Resources for Parents During COVID-19

Parent Connection: Join to connect with other Columbia parents navigating the 2020-21 school year.

Sign-up for periodic updates from the Office of Work/Life.

As you navigate the 2020-21 school year, we hope the resources included here can help. While we in the Office of Work/Life and School & Child Care Search Service do not have all the answers, we are here for you—to think out loud, explore options, and brainstorm potential solutions.

To connect with the School & Child Care Search Service, please complete our online information request form.

Columbia Resources

Parent Connection

Join to connect with other Columbia parents for mutual support in navigating the unique challenges of the 2020-21 school year.

Komae App

Online platform to help Columbia families connect and organize caregiving and learning pods with each other.

Sittercity

Free access to Sittercity’s comprehensive database through Bright Horizons. In-person and virtual care and tutoring options, help creating learning "pods," and discounts for their personalized nanny placement service.

Bright Horizons Back-Up Care

Eligible employees can access 150 hours of care when normal arrangements are disrupted. An additional 50 hours of care, for a total of 200, has been added for the year ending on June 30, 2021.

Spring/Summer Resource Guide for Parents

Includes information on a variety of online and in-person programming for pre-K to 12 students. Summer camp 2021 information is being added as it becomes available.

BarnardWorks

To hire Barnard students for child care or tutoring needs, post a job description at BarnardWorks.

Tutoring Discounts through Bright Horizons

Through Bright Horizons, three tutoring programs offer discounts off standard pricing. One program is geared to early childhood.

Earth Institute Live

Live sessions from Earth Institute experts for students K-12.

School of the Arts: Lenfest Kids

Monthly series of films for the whole family.

Additional Resources

NYC DOE Summer Rising

New York City’s free summer program for NYC K-8 students.

Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund

Designed to reimburse qualifying out-of-pocket expenses that enabled essential workers in NYS to perform their duties.

NYC Department of Education

Information about public schools in NYC.

InsideSchools+

Free online community designed specifically for NYC families' school-related needs. Offers two main kinds of resources available: Groups and Classes.

NYC DOH: Child Care Programs and COVID-19

Information on child care progrogram protocols to help keep children and teachers safe

Child Mind Institute

Online resource for children's mental health information, research & treatment.

Parents League 2021 Spring Virtual School Admissions Events

NYC DOE Learning Bridges

New NYC DOE program offering free child care options for children from 3-K through 8th grade on days when they are scheduled for remote learning.