TEA for Mothers

Finding the time to even look for scholarships while juggling undergrad and parenting is a feat in itself. Because being a student parent often means balancing high costs with less time for traditional work, many foundations have created gap-filling grants that go even beyond basic tuition, some may even be used for childcare or groceries.

Here are some scholarships currently available for mothers and single parents in 2026.

2026-2027 Scholarships For Mothers, Women, and Single Parents

Child Care Scholarship (CSS) Program

CSS provides financial assistance with child care costs to eligible working families in Maryland. Eligible families receive payment vouchers that can be utilized by child care providers. 

Learn more

Aunt Bertha

A search engine that provides results by ZIP code “for free or reduced cost services like medical care, food, job training, and more,” including childcare.

Learn More

Maryland Family Network

Resources and information regarding child care in Maryland, including voucher information.

• Lifemart Discount Program: 

  A Care@Work membership grants participants access to Lifemart, where they can find tuition discount vouchers for participating childcare centers. By searching by zip code, members can see which centers in their area are eligible. Among other local daycare providers, members receive a 10% discount at any KinderCare or Learning Care Group center. Click here for more information.

   

  Maryland Child Care Scholarship Program: Eligible families may receive financial assistance for regular childcare expenses through the Maryland State Department of Education. Maryland Excels allows individuals to verify if a specific provider participates in the state scholarship program (the UMD Center for Young Children is a participating provider on campus).

  For more information on Family Care, please visit the UHR website. 

   

  Perks@Work: 

  The brand new Living in College Park resource page provides UMD employees with valuable information on local housing options, discounts, and resources in the College Park area. The page highlights benefits available to those who live near campus, for both buyers and renters. This guide is a great resource for those looking to make the most of living in and around College Park. For more details, check out the full guide here.

PREGNANCY Related Conditions

Complete the Student Self-Identification Form for Pregnancy-Related Conditions.

Pregnancy-Related Conditions Resources Infographic (Printable PDF)

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy-related conditions, and requires that all educational institutions provide a range of reasonable adjustments to students who need them due to pregnancy-related conditions. These adjustments should be assessed on a case-by-case basis with interactive dialogue between the faculty/staff member and the student. 

Pregnancy-related conditions are defined as anyone undergoing a pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, or termination, recovering from any of the aforementioned conditions, or experiencing medical conditions related to any of the aforementioned conditions.

https://ocrsm.umd.edu/pregnancy

UMD IX Coordinator at Shady Grove

Angela Nastase, JD, Director and Title IX Coordinator
(301) 405‐1142
titleixcoordinator@umd.edu
https://ocrsm.umd.edu

Learn more about Title IX here at USG.

UMD's Office of Civil Rights & Sexual Misconduct

Being a working caregiver is challenging! Each employee’s situation is unique, but some of the most common challenges include:

• Arranging quality childcare
• Supervising (or arranging for someone to supervise) children or dependents’ remote learning while handling responsibilities at work – whether working on campus or remotely
• Caring for aging family members, either locally or from a long distance
• Managing care for younger children and aging parents/family members simultaneously 

CONTACT
Mercedes Lindsay
lindsaym@umd.edu

The University of Maryland is committed to supporting caregivers and families. This webpage is intended to serve as a one-stop resource for employees who need help with their caregiving responsibilities.

UHR Family Care Power Hour FAQs

Visit Family Care to learn more https://uhr.umd.edu/benefits-and-wellness/family-care

Care Talks

Register for Care Talks

Each academic year, the University requires that the following students either waive or enroll SHIP. The process for submitting your waiver/enrolling in SHIP for Spring 2026 will start on December 2nd.

If you enroll, the $2,806 annual premium is split between two semesters:

Fall: $1,176

Spring/Summer: $1,630

• The process for submitting your waiver/enrolling in SHIP for spring will close on February 15th.
• The process for submitting your waiver/enrolling in SHIP for fall will close on September 26th.

https://health.umd.edu/insurance-and-billing/mandatory-insurance-and-waiver

UMD Parents' Listserv

UMD parents can post wants/needs, items for sale, questions, and opportunities for families around campus. Email umdparents@googlegroups.com to request to join.

UMD Student Parent Club

The Student Parent Club aims to foster a sense of community among undergraduate students who are parenting, as well as cultivate a sense of affinity. The Student Parent Club aims to promote parent-centered activities, specifically designed to provide learning opportunities and enrichment for parents, while also facilitating family-friendly events. 

https://terplink.umd.edu/organization/studentparentclub

Can my university take away my merit or need-based scholarships if they find out I am pregnant?
No. Based on Title IX, schools are not allowed to end or reduce your merit or need-based scholarships based on pregnancy. If the student remains in good academic standing in your program, the student must be allowed to keep their financial aid and scholarships.

How will my pregnancy affect my federal grants and loans?
If the student is pregnant when filing FAFSA®, but the child will be born that award year, the student should still include the child in the household size. Be sure to preserve a copy of an ultrasound and other medical records just in case FAFSA® wants to verify the application
 

If the student has additional expenses such as medical expenses not covered by insurance or child day care expenses, they can request a cost of attendance increase. That request would be reviewed and considered based on medical expenses paid by the student not covered by insurance and child day care expense not to exceed the IRS allowance of $2,500. The cost of attendance is reviewed based on the academic year the expenses were incurred. For child day care expenses, financial aid is not able to cover cost associated with a nanny, childcare or anything considered tuition.

Lactation, Feeding & Family Spaces

USG offers private wellness rooms throughout campus to accommodate nursing. They are located at Building III, room 3236 and Building 4, room 1302. 

View the USG Map.

Child and Elder Care Services

Employees and GAs/TAs can learn about family care services offered at go.umd.edu/FamilyCare. The Bright Horizons Center offers care for children aged six weeks through five years old.

University Health Center at UMD

Their website (health.umd.edu/GRGSH) notes that "Currently enrolled students, as well as faculty and staff, are eligible for Gynecology, Reproductive, Genital, and Sexual Health Services. They are staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who are trained in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, and support of healthy patients as well as those with common problems and concerns."

They also offer a Sexual Health program with information for Free Safer Sex Supplies, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Contraception and Pregnancy Prevention resources, located at health.umd.edu/wellness-advocacy/sexual-health.

USG Center for Counseling and Well-being - IV-3139; Phone: 301‐738‐6273

Services provided at the Center for Counseling and Wellbeing are free, and client confidentiality is protected by law.

Student Crisis Fund

The Student Crisis Fund was established to provide compassionate aid to students who face unanticipated emergencies.

Learn More

Food Assistance

Please feel free to reach out anytime. 

Ramita Shrestha
Program Manager
rshrest5@umd.edu 

Francesca Polito
Program Director
fpolito@umd.edu