Parenting Student Resources

CalFresh is a federal nutrition assistance program that helps eligible individuals and families stretch a tight food budget. CalFresh also helps many afford to incorporate healthy foods like fruits and vegetables into their diets. Those who qualify are entitled to receive this assistance and will not take someone else’s place or money from another person or program.

On Campus Contact: CalFresh Outreach

Location: Basic Needs Center in the Terrace Center, room 106

Contact Email: calfreshoutreach@ucmerced.edu 

Contact Number: (209) 891-9781

Eligibility is determined by CalFresh County Representatives after applying. For basic eligibility criteria for those most likely to be eligible, click here.

California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides food, specialized nutritional and breastfeeding support and other resources for low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as for fathers, guardians and foster parents caring for children under the age of six. Those who receive CalFresh are automatically income-eligible to receive WIC.

Basic guidelines for eligibility include income at or below stated guidelines, being pregnant, having been pregnant within the past 6 months, breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age, or be caring for a child under age five. Approval for WIC benefits is determined by employees of a WIC agency.

Support with applying for WIC and more information about eligibility, benefits, and applying can be found at myfamily.wic.ca.gov

The Bobcat Pantry provides access to nutritious and healthy food for all graduate and undergraduate students, with a focus on sustainable practices and a holistic approach to a healthy and nutrition-conscious lifestyle.

Location: Terrace Center 131, next to the Residence Education office inside of the den. Please fill out the Grocery Pick-Up form found on the Basic Needs website prior to visiting.

Contact email: basicneeds@ucmerced.edu

Website: basicneeds.ucmerced.edu/food-support/bobcat-pantry

For additional food support services, visit basicneeds.ucmerced.edu/food-support

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is administered by the Internal Revenue Service and offers free basic tax preparation for low- and moderate-income taxpayers. Assistance is generally available from February 1 through April 15th.

Eligibility for VITA is determined by VITA professionals. General guidelines for eligibility include those who make $64,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers. For more information and to find a VITA site near you, click here.

For low-income working adults in California, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) offers up to $3,147 in the form of a reduction in tax liability OR a refund ("cash back") as of 2023. CalEITC may also allow filers to qualify for the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC). Refundable tax credits contribute to significant declines in adult and child poverty rates.

Eligibility for CalEITC is determined by employees of a CalEITC agency. Basic guidelines for eligibility include meeting all of the following: being 18 years or older or having a qualifying child, having an earned income between $1 and $30,950, having a valid SSN or ITIN for yourself, spouse, and any qualifying children, having lived in California for more than half of the filing year, not being eligible to be claimed as a qualifying child of another taxpayer, and not being eligible to be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer unless you have a qualifying child. For information on what a qualifying child is, click here.

Support with applying for CalEITC and more information about eligibility, benefits, and applying can be found here.

The Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) provides a credit of up to $1,117 per 2023 tax return for California residents with a child under the age of 6 who also qualify for CalEITC.

Eligibility for YCTC is determined by YCTC professionals. Basic eligibility guidelines are having an earned income of $30,931 or less, with a qualifying child under 6 years old, and qualifying for CalEITC.

Support with applying for CalEITC and more information about eligibility, benefits, and applying can be found here.

Emergency funds provide financial support to current UC Merced students when they need assistance with unexpected, unforeseen, and unavoidable emergency expenses surrounding situations such as accidents, illness, homelessness, fire damage, or the need for temporary housing.

Students seeking emergency funds are required to meet with/speak with a representative of the Dean of Students Office to discuss their needs and begin an application. Applicants will be notified of a decision and/or appointment in a timely manner.

Appointments: Click here

Eligibility requirements: Click here.

The Financial Wellness Center is a free resource for all students looking to achieve financial freedom. Through their five-step Financial Treks program, students will learn valuable skills to help them better understand and manage their finances. The Financial Wellness Center also offers individual financial coaching to assist students in creating a financial action plan.

For more information and to schedule a coaching session, visit financialwellness.ucmerced.edu.

UC Merced Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides a variety of mental health support services, including individual and couples counseling, support groups, crisis intervention, consultation and referral, and wellness and prevention programming and outreach. Appointments can be made via phone.

Location: Second floor of the Health and Athletic Center

Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm, excluding University-determined holidays.

Phone Number (available after hours): (209) 228-4266

Website: counseling.ucmerced.edu

All registered students can be seen at CAPS for free.

The Office of the Ombuds is a safe, confidential, and informal place where UC Merced community members can go for informal assistance with managing conflict, complaints, and concerns with a colleague, classmate, supervisor, or anyone else on campus. The Ombuds will listen, help identify options, make inquiries and referrals as appropriate, and/or facilitate resolutions in an impartial manner.

Location: Student Services Building, room 213

Phone Number: (209) 228-4410

Website: ombuds.ucmerced.edu

The Office of The Ombuds is available to all UC Merced students and employees. Appointments are strongly recommended and can be scheduled via phone.

Health Services provides comprehensive medical, mental health and health promotion services to all registered UC Merced students. Services are designed to minimize the impact of illness, emotional distress and injury on studies and work.

Location: Second floor of the Health and Athletics Center

Phone Number: (209) 228-2273

Website: health.ucmerced.edu

All registered UC Merced students are eligible to utilize all services at the Student Health Center. Appointments can be made via phone. 

Housing and Residence Education aims to provide clean, safe, student-centered residential communities that support academic accomplishment, diversity, and respect for human dignity and student success.

The Housing Services office provides services in housing applications, assignments, contracts, and billing as well as in meal plans and food.

Location: Half Dome 195

Phone Number: (209) 228-2293

The Residence Education Office provides services for residential students including providing toilet paper, trash bags, and lock-out keys along with mail services and hall activities.

Location: 100 Terrace Center

Phone Number: (209) 228-4663

These resources primarily serves students who are living on-campus.

Off Campus Housing Services works within Housing and Residence Education to provide students with information, resources, and advising on off-campus housing.

Information about Off Campus Housing Services can be found at housing.ucmerced.edu/off-campus

Emergency Housing ensures scholars experiencing displacement or homelessness have a safe place to stay temporarily while trying to secure permanent housing. Emergency Housing is intended for students in need of short-term housing. Scholars looking for long-term housing need to consult with the Off-Campus Housing resources.

Students seeking emergency housing are required to meet with/speak with a representative of the Dean of Students Office to discuss their needs and begin an application. Applicants will be notified of a decision and/or appointment in a timely manner.

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) aims to facilitate equal academic access to students with disabilities. This includes students with temporary disabilities resulting from pregnancy and/or labor.

Location: Arts and Computational Sciences Building (ACS) room 140

Email: access@ucmerced.edu

Phone Number: (209) 228-6996

Website: access.ucmerced.edu.

Every student situation and accommodation is unique, so the process for receiving accommodations and necessary documents may be different for everyone. Receipt of services by SAS is determined by an SAS staff member.

The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) oversees campus compliance with the University of California and UC Merced policies prohibiting protected category discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment and violence). Oversight of these policies encompasses responding to and resolving reports of harassment and discrimination from students, staff, faculty, and visitors that are related to protected class and civil rights policies.

Location: 3rd floor of the Kolligian Library in room 323

Hours: The office accepts drop-ins Monday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm. Fridays are by appointment only.

Email: ophd@ucmerced.edu

Phone Number: (209) 355-0352

Website: ophd.ucmerced.edu

Students in need of lactation spaces have the right to clean, safe, and functional lactation spaces free from view and intrusion. The Dean of Students Office at UC Merced offers Lactation Rooms to accommodate parents in need of lactation room spaces. These rooms are generally no more than a 5-7 minute walk from work areas and provide a private, sanitary, and safe lactation space. To be granted access to lactation rooms, set up an appointment with the Dean of Students Office and provide your full name, employee or student ID number, your email and phone number, your affiliation, and the estimated amount of time you will need to access the facilities up to two years.

Appointments: Click here 

Locations and additional information: Click here

Community Resources

• Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/                    
  • Pregnant and not sure what to do? That can be scary, but you’re not alone. The professional, caring staff at your nearest Planned Parenthood health center will give you all the straight-up information you need to help you make the right decision for you. No pressure, no judgment. Just support.
• WIC Program: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic              
  • The WIC Program aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. WIC serves pregnant women, breastfeeding women, non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants, and toddlers & children up to age 5            
• Option Line:  www.OptionLine.org or (800)HELPLINE                         
  • OptionLine provides free and confidential counseling as well as accurate information about pregnancy and pregnancy options. While they offer information on pregnancy options, their centers do not refer women to abortion providers. Call 1-800-712-HELP or text HELPLINE to 313131.        

Places in Merced with Plan B    

• Target: 3280 R ST Merced, CA 95340    
• Wal-Mart: 3055 LOUGHBOROUGH DR Merced, CA 95340   
• Walgreens:                           
  • 1640 R ST MERCED, CA 95340            
  •  3098 G ST MERCED, CA 95340            
• CVS:                          
  • 1970 YOSEMITE PARKWAY MERCED, CA 95340           
  • 300 MERCED MALL MERCED, CA 95340            
• Planned Parenthood: 3166 COLLINS DR. MERCED, CA 95348

Contact Student Health Center on campus (Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation Center) for more information. 

The UC Merced Early Childhood Education Center is a high-quality program for young children of UC Merced parents and local community. This program provides childcare to young children 6 weeks through 5 years.

Location: 5200 North Lake Road

Hours: Monday-Friday from 6 am to 5 pm

Email: ecec@ucmerced.edu

Phone Number: (209) 228-5437

Website: ecec.ucmerced.edu

The Educational Leave Program allows students to suspend academic work at UC Merced, leave the campus and later resume studies at UC Merced with a minimum of procedural difficulties. Any registered student on the UC Merced campus is eligible to enroll in ELP, excluding international students.

Location: Administration Building

Email: registrar@ucmerced.edu

Phone Number: (209) 228-7178

More information: Click here

It is recommended to discuss taking an educational leave with a financial aid advisor.

Location: Administration Building

Hours: drop-in hours Monday-Friday 9am-12 pm and 1-4 pm

Phone Number: (209) 228-7187

Website: financialaid.ucmerced.edu

The student handbook can be found here. 

For more resources, visit the Basic Needs website: basicneeds.ucmerced.edu