Student Resources for Pregnancy and Parenting

Student Resources for Pregnancy and Parenting

Students who are pregnant or otherwise planning for the early months of parenting are encouraged to contact UMBC’s Title IX Coordinator to discuss plans for any anticipated leave of absence, as well as reentry into their academic program.

Consultation is also available to faculty and staff with questions about how to appropriately support pregnant and parenting students.

Office of Equity and Civil Rights
ecr@umbc.edu
410-455-1717

Academic and/or Workplace Accommodations

Interim Policy on pregnancy and Related Conditions and Parental Status

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (“UMBC” or “the University”) does not discriminate in its education program or activity against any applicant for admission, student, applicant for employment, or employee on the basis of current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 (Title VII), the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act, and state law.

The University prohibits members of the University community from adopting or implementing any policy, practice, or procedure which treats an applicant for admission, student, applicant for employment, or employee differently on the basis of current, potential, or past parental, family, or marital status. This Policy and its pregnancy-related protections apply to all pregnant persons, regardless of gender identity or expression.

This  policy provides that students and employees who are pregnant or are experiencing related conditions are entitled to Reasonable Modifications or Accommodations to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the University’s education program and activity to include employment.

 

Basic Needs Support

On-campus

• Retriever Support Services
  • Essential Needs and Connections – campus resources to support student basic needs (e.g., food, shelter, resources (social, emotional, and more)
  • Retriever Essentials – campus resources for students experiencing food insecurity
  • Off-campus housing resources
• Y Preschool at UMBC – Safe, enriching environment where young learners ages 2-5 thrive

 

Off-campus

• Maryland Benefits website – Apply for, track, and manage your benefits related to food, health care, pregnancy, children, disabilities, utility bills, and family emergencies.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children – federal assistance and nutritional support for low-income pregnant women, infants, and children under the age of five.
  • USDA webpage
  • gov
• Maryland WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) – Provides supplemental nutritious foods, healthcare referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children under age five.
• Maryland Family Network – Guidance for searching for and locating child care
• Maryland Kids in Safety Seats – Provides low-cost care seat options for families in need

 

Advocacy and Support Services

On-Campus

• Lactation Rooms
  • AOK Library, Room 755
  • Maxine Tracy Wellness Room, Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center, Commons 004
  • Retriever Activities Center (RAC), Room 073
  • Shady Grove Campus – Room III-3236 and Room IV-1302
• Family-Friendly Restrooms – Campus restrooms that have space for changing an infant or toddler
  • AOK Library: 1st Floor, men’s and women’s restrooms
  • ITE Building: 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor restrooms
  • Meyerhoff Chemistry Building: 1st Floor, men’s and women’s restrooms
  • Physics: 1st Floor, men’s and women’s restrooms
  • Performing Arts and Humanities Building: 2nd floor all gender restroom
  • Public Policy: 1st Floor, men’s and women’s restrooms
  • RAC: Main lobby, men’s and women’s restrooms
  • The Commons: Ground Floor in both all gender restrooms
• UMBC Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center: Provides advocacy, support groups, and referral navigation for reproductive health, parenting, and relationship safety.
• UMBC Moms and Parenting Group

Off- Campus

• The Pregnant Scholar – Legal resource center for pregnant and parenting students
• The National Women’s Law Center – Educational resources for pregnant and parenting students
• The Family Tree – Provides support for families to prevent child abuse and help them raise healthy and thriving children through education and advocacy
• Jeremiah Program
• Kidpower International – Provides resources for children, teens, and adults related to strong relationships and the prevention of harm

 

State Subsidies and Financial Support

• Maryland Child Care Scholarship Program – The Maryland Child Care Scholarship (CCS) (formerly known as Child Care Subsidy) program helps eligible families in Maryland pay for high-quality child care and early education programs.
  • Program portal
• Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) – Offers financial assistance to pregnant individuals or families with dependent children who meet income criteria.

 

Scholarships for Parenting and Adult Students

• Generation Hope Scholar Program: Specifically serves young parents in the Washington, D.C. and Maryland region with up to $2,400/year in tuition assistance, paired with one-on-one mentoring, case management, and academic support.
• Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) and Educational Assistance (EA) Grants: State-funded, need-based higher education grants for Maryland residents enrolled in undergraduate programs.

  

Adoption and Family Planning

• Adoption Network – Provides state specific information about adoption
• Associated Catholic Charities Maryland – Provides comprehensive pregnancy support and private adoption placement services across Maryland.
• Planned Parenthood – Provides family planning and comprehensive reproductive health care services
• Maryland Family Planning Program – Provides free or affordable family planning services to include pregnancy prevention and birth control, pregnancy testing and counseling, and prenatal care
• Maryland Post-Adoption Counseling Program (Paths for Families) – Offers free post-adoption counseling, support groups, and crisis intervention services to eligible adoptive families.

  

Health Care

On-campus

• Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) – Provides primary medical care, psychiatric consultations, and counseling services to include routine care, STI screenings, emergency contraception, physicals, and immunizations.
  • Crisis and Counseling: 24/7 After-Hours Crisis Support Line available at 410-455-2542.
• UMBC Psychology Training Clinic: Provides low-cost, evidence-based individual psychotherapy for adults working on anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, and other types of mental health challenges.

 

Off-campus

• Maryland Medical Assistance Programs
  • The Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • Long Term Care Medical Assistance
• Maryland Medicaid Maternal and Child Health Programs – provides support and resources for families before, during, and after pregnancy
• Maryland Community Health Centers – Federally Qualified Health Centers providing comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare regardless of health insurance status or income.
• Welltrack Connect Portal: A secure online referral web-based platform that helps UMBC students connect with off-campus mental health providers who understand the unique needs of college life. A UMBC ID is required for sign-on.

• Maryland Health Connection – State health insurance marketplace

 

Local Urgent Care and Walk-In Clinics

• Priority Care Clinics (2.5 miles from campus; Halethorpe)
• Ascension Saint Agnes Urgent Care / LifeBridge ExpressCare (3 miles from campus; Baltimore)
• MedStar Health Urgent Care (6 miles from campus; Catonsville)
• Patient First Catonsville (6 miles from campus; Catonsville)

 

Local Hospitals and Emergency Departments

• Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital (3 miles from campus; Baltimore)
• University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) (9 miles from campus; Baltimore)
• Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center (17 miles from campus; Columbia)
• Sheppard Pratt Health System (Psychiatric Emergency Services) (Elkridge and Towson locations)

 

Maryland Helplines and Referral Networks

• 211 Maryland Health and Human Services: Free 24/7 statewide helpline linking Maryland residents to healthcare clinics, mental health resources, substance use rehabilitation, and social safety-net programs.
• Maryland Crisis and Suicide Lifeline (988): Dial or text 988 for immediate confidential crisis intervention, mobile crisis team deployment, and local stabilization referrals.
• Maryland Early Intervention Program (EIP): Specialized statewide referral network for adolescents and young adults showing early signs of mental health or psychotic disorders.

Disclaimer: All information related to off-campus and non UMBC-affiliated resources is provided for informational purposes only in accordance with State law. UMBC does not endorse, recommend, or guarantee any of these organizations, services, or resources. Information about these resources is provided to help individuals explore available options. Individuals are encouraged to contact each organization directly to learn more about its services, eligibility requirements, availability, and costs.