Resources for Parents

Ways to Find and Share Caregiving:

  • Bright Horizons Back-Up Care: Eligible employees are now able to access 200 hours (250 hours for an infant’s first year) of back-up care per academic year for a small co-pay for use when their regular care is not available. While this benefit is normally 150 hours, Columbia has added Fifty (50) additional hours for use through June 30, 2021. Click here for registration and reservation information.
  • Parent Connection: A new program developed by the Office of Work/Life that allows Columbia parents to connect with other Columbia parents who live in their neighborhood, go to the same school, or have children the same ages. Join Parent Connection and find colleagues with whom you might be able to share a caregiver or trade-off babysitting or remote learning supervision. Visit the Work/Life Website for more information.
  • Komae: A cooperative child care app that enables parents to identify and vet families with similar parenting styles and COVID-19 hygiene practices to build their pod for shared child care and education. This app is provided by an external vendor, but a Columbia-specific group has been established for Columbia parents working both at home and on-site. Click here for more information.
  • Bright Horizons’ SitterCity: Columbia employees have access to an enhanced free membership so that you can search for an onsite or virtual tutor to assist with remote learning or to help develop learning pods. They have also added access to a discounted nanny placement service. Click here for more information

Tutoring:

  • Bright Horizons: Discounts are available for three tutoring services: Varsity Tutors, Revolution Prep, and Marco Polo Learning. Click here for more information.
  • BarnardWorks: Post a tutoring or caregiver job with BarnardWorks. Barnard students (who are independent contractors) can then respond to your request. For more information see Barnard Student Employment. 
  • Other Organizations: A list of other tutoring services is available. These are not specifically endorsed or vetted by Columbia (please see disclaimer below) but can be accessed here using your UNI and password.

Financial Assistance:

  • Child Care Benefit: Eligible Officers, Non-Union Support Staff, Post-Doc Research Fellows and Local 100 employees who earn less than $130,000 per year can receive a $4,000 contribution from Columbia to a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA). Eligible employees who did not previously elect a DCFSA can add it due to COVID and receive a prorated Child Care Benefit; employees earning beyond the salary threshold can still add DCFSA and have pre-tax savings. Additional information can be found under Flexible Spending Accounts on the CUHR Website.

Additional Information:

  • NYC Department of Education Learning Bridges: Provides free child care options for a limited group of eligible children attending NYC DoE schools from 3-K through 8th grade on days when they are scheduled for remote learning. Details are available on the NYC Schools website.
  • Updates from Work/Life: Sign up for news from the Office of Work/Life.