Child Care Information

The Center offers a comprehensive resource and referral program to assist those in the MIT community needing to find, or currently using, child care services for infants, preschoolers, and school-age children, including child care centers, family child care, nannies and babysitters, after-school programs, temporary care providers, and playgroups. The Center offers listings and guidance on the search and selection process.

Coordinated by Kathy Simons, M.S. , Manager, Work/Life and Child Care Initiatives, the program provides an array of resources for families including, but not limited to:

Briefings & Consultations
Infant/Toddler Child Care Briefing	An introductory discussion for expectant parents and those new to parenting or child care, covering types of care, costs, finding and evaluating care, and parental leave. I/T Briefings are open to the MIT community only, and are held twice monthly from 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 16-151 ; pre-registration is required. Check out the Center's briefings page for upcoming sessions.
Short-term/Back-up Child Care Briefing	An overview of options to help prepare for and handle temporary child care needs, including care for children who are mildly ill and care during times when regular providers r programs are not available. For benefits-eligible employees, these options include the new Backup Childcare and Eldercare Program. Back-up Care Briefings are open to the MIT community only, and are held once a semester from 12:00 - 1:00 PM in Room 16-151 ; pre-registration is required. Check out the Center's briefings page for upcoming sessions.
Consultations	Meet with Kathy Simons, at no charge, for a confidential consultation to talk over any child care issue, such as easing the transition to a new child care situation, handling concerns, the effects of day care on children, careers in the field of early childhood, and how to become a licensed family child care provider. Consultations, typically one hour in length, are by appointment and open to members of the MIT community only: call 617-253-1592, or reach us by e-mail.

Resources
Choosing Child Care	The Center's comprehensive guide to child care options, regulations, quality, cost, and the search process. Download as a PDF or request from the Center.
Cambridge Child Care Centers	The Center's detailed listing of preschools and child care centers in Cambridge. Download as a PDFor request from the Center for the detailed list.
Saving Money on Child Care Expenses	The Center's overview of resources offering eligible families some help with the cost of child care, including the MIT Dependent Care Reimbursement Program, MIT Scholarship programs, federal child care tax credit, and state subsidy programs. Download as a PDF or request from the Center.
Family Child Care Screening Forms	A telephone screening form and home-visit checklist. Download as a PDF or request from the Center.
Choosing In-Home Care	The Center's guide to selecting nannies, au pairs and babysitters. Download as a PDF or request from the Center.
Advertising Child Care Positions	Advertising resources within and outside the MIT community. Download as a PDF or request from the Center.
MIT Babysitter List	An unscreened list of MIT-affiliated sitters, including students and student spouses, available to provide occasional care in a child's home. Available to members of the MIT community in hard copy only; request from the Center.
In-Home Child Care Nanny Agency Listings	A list of agencies offering screened referrals to nannies, au-pairs, post-partum (newborn) care providers, and babysitters. Available in hard copy only; request from the Center.
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ' searchable database of licensed child care centers, family child care providers, and after-school programs in Massachusetts. Also, information on licensing requirements for centers and family child care.
Massachusetts Child Care Resource and Referral Network	Connects parents to one of fourteen designated child care resource and referral agencies, offering information, referral, training and technical assistance to parents, child care providers, employers and community groups.