Child Care Assistance (Temporary)
Deadline: Rolling deadline, for the 2024-2025 academic year
Award Amount: Up to $1,000/month for up to 6 months, with possibility for renewal
Description: The challenges created by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires have been significant. Many families have found themselves without access to their childcare facility or school, and there is still uncertainty surrounding the timeline and details of both short and long-term plans for affected areas. With little to no help at home, maintaining productivity is extremely difficult. While many parents are unable to send their children back to daycare or school due to temporary or permanent suspension of services, it is still vital to have access to quality child care in order to make progress. Therefore, WiSE is offering a temporary increase in its Child Care Subsidies Program for faculty in the 2024-2025 academic year to offset the costs of hiring additional child care due to lack of availability of care outside the home. Tenure-track faculty (with children at home) with primary appointments in WiSE-eligible departments may apply for up to $1,000 per month for up to 6 months. Priority will be given to junior faculty. Awards are intended for those who have been displaced or whose care is not currently available. Funds will be paid monthly and are subject to taxation. The recipient is responsible for notifying the WiSE Program if/when there are any changes in the need for the award.
Please submit the following required documents to wiseprog@usc.edu:
· A statement requesting support that explains (1) the need for financial support, (2) the requested duration of support, and (when applicable) an explanation for a need for care for children older than the typical cutoff (of 5 years).
· A plan for how the funding will be used.
· WiSE Justification – statement explaining how receipt of financial support will further the goals of the WiSE Program to increase the representation of women in science and engineering.
Note: if childcare outside the home is being used but special circumstances still require assistance, please contact us at wiseprog@usc.edu.