Child Care Resource
& Referral
What people are saying:
"I reached out to HPNC because my family and I were moving from St. Louis and needed a nanny until our kids transitioned to daycare. I had a wonderful experience with HPNC with respect to being able to setup interviews and get in touch with nannies.
"Our nanny is wonderful. She’s always on time, has never taken a sick day, adores our children (potty-trained our daughter, celebrated her birthday with her), and lives close by and has her own car—very useful in the time of COVID."
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- Father of two, faculty member at
UChicago Medical Center
Childcare Referral Services
Finding the right childcare can be hard for new and relocating parents! HPNC is here to help guide you through the process or just to provide reassurance along the way. We provide private and group consultation for parents who are seeking childcare for young children aged from birth to three years. Parents may sign up for group sessions that include a brief introduction to the basic childcare landscape in and around Hyde Park or for a private 1:1 consultation where time is dedicated to talking through your family's unique childcare needs and personalized referrals are given.
Extra support for parents hiring nannies is also available through 1:1 consultation. This may include guidance on interviewing, contracting, how to prepare for a successful relationship, and how to set up household employee taxes.
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Take the next step:
Free drop-in informational sessions are held on the second Saturday of each month (third Saturday beginning October 2023) from 10-11am via Zoom. Register now for the next available session.
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Free drop-in sessions are held in-person at HPNC from 10:00-11:30am on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. No appointment necessary; just stop by! Feel free to bring your child(ren) - they will have a chance to play at Tot Lot after you wrap up with Sarah.
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Private 1-on-1 consultation sessions are held over Zoom by appointment. Dr. Diwan will review your specific childcare needs, help you think through decision making, and provide you with a list of personalized referrals. Private consultations are $25* and can be scheduled here.
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*If this fee would create a financial burden and prevent your family from participating, please contact Dr. Diwan at sdiwan@hpnclub.org to request a no-fee consultation.
Resources and Support for Caregivers
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Provider support services fall into three categories: parent referrals, administrative mentoring, & curriculum & enrichment planning. Dr. Diwan is available to assist childcare providers including nannies, home daycare operators, and centers. Priority is given to those providing childcare for children birth to 3 years whose families live and work in the Hyde Park and University of Chicago Communities.
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HPNC maintains a Resource Center that houses a lending library and a variety of resources for parents and childcare providers. Caregivers are invited to check-out these resources during HPNC's open hours.
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Connecting caregivers with families
Are you a home daycare provider, nanny, or babysitter who wants to be connected to South Side families seeking child care? Complete this intake form linked below to start the process:
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Professional caregivers are invited to connect with Sarah at Tot Lot from 10:30-11:30am on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. No appointment necessary; just stop by!
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Caregiver Professional Development 2023-24
This free workshop series is intended for parents, nannies, and daycare providers - particularly those with children ages birth to 3 years. Attendees can register for one, more, or all workshops based on individual interest. Topics and speakers for this year are still being determined, but will be held on the following dates. Please check back later for registration.
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October 21
Feeding challenges and opportunities in early childhood
Speaker: Hayley Younkin-Wilson, OTD, OTR/L
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October 28
Compassionate communication while interacting with children
Speakers: Peg Pavalec, MA and Raishma Nadhusudan, MA
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December 9
Nanny resources and roundtable
Speaker: Sarah Diwan, PhD
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January 13
Music and social emotional learning
Speaker: Marsha Meisheimer, MA
February 10
Understanding development milestone charts and using them to inform everyday activities
Speaker: Sarah Diwan, PhD
March 9
Little Explorers: risks or opportunities?
Speaker: Hayley Younkin-Wilson, OTD, OTR/L and Sarah Diwan, PhD
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April 13
Targeting language development through daily routines
Speaker: Brittany Mann, MA, CCC-SLP/L
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May 18
Nature-based learning in early childhood part I
Speaker: Hayley Younkin-Wilson, OTD, OTR/L
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May 25
Nature-based learning in early childhood part II
Speakers: Hayley Younkin-Wilson, OTD, OTR/L and Sarah Diwan, PhD
The HPNC Child Care Resource & Referral program is funded by a grant from the Childcare Initiative of the University of Chicago and the University of Chicago Hospital and Medical Center