you should register and work with OSAS for accommodations.
- Registration form here
- Questions: reach out to osasfrontdesk@usc.edu. You can also ask directly for Madison Shaw at mfrisch@usc.edu
- More information on the exact OSAS policies and expectations are forthcoming
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- Any pregnant students who do not have a medical complication or disability should contact EEO-TIX for proactive support via supportive measures (e.g., academic accommodations, referrals to support resources, professor notifications, etc.). EEO-TIX can then work with the student to identify barriers and facilitate supportive measures.
- If you need accommodations due to caregiving responsibilities, the current policy is to reach out to the EEO-TIX office for assistance and guidance.
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- most often, they will have you work independently with each professor to create accommodations for your specific situation
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- More information about EEO-TIX can be found at their website.
- Title IX Prevents discrimination and harassment towards pregnant and parenting students
- EEO-TIX is working to establish a pregnant and parenting student task force with the goal of establishing more clear policies surrounding pregnant and parenting students at USC.
- Current EEO-TIX procedures for pregnant and parenting students are handled and decided on a case by case basis.
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- Contact EEOTIX at eeotix@usc.edu or (213) 740-5086 and explain what you are seeking assistance with
- A care manager will reach out and offer to schedule a support meeting
- During your meeting, your care manager will get your current and upcoming status and needs, and help you learn what support is available
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- Some accommodations that can be made include: assignment extensions, notification of professors of pregnancy and due dates, Housing or parking accommodations, Workplace modifications (if student employees), Schedule modifications, Other reasonably available supportive measures
Federal and Local Resources (non USC)
Assistance and Rights Resource Sites
- Findhelp.org way to find legitimate government and non-profit assistance programs
- The Pregnant Scholar parent and caregiver student rights
- California Childcare resource and referral network
- Student basic Needs Resource Guide
- Family Caregiver Toolbox
- Connections for Children: childcare subsidy
- Crystal Stairs Childcare Assistance Program
- Childcare Financial Assistance Program
Tax Credits
- CalEITC: Earned Income Tax Credits
- There are two EITCs: the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
- The amount of CalEITC you get depends on your income and family size.
- Young Child Income Tax Credit
- The Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) provides a credit up $1,083 per tax return for Californians who qualify for CalEITC and have a child under 6 years old.
Daycare and Preschool
- Pathways LA: daycare funding assistance accepted at USC child care centers
- Home - Crystal Stairs: daycare referrals and subsidies for residents of South Los Angeles
- Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles (ccala.net): an alliance of agencies that help provide subsidized child care vouchers to eligible families
- Upwards (formerly WeeCare): local childcare, preschool, nanny, and babysitter listings
- ECED / ECED Enroll Today (lausd.org): LAUSD Early Childhood Education Centers offer free childcare and preschool programs
Parent/caregiver support and social groups:
- Family Caregiver Support Center groups
- Mothers Support Group - Joy In Birthing Foundation: Free support group and Mommy & Me Class
Food Resources
- WIC https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/ assistance for when you are pregnant through school-aged children
- Cal-Fresh: Department letters stating hours of approximately 15-20 hours a week allow for student qualification. Savings ok but need to explain why you have the savings (medical bills, need a new car, etc...) https://www.getcalfresh.org/
- Free produce with EBT card: https://mothersnc.com/ and participating farmers markets https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project
- Free or low-cost food resources
- LA Community Fridges - made with softr.io
- Food Oasis free food directory connecting people needing food to nearby food pantries and meals.
- One Degree | Community resources near you (1degree.org)The website has a resource guide with information on food, housing and more. The guide is updated every weekday.
- World Harvest Charities and Family Services - Food Bank (worldharvestfoodbank.org)
Health Insurance and Providers
- No-cost medical, dental, and vision Medi-Cal
- BrightLife Kids - A CalHope Program by Brightline (hellobrightline.com): Free behavioral health coaching for parents, caregivers, and kids 0–12.
- Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center:
- OBs and top-rated maternity care within the student health services a Tier 1 provider under SHIP/Aetna
- Free birthing and lactation classes
- Onsite Keck Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic
- Keck Los Angeles - Maternal Fetal Medicine https://internalmedicine.usc.edu/locations/1300-n-vermont-ave-los-angeles/
- Other free prenatal, birthing, lactation, and childcare classes and support groups
- Fertility
- Reproductive Partners Medical Group, Inc.: Accepts SHIP/Aetna student health insurance for reproductive health and basic fertility treatment and counseling (*NOTE Student health insurance plans are exempt from CA laws requiring infertility treatment coverage. Most treatments are NOT covered by Aetna student health; contact Aetna directly to confirm coverage.)
Free Parenting Support and Education
- Parenting - Claris Health: Free parenting classes and support services
- Bright By Text | Prenatal And Parenting Advice By Text Message
- Baby Milestones App - Pathways.org: Free child development, milestone tracker, and activity app
- BrightLife Kids - A CalHope Program by Brightline (hellobrightline.com): Free behavioral health coaching for parents, caregivers, and kids 0–12.
- Regional Centers - CA Department of Developmental Services: CA Department of Developmental Services: Free assessments, services, and parenting classes for children with or suspected of having a developmental delay
Free First Aid/CPR Classes
- Free CPR Class in Los Angeles | Critical Care Training Center (acls123.com)
- CPR-FLYER-2022.pdf (lacare.org)
Free or Low-Cost Enrichment and Sports Programs
- YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles (ymcala.org) (sliding scale membership)
- Los Angeles Community Colleges
- College for Kids Classes - LACC Extension (augusoft.net)
- Los Angeles Trade Tech K-8 Students | LATTC
- East Los Angeles College Community Services (augusoft.net): Programs include arts and crafts, music, dance, fitness, sports, educational and career development classes. Classes are offered for nearly every age group, from toddlers to seniors.
- Welcome to Kids Path | Los Angeles Public Library (lapl.org)
- MUNICIPAL SPORTS | City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks | City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (laparks.org)
Upcoming: GSWOC Resources for Dependents (beginning August 2024)
- Childcare Fund
- Total Fund: $400,000
- Subsidy: $1,800 per semester, per child under 6 years old.
- Dependent Healthcare Fund
- Total Fund: $250,000
- Subsidy: $2,500 per semester.
- Includes, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision costs
- Unused funding will roll over to the following year.
- For more contract details visit https://www.gswoc-usc.org/, follow them on IG
- Attend a Know your Rights Training
- Questions, email them at info@gswoc-usc.org
Steps for going on parental leave
- Request for Parental Leave for PhD Students
- a copy of the offer letter (the letter you were admitted with)
- primary caregiver statement
- one of the following:
- a verification of pregnancy signed by a US doctor (available at USC Student Health Center) or
- a birth certificate for the infant child or
- a statement of adoption from an adoption agency
All these items get turned into the graduate school for requesting leave
The Guidelines
PhD students who meet the following criteria are eligible for a one-semester parental leave:
- If they are pregnant or are the primary caregiver of their newborn child or adopted child under six years of age
- The student has completed at least one semester in their PhD program and is making good progress
- The student was admitted with an offer letter for a 4 or 5-year "package" consisting of support through any combination of teaching assistantship, research assistantship, and fellowship
Parental leave may be taken during the semester in which the child is born or adopted, or during the semester immediately following. A student on approved parental leave receives the base graduate assistant stipend from the Graduate School for one semester. Individual schools are expected to top off the base stipend to the level of the stipend stipulated in the student's offer letter and to cover the cost of the student's USC student health insurance and student health center fee. Students should enroll in GRSC 804 to ensure continued access to health insurance and the monthly stipend. While on parental leave, students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Students with loans should consult with the Office of Financial Aid before beginning parental leave. International students should discuss the parental leave with the Office of International Services to be sure there are no unforeseen issues related to their visa status.