UW community resources for families
Table of Contents
The Program for Early Parent Support
Center for Pediatric Dentistry
Last updated: February 12, 2024
Both within the UW community and beyond, you’ll find resources to help your family flourish. Whether you’re just planning for your first child or you’re helping your teen navigate those tricky stages of life, we hope you’ll discover something here that helps your family grow and thrive.
Parenting@uw.edu listserv
The parenting@uw.edu listserv was created by UWHR WorkLife to make it easier to communicate with fellow UW employee and student parents.
WorkLife uses parenting@uw.edu to share resources that can help employee and student parents do their best at work, school and home while supporting their own well-being. We’ll also use this list to conduct occasional surveys to understand parents’ needs and to provide updates about campus initiatives related to child care and parenting.
This is a moderated list and can be used to share UW resources and programs. Subscribers can send messages to be shared with the group but please note that only businesses that have formal agreements with the University can be promoted through the listserv, a valid NetID is required to subscribe.
Hall Health Center
Hall Health Center, the on-campus medical clinic, provides comprehensive health care not only to students but also to UW staff and their families. The clinic’s physicians and nurse practitioners are board-certified in family practice or pediatrics, which gives you and your family convenient access to the expert care of UW Medicine.
The Program for Early Parent Support
Build a support network with fellow parents who understand what you are going through. The Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS) connects you with other new parents who live nearby you and have a baby close in age to yours. Learn, share resources, and build confidence in your own parenting abilities — all you need to do is register and show up with your baby.
Center for Pediatric Dentistry
Put the combined expertise of the UW School of Dentistry and Seattle Children’s to work for you by scheduling your child’s next dental appointment with the Center for Pediatric Dentistry. The center provides comprehensive dental care to children of all ages. It’s an in-network provider for many insurance companies and offers free parking at its location in Magnuson Park. In addition, the center has staff who are specially trained in serving children with special needs. The center can also provide translation services, assist with financial aid, and help arrange transportation.
Center for Child and Family Well-Being
Take courses and attend lectures given by researchers and other experts who specialize in the development and well-being of children and their families. These courses provide parents with tools and advice for managing the challenges of raising children. Fees vary for the courses. The center also presents free public lectures on child development given by top researchers in the field. For registration information and a full list of courses and lectures, see the Center for Child and Family Well-Being.
Center for Philosophy for Children
Classroom philosophy sessions help children and teens better express their own perspectives, listen to one another, challenge and build on each other’s thinking, and make better sense of their own views and ideas. Learn how you can bring a philosophy session to your child’s school or how you can facilitate the session yourself. The center connects you with workshop facilitators and provides articles, videos, webinars, and other resources. For more, visit the Center for Philosophy for Children.
Emergency Ride Home
Unexpected emergencies or life events can happen, and sometimes these instances require access to emergency transportation. UW Transportation Services offers reimbursement for one-way trips, up to 60 miles. This also includes one 20-minute stop to pick up dependents, or run critical errands such as picking up a prescription. The Emergency Ride Home reimbursement is a benefit for those in the Faculty/Staff U-PASS program, and Bike Locker or House permit holders at the Seattle Campus only.
UW Youth and Teen Programs
The University provides unique opportunities for children of all ages and interests.
University of Washington’s Youth & Teen Programs are for students who love to learn year-round. From coding and writing to everything in between, explore a variety of interesting STEM and humanities courses to choose from throughout the year. Nurture a passion, discover a new interest and even get ready for college. Programs are available for students from pre-school through high school. To learn more and register for upcoming opportunities, visit University of Washington Youth and Teen Programs.
Fiddleheads Forest School: Nature Preschool
Enroll your little one in a nature-based early childhood program at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens. Located in the nationally renowned Washington Park Arboretum, Fiddleheads encourages discovery, questioning, and experimentation through cooperative learning and play. Learn more about the program including how to enroll at Fiddleheads Forest School.
Robinson Center for Young Scholars
The Robinson Center provides challenging, accelerated learning opportunities for gifted children and teens. Learn more about their programs at the Robinson Center for Young Scholars.
Haring Center for Research and Training in Inclusive Education
Located on campus, The Haring Center for Research and Training in Inclusive Education is an early childhood education program. It works to improve the lives of children with developmental disabilities and other special needs. Under its inclusive model, children both with and without disabilities learn side-by-side. For admission details see the Haring Center Experimental Education Unit.