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Raising Children

Two young girls holding hands and running down a path while looking at the camera.

Parenting is hard work - every parent can use a helping hand along the way. From babysitting and tutoring to healthcare and well-being (your child’s but also importantly, your own!), there are a variety of needs and issues that can and will arise. The University offers the following benefits and additional resources to support working families.

If you are aware of a local resource, summer camp, etc. that you think may be of interest to other families, please don’t hesitate to share additional resources with us via this Google form! 

Back Up Care, Babysitting, & Tutoring

Notre Dame provides a back-up care benefit to assist faculty, staff, and graduate students in managing personal commitments through Bright Horizons.  This program includes back-up care for unexpected, short-term child care needs and virtual tutoring along with an online provider directory for on-going family care solutions.

  • Bright Horizons - Provides short-term, last-minute child and elder care services, virtual camps, and virtual tutoring for low, University-subsidized co-payments. 
  • Sittercity - Activate your free membership to connect with care providers.
  • JOBoard - Post care needs for which ND students can apply! Search for the Student JOBoard Submission Form on InsideND.
  • Free Time Kids Playcare - Free Time Kids Playcare offers a safe and fun environment for your child - drop-ins welcome, memberships available but not required, no enrollment fees. This center also offers a flexible preschool program, afternoon enrichment classes, seasonal camps, and Saturday date night events. Located on University Drive in Mishawaka (near Aladdin's). Open 8AM-6PM Tuesday - Friday.
    • ND employees can get 50% off memberships - just mention you work at ND and show your ND ID! Both members and non-members can also get 10% off drop-in rates by showing their ND ID.
  • YMCA of Greater Michiana - In addition to daycare, preschool, and a monthly "Kids Night Out," the YMCA also offers "Must Do Mornings." Parents can utilize the Childwatch area for their kids and have the opportunity to leave the building to complete any must-do tasks from 9AM-12PM. Advance registration (at least 24 hours) is needed.
  • The Kroc Center - The Kroc Center's Afterschool STEAM University (ASU) offers a safe, fun, and enriching environment for children ages 5 through 11 to go to after school. Additionally, on scheduled days off with the South Bend Community School Corporation, feel free to sign your kids up for the Kroc Center's School's out Day Camp! This service is also available on snow days/eLearning days.
  • TutorND - Tutoring services for the children of ND employees as well as other children in the local area.
  • AskRose - Free drop-in homework help in math and science for children in grades 6-12 provided by students from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Community Programs & Camps

  • Summer Camp Resource - This sheet contains information for over 80 summer camps and other local organizations (please note the 3 tabs at the bottom).  These camps span a variety of interests and timeframes (both full day and partial day) throughout the summer.
  • Robinson Community Learning Center - Since 2001, the Robinson Community Learning Center has provided a variety of programs benefiting children and adults in the northeast neighborhood of South Bend. RCLC has a state licensed preschool and is a state recognized tutoring site. The designations allow RCLC to serve the youngest members of the community in a high-quality, state-of-the-art learning environment — regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Priority access to programs is given to families who live in the 46617 zip code and whose incomes are below the federal poverty threshold.

Healthcare & Well-Being

  • Notre Dame Wellness Center
    • This onsite workplace wellness center offers healthcare and pharmacy services for benefit-eligible University faculty, staff, and their eligible dependents.  Employees and their eligible dependents can utilize the Wellness Center for their pediatric and family care medical needs as well as emotional well-being services and wellness coaching.  Learn more about the services the Wellness Center provides.
  • Anthem provider search
    • Access your Anthem account to search for in-network providers, including pediatricians, primary care providers, and specialists.  You can search by type of care or procedure needed.
  • Summus
    • Summus provides participants virtual access to a network of world-class medical experts and specialists. This concierge service will assist members with their medical issues while helping to navigate the complex world of medicine.
    • Summus also offers regular master classes that include topics around parenting and raising children.
  • LiveHealth Online
    • Anthem's digital service provides an easy and convenient way to see a doctor when your little one isn't feeling well.
  • Family First Aid & CPR for Moms, Dads, and Caregivers (Udemy course - access ND's account through SSO)
  • Calm
    • Enhance your mindfulness and decrease your stress through the Calm app.
      • Calm's "Disney Princess" program and "Paw Patrol" program help kids calm their nerves, feel less anxious, and sleep better.
      • Calm also offers parenting content, like a masterclass called "Conscious Parenting" and a series called "Parenting Mindfully."  Search for them on the app!
  • Well-Being for Life platform
    • The Well-Being for Life platform helps you achieve your health goals - while earning rewards - with a fun and engaging experience that delivers powerful resources right to your fingertips. Employees also receive free access to the following apps within the Well-Being for Life platform.
      • Enrich - Financial well-being application that provides personal finance tools and budgeting guidance.
      • Foodsmart - Nutrition application that makes eating well simple with access to thousands of recipes and grocery lists.
      • Koa Health - Emotional well-being application with a full library of content related to supporting children, burnout, sleep, loneliness, and so much more.
      • Wellbeats - Virtual fitness application that provides access to a video library of more than 800 exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness classes that cater to any age, gender, interest, or ability level, including family fitness classes.
  • Employee Assistance Program (CareBridge)
    • In addition to providing resources for emotional support, CareBridge offers life management and work-life assistance as well as a training center that addresses multiple areas, including a variety of parenting topics.
  • RecSports
    • Notre Dame employees, their spouses, and their children are welcome to utilize the RecSports spaces on campus.  Spouses must fill out an access form and set up a spouse account.  Children can use the specified facilities during family hours (noted on the "All Hours" page).

Children with Disabilities

Local Resources

  • ADEC - ADEC proudly advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can live lives full of informed choice and possibility.
  • Advocacy Links - Their staff is dedicated to finding resources and filling the gaps in or between services for individuals with varying levels of ability, regardless of age or funding stream.
  • A Place to be Me (Children's Dispensary Programs) - An organization that meets the communities' need for positive social, educational, and recreational activities for persons with developmental, physical, and cognitive disabilities.
  • A Rosie Place for Children - Children who are medically fragile come to A Rosie Place for respite stays. During this time, parents are given the gift of time to go on a date night, experience fun activities with their healthy children, or enjoy much needed rest.
  • Best Buddies - Offers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities one-to-one friendships, employment opportunities, leadership development training, and group homes.
  • Challenger Little League - The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League Baseball to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges 4-21 (or until completion of high school) to enjoy the game of baseball.
  • Chiara Home - A service of The Logan Center, Chiara House provides respite care for all individuals with special needs of all age groups. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Faculty/Staff Caregiver Support Group
  • IN*SOURCE - IN*SOURCE exists to help parents of children with disabilities navigate the complicated special education process in the state of Indiana. 
  • Logan Center Wellness Program - An active and engaging summer camp for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
  • Michiana Down Syndrome - Support and advocacy group focusing on improving the lives of individuals with Down Syndrome and their families
  • Reins of Life - Therapeutic horseback riding
  • Special Olympics St. Joseph County (area 1 in Indiana)
  • Special Outdoor Leisure Opportunities (SOLO) - SOLO provides outdoor educational and recreational winter opportunities for persons with disabilities from St. Joseph and nearby counties.
  • Summer Camps

State/National Resources

  • Bureau of Disabilities Services - BDS administers programs that support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live their best life through community supports and residential options. 
  • Children’s Special Health Care Services Program of Indiana - Supplemental insurance to help families of children with serious chronic medical conditions
  • Disabilities Resources Index (Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities)
  • FINDER - Indiana Disability Resource Finder; directory of services, programs and helpful articles for the disability community
  • Indiana Education Scholarship Account Program - Provides students with disabilities throughout the state of Indiana access to the educational environment that best meets their learning needs.
  • Indiana Institute on Disability and Community - Connects Indiana University to the broader Indiana community through the sharing of ideas and innovations to improve communities and lives.
  • L’Arche - L'Arche communities provide homes and workplaces where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers, create inclusive communities, and transform society through relationships that cross social boundaries.
  • Rising Kites - Provides resources to families who have a child with a Down Syndrome diagnosis. They offer a database of resources organized by state, and have support groups for families.
  • Some 1 Like You - Matches children who have been diagnosed with rare diseases with other children who have the same diagnosis so they can establish mutually edifying friendships.

Additional Resources