Before You Arrive: For Students with Children
Finding child care in a new city can be a challenge, especially if you are in the process of moving, finding an apartment, starting a graduate program, and settling a family simultaneously. Talking to other grad students with children is probably the best way to find child care, education, insurance, physicians, and activities that meet your specific needs, but here are a few ideas...
Child Care
The University Child Development Center's goal is to encourage and support each child to grow to his or her fullest potential in all areas of development. Children from six weeks to six years old attend the Center; there is also a Summer School-Age component. The Center is not exclusively for university-related families.
Teachers work with children individually and in small and large groups, identifying strengths and helping children to identify positively with each of their individual differences. The Center is conveniently located near the Pitt campus.
The Center works from the "extended family" concept. For student parents, as well as for their children, support, encouragement, and assistance are vital components of personal and professional success. The teachers act as facilitators and nurturers. The environment is respectful of children's work (art, blockbuilding, sand and water play, science, dramatic play, computers, outdoor play). Children go for walks and take field trips.
Classroom teachers meet with parents formally twice a year, but are, of course, available every day to talk to parents. Parents of infants receive daily written reports. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
There is usually a long waiting list (at least a year), so parents should put their children on the list as soon as they know they might need the Center's services. This can be done by filling out an Enrollment Request Card and paying a small non-refundable application fee
Other Places to Get Child Care
The Get Well Rooms in Oakland and Squirrel Hill offer day care to children (up to the age of 12) who are too sick to go to their regular day care centers or elementary schools but not too sick to necessarily warrant Mom or Dad staying home from work or classes. Parents need to call first at to see if their children can come in that day. You need to register (currently $15) in advance to be able drop your children off if they are ill. For more information call (412) 641-1990
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh at the corner of Forbes and Murray in Squirrel Hill has a child care program that includes after-school care. Rates tend to be higher than the University Child Development Center but sometimes financial aid is available. Call (412) 521-8010.
Pittsburgh Public Schools have some Headstart Programs and Early Care & Extended Day Program Centers for children ages 2-5.
The YMCA provides some childcare on campus and the YWCA has a Child Care Resource and Referral program. Call 1-800-392-3131.
Children's Education in Pittsburgh
When I decided to pursue my PhD program in the United States, one of my main concerns was what to do about my children's education. I was able to come to Pittsburgh for a short visit 6 months before the beginning of my program and that gave me the opportunity to look around a little bit, yet it did not seem enough. I was able to be in contact over e-mail with some graduate students who were parents and when I came to Pittsburgh to visit, they were very helpful.
When we came to Pittsburgh, my children were 4 and 2 years old and therefore could not get into the public school system (which accepts kids 5 years or older to start in the Kindergarten programs). I wanted them to be enrolled in some kind of educational program because they did not speak English at the time and I wanted them to learn it; also because I wanted them to make friends and feel part of the community's life in the United States. Therefore I had to look for what is called here in the United States a private Day Care Center or Preschool to enroll my children.
One of the things that struck me at first was the high cost of this private care, which can run as high as $600 per month for a child who attends five days per week on a full-time basis. However, I found out that there were several options, such as having them attend only for a few hours per day or for a couple of days per week (which was what we decided).
My first choice—because I had heard a lot of good comments—was the University of Pittsburgh's Day Care Program. I went there to register my children when I came for a short-visit to Pittsburgh. However, they advised me to also look for other alternatives because the waiting list was long and there was no assurance that they could get in in the fall. One thing is important for all new grad students to know: most day care centers are difficult to get in if you register too late. Therefore, whatever you can do to enroll them early, go ahead.
What to look for in a day care? I guess just by visiting the place and talking to the Director (they usually give you a tour of the place), you can get a good idea of how organized, clean and safe it is. Also check if it has green areas for the children to play. One important thing is to see where it is located. Pittsburgh is a relatively safe city, but there are some areas of the city which are not as nice and safe. (Note: Check for certification, as well, when evaluating a day care option. -Stephanie Maietta-Pircio, Linguistics)
There are plenty of day care centers. A good source is the Yellow Pages or the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh resource page on parenting. Another is a publication called "Pittsburgh Parent"—fax: (724) 443-1877. I concede that it is very difficult to decide if you're making the right decision with limited information and without visiting the place. In this case, maybe being in contact with other student-parents in Pittsburgh can help. Or maybe one of the parents can come before the program starts (for a short visit) or come before the family arrives.
If you have older kids (5 or older), look for a school district (public) which has a good reputation. Local school districts in the U.S. differ greatly, even from one neighborhood to another. Another possibility is the religious schools, in particular the Catholic schools, which have a long tradition of academic excellence in the USA. (Since they are supplemented by the parish or diocese, these schools are often much less expensive than private day care, although independent Catholic schools, such as Carlow, can be costly. -Stephanie Maietta-Pircio, Linguistics)
Dinorah Azpuru
Political Science
The PA Dept of Education maintains a Web site of all kinds of information about various education options for student in Pennsylvania, including "Report Cards" which compare test results from different school districts to the State averages (see http://www.paprofiles.org/).
For family oriented fun check out About.com's Web site about Pittsburgh.