As a family-friendly campus, we want to support graduate students who are also parents by providing high-quality child care resources.
Use these resources to pursue the full graduate school experience while knowing your families are in capable hands.
GPSG Child Care and Family Guide
Written by graduate students who’ve been where you are, the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) Child Care & Family guide not only provides support in your child care search, but also connects you with family-oriented activities and services in the community.
Early Childhood Education Services
IU’s Early Childhood Education Services (ECES) provides year-round, high-quality care and education to children of IU faculty, staff, and students. ECES operates three centers and provides care for children as young as six weeks old.
The three IUB childcare programs offer fee assistance (10-15% discount) to income eligible full-time IU students. View the Guidelines for Child Care Fee Assistance document for more details.
Go to Early Childhood Education Services »
Child Care Vouchers
IUB Graduate students may be eligible for CCDF (Child Care Development Fund) vouchers if they are students AND working and meet income eligibility. More information can be found here. All three IUB childcare programs accept CCDF vouchers.
On My Way PreK
IUB graduate students who have a child(ren) age 4 by August 1st may be eligible for On My Way PreK. More information can be found here. Currently Hoosier Courts Nursery School enrolls children eligible for On My Way PreK. Other On My Way PreK providers can be found here.
Finding Child Care in Bloomington
The state of Indiana has an interactive, easy-to-use interface where families can search for programs near them, filter their search based upon their needs, communicate directly with programs, and claim available enrollment in real time.
Family and Social Services Administration regulates and oversees licensed Centers, homes, and registered ministries. They offer a service to help families find childcare within their community that includes licensing compliance. Go to the FSSA website and from the menu bar at the top select Find Child Care. Then select Find Child Care again. Fill out the survey. The site will generate a list of programs that match the needs you identified. When you select a program you will have the option to review licensing compliance information for that site.
Families may also receive personalized assistance in finding childcare through the area resource and referral organization CASY (Chances and Services for Youth). More information can be found here. Under option 1 you may call a 1-800 number or fill out a form and a specialist will get in touch.
Bloomington & Monroe County Child Care
The City of Bloomington publishes this comprehensive guide to local child care providers. A PDF is available to download, and copies of the guide can be picked up at City Hall.
Visit City of Bloomington guide »
IUB partnership with Care@Work
IU graduate students who are also employees of IU are eligible for a premium membership to Care@Work. Membership allows access the Care@Work web portal to find, book, and pay for caregivers online; find backup care; and explore Care@Work’s extensive library of resources for parents and caregivers. More information can be found here.
