Penn Family Resource Center

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Family Resource Center

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.

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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.

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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. 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.

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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.

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Schools in Philadelphia and Surrounding Areas

Local public schools:

• Philadelphia County public schools
• Delaware County public schools
• Montgomery County public schools
• Chester County public schools
• Bucks County public schools
• Camden County (New Jersey) public schools

In addition, the Philadelphia region offers several alternatives to public schools:

• Local parochial (Catholic) schools
• Local private schools, including religious affiliations

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.

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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.

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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.

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Baby Changing Stations on Campus

Several campus buildings have baby-changing stations located in their bathrooms.

• Houston Hall
• Graduate Student Center
• Law School
• Nursing Education Building
• Medical School

Several other buildings are scheduled to get baby-changing stations, including the

• School of Social Policy & Practice
• Graduate School of Education
• School of Design
• Annenberg School
• College Hall

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Before You Arrive

For incoming students with children, there are so many issues to take care of before you arrive on campus: finding housing, daycare, schools, etc. In April 2012 we offered an online session providing information about these and other issues for incoming students with families. You can review a recording of the session to get the information we presented.

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