Parent and Caregiver Success
Supporting students and employees who are balancing their academic or professional journeys with the demands of parenting or caregiving.
About Us
The Parent and Caregiver Success team works to build community and meet the needs of students and employees who are pregnant, parents and caregivers. We provide services and programming, and offer one-on-one support, navigation, and referrals. We work closely with a range of campus and community partners.
We're Here to Help!
Have questions? Expecting and need guidance on organizing your parenting journey? Contact Lynn Wilkins, manager of the Parenting and Caregiver Success program, or visit our office at JAC Central – Suite G from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lynn Wilkins
Parent and Caregiver Program Manager
Resources
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Title IX Office
Understand your rights as a pregnant member of the University community by checking in with our Title IX office.
Pregnancy Accommodations -
Lactation Spaces and Support
A campus-wide network of lactation spaces serves UM employees, students, and visitors. Our new Breastfeeding Support Series, with meetings facilitated by a certified lactation consultant, provides a supportive place for nursing parents to ask questions and learn – and for UM to better understand the needs of this group of parents on our campus.
Learn more or find lactation spaces -
Food and Baby Supplies
Grove Grocery, the University's Food Pantry, offers food, as well as supplies for babies and small children, such as diapers, wipes, baby food, and snacks. During limited hours between semesters, it’s best to use their online order form for convenience. All UM students and employees are welcome, and everything is free.
Grove Grocery website -
Meal Swipes
Grove Grocery Meal Swipes is a temporary assistance program sponsored by the Grove Grocery, Aramark, and community donated meals. This is a short term assistance program that can allocate up to 30 meal swipes per semester to students, faculty, and staff in need.
Grove Grocery Meal Swipes -
Activities and Entertainment
Oxford Moms and Tots regularly updates their list of child- and family-friendly activities, resources, and events in the area, making it a great resource for staying connected with local opportunities for families.
Oxford Moms and Tots -
Military Families
If you're a military family, explore MilitaryChildcare.com for information on finding and paying for child care. Be sure to also connect with Veteran and Military Services on campus for additional support.
Veteran and Military Services MilitaryChildcare.com
Pregnant, Parenting or Caregiving Employees
Resources for Students
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UM Student Parent Association
The UM Student Parent Association (UMSPA) partners with the University to ensure student parents are heard and supported. Connect with other parenting students at the University to find community, support, and learning opportunities, including family-friendly events. Follow UMSPA on Instagram and join the GroupMe list for occasional updates about family events and other activities.
UMSPA Instagram -
Financial Aid
Are you reaching the limit of your financial aid due to your current Cost of Attendance (COA)? If child care expenses are not included in your COA, you can request a recalculation through the Office of Financial Aid. Email finaid@olemiss.edu with questions about recalculating the cost of attendance based on a new child.
Request the Dependent Child Care Cost of Attendance Adjustment Worksheet -
UMatter
If you’re facing an expense or situation that’s impacting your ability to focus on school, reach out to the supportive team at UMatter. They offer crisis assistance, support, and referrals for a variety of basic needs and mental health or safety concerns. Contact them at umatter@olemiss.edu or (662) 915-7248 for help.
UMatter -
Student Disability Services
If an unusual medical situation is affecting your pregnancy, you may find help at Student Disability Services.
Student Disability Services -
The Pregnant Scholar
The Pregnant Scholar Initiative is the nation’s first and only legal resource center for pregnant and parenting students. Its mission is to create an educational system where no student is forced to choose between their education and their family.
The Pregnant Scholar -
Breakfast Series for Student Parents
Every Thursday from 8-10:00, join us for breakfast in JAC Central – Suite G. Chat with other student parents, talk with Parent & Caregiver Success staff, make your voice heard on issues important to you, and grab a cup of something and a bite to eat. It’s casual, so come and go as you can every Thursday when class is in session.
Jackson Avenue Center location
FAQs and Additional Resources
We are in the Jackson Avenue Center. Use the Central entrance, then find Suite G-Central ahead of you on your left. Call or email for an appointment or drop by anytime!
Every Thursday from 8-10:00, join us for breakfast in JAC Central – Suite G. Chat with other student parents, talk with Parent & Caregiver Success staff, make your voice heard on issues important to you, and grab a cup of something and a bite to eat. It’s casual, so come and go as you can every Thursday when class is in session.
Congratulations! There are lots of resources to support you.
- If you need to talk things through, call the University Counseling Center for an appointment at 662-915-3784.
- If you’d like to understand how UM can help you with accommodations related to pregnancy and childbirth, especially regarding academics, reach out to Title IX at pregnancy@olemiss.edu.
- If you have questions about the logistics of making it work as a student or employee and as a new or expectant parent, give Lynn Wilkins with Parent & Caregiver Success a call at 662-915-1295 or lwilkins@olemiss.edu.
- If you’re an employee and need to discuss leave options, call Lauren Hatton, HR’s leave specialist, at 662-915-7446 or lehatton@olemiss.edu.
- If you’re a supervisor who wants to better understand your role in supporting an employee in any of these areas, check with that contact person. Other questions? HR can guide you – reach them at 662-915-7431.
We see you, and we know it’s a lot to continue providing your baby with breastmilk once you return to school or work. Here are some ways we can help:
- Lactation Spaces: UM has a network of private, comfortable lactation spaces spread around campus, all available to employees and students. Many can also accommodate visitors to campus. Find a complete list here. We can also help develop pop-up lactation spaces for departments that have a temporary need such as a visiting speaker or job candidate who needs a lactation space in a building that doesn’t have one. Email Lynn Wilkins at lwilkins@olemiss.edu to find out more.
- Breastfeeding Support: Join us for a casual, supportive conversation each month, facilitated by a certified lactation consultant, in our Breastfeeding Support Series – open to students and employees.
- If you’re an employee in need of a lactation consultant, check here and scroll down for information on a service that can connect you and work with your insurance.
- UM’s Break Time for Lactation policy helps nursing employees and supervisors understand how to handle time spent nursing or pumping during the work day.
UM Means Family!
When we support parenting students and their children, we make a two-generation impact. Helping student parents persist and graduate stabilizes families and promotes self-reliance – and their children have a front row seat to the value of hard work and educational attainment. Join us in our mission and make double the impact!