“Right now, somebody has made afghans, little blanket kind of things, and donated them. So, we have those to give away [and] lots of fun stuff like that,” Virginia DeSpain, associate director of child care operations at the University of Utah, said.

There are two diaper bank locations on campus. One is in the A. Ray Olpin Union Building in Room 408. The other is in the Health Sciences and Education Building on the medical campus.

Two UKids daycares on campus are specifically for students and staff. One UKids center is in Presidents’ Circle. This center enrolls children by the hour. This means children can be enrolled while their parents have to do things like attend class.

The second UKids center on campus is in East Village near Sunnyside Ave. This center is full-time enrollment. Students can enroll their kids full-time five, three or two days a week depending on an individual’s needs.

Financial Help

Childcare can be difficult to pay for. This financial stress paired with the stress of funding a college education can be difficult. Childcare centers at the U provide a way to lighten the load.

“We have a federal grant called the CCAMPIS grant that lets us give a subsidy to help students pay for that childcare,” DeSpain said. “We’ll give students a subsidy that will pay up to 95% of the cost of childcare.”

If students make an income high enough that they won’t qualify for the CCAMPIS grant, the U can give students a middle-income subsidy. This grant has a higher income limit.

“If they have a special circumstance where they may not qualify but they have some kind of circumstance where they need help, then we’re still going to help them with childcare,” DeSpain said.

One program these childcare centers hold is a parent night out. These take place one Saturday once a month, and parents can leave their children at one of these centers for about three hours. This program is free for students and open to faculty and staff of the U for a small charge.

“We call it the little mental health break,” DeSpain said. “They can go out, they can go out on a date, they can go out and study, whatever they want. We’ll take care of their children so they can have a break.”

UKids centers also offer childcare for students during finals week.

Other Resources

The U also offers childcare referrals for parents who feel more comfortable going to a childcare facility closer to home. The U’s Student Parent Support Center can help them find care in whatever part of town they are looking to go.

Crimson Kids also offers free childcare during football games.

“I want parents to know that we’re here and that they can come and feel welcome,” DeSpain said. “They can find not only support but other parents and like-minded people who have been there and know how hard it is to go to school and have kids.”

The U’s childcare facilities currently take applications and maintain a waitlist.