Finding Child Care

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Child care is critical to working parents, and Harvard understands that finding the right fit for your family means considering numerous factors. You are encouraged to review the options below to see what may best meet your needs.

On-Campus Child Care

Allston and Cambridge

Seven child care centers operate on Harvard’s Cambridge and Allston campuses. Each center has its own characteristics and culture, so families are encouraged to familiarize themselves with information provided below.

Feel free to contact any center directly, email the Executive Director of Campus Child Care, or email the Office of Work/Life. For more information on the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, please visit EEC's website.

Learn more about the on-campus child care centers:

  • Campus Child Care, Inc. is the independent, nonprofit operator of the child care centers on Harvard's campuses. To learn more about CCC, please visit their website.
  • Application and Enrollment information: Read Work/Life's FAQs for information on the application and enrollment processes and the role of the Harvard affiliation. Read CCC's FAQs for complementary information on application and enrollment, and for detailed information on center policies.
  • Application fees: Find answers to questions specifically about application fees.
  • Online application: You can apply to all seven centers via a single online application. We encourage you to read about individual centers before applying.
  • Individual center information: Find contact information, rates, age groups, schedules and hours. Read about individual centers. Read CCC's FAQs for information on child care center policies, and life in the centers.
  • Visiting centers: If you would like to know more about an individual center, please feel free to contact directors.
  • Western Avenue Children’s Center (WACC) has opened at 114 Western Avenue. Starting small, it will grow to its full size over time. As part of Harvard’s cooperation agreement with the City of Boston, a limited number of spots in this new center will be initially reserved for residents of Allston zip codes 02134 and 02135. In addition, families who reside in these zip codes ― and who are not eligible for any other Harvard scholarship ― may apply for a means-tested child care subsidy. For more information, please email the Harvard Office of Work/Life.

Harvard Longwood Campus 

Affiliates of Harvard Medical School, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and others on the Harvard Longwood Campus may have access to the Longwood Collective-managed Longwood Medical Area Child Care Center (LMACCC).

Off-Campus Group Child Care

High-quality, affordable child care is in high demand in the greater Boston area. The following resources are designed to make your search a little easier. Only you know what child care arrangements will be right for your family. We encourage you to review these and other available resources and to carefully consider the safety and appropriateness of any child care provider or setting.

  • If you are a benefits-eligible Harvard employee, you may use the free dependent-care resource and referral service available through Harvard’s Employee Assistance Program.
  • Any member of the general public can get a list of licensed family day care providers and group child care centers in your community by visiting the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
  • If you live in Cambridge, visit the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood for a summary of city resources for child care and other early-childhood supports.
  • Several nonprofit agencies are members of the Massachusetts Child Care Resource and Referral Network and can help you find child care:
    • Child Care Choices of Boston serves Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Somerville, Revere, and Winthrop.
    • Child Care Circuit serves several towns near Harvard’s campuses including Arlington, Belmont, Medford, Newton, and Watertown, as well as many others.
    • Community Care for Kids serves Braintree, Cohasset, Dedham, Hull, Milton, Needham, Quincy, Randolph, Wellesley, Weston, and Weymouth.

In-home Child Care/Babysitters

  • Online search for caregivers through Care.com membership: If you are a benefits-eligible Harvard employee, you have unlimited, free access to Care.com, a self-service online database of caregivers. Visit the HARVie Care.com page to learn about all of the services available through Care.
    Only you know what child care arrangement will be right for your family. We encourage you to review these and other available resources and to consider the safety and appropriateness of any child care provider or setting. Care.com offers a safety center which includes a menu of additional background checks that you can purchase to supplement information supplied by caregivers on the digital platform.
  • Note:You must register before you need it! To use any service provided by Care.com, Harvard faculty and staff must first acknowledge and accept a waiver of liability. The process of agreeing to the terms of the waiver is now done through PeopleSoft. The waiver language and instructions for pre-registering can be found in the Waiver and Registration Instructions document. Please begin by reviewing it and following the instructions.  Please go to the Care.com Overview page to learn about all that Care.com offers.

Nanny Placement Service

Boston Nanny Centre (BNC) provides a range of nanny-placement services to Harvard University affiliate families. BNC nanny-placement services range from comprehensive placement packages to a-la-carte services such as in-depth consultation, thorough background checks, post-hire contract support, and other services. BNC offers Harvard affiliates 10% off any service. You can read more about BNC and their services by visiting their website, reading their description of services and reviewing their price list.

Nanny Payment Services

However you choose a caregiver, nanny or babysitter, you may have payroll and tax responsibilities.

Boston Nanny Centre (BNC) (see above) will refer its clients to firms that can assist with these processes.

In addition, through the Care.com benefit, benefits-eligible employees have access to HomePay from Care. As with all Care services, you must first register. To use any service provided by Care, all Harvard faculty and staff must first complete and return a waiver. The process of agreeing to the terms of the waiver is now done through PeopleSoft. The waiver language and instructions for pre-registering can be found in the Waiver and Registration Instructions document. Please begin by reviewing it and following the instructions.  Visit the HARVie Care.com page to learn more about services available through Care.com and for detailed instructions on how to register. Once you are pre-registered and have submitted the waiver, you will be directed to Harvard's Care.com's portal to register once using your Harvard email address. From there, you will be able to learn more and sign up for HomePay services.