11.4.1 (New Business) Child Care Grants Christine Coverdale, John Verboncouer , Albe Larsen

1. 11.4.1 (New Business) Child Care Grants Christine Coverdale, John Verboncouer, AlbeLarsen • At the March gathering, we began discussions regarding Child Care Grants and whether this is something NPSS could consider taking on to help support conference attendance by graduate students, post-docs, and early career individuals. • For scientists with young families, attending conferences adds additional financial burdens that are not paid for by employers. These financial aspects include everything from additional child care needed at home due to a parent(s) on travel, or expenses incurred locally if children come with their parent(s) to the conference. • Many of these individuals are not in a position to pick up these additional expenses. • The American Physical Society has a program, handled by a subcommittee of their Committee on the Status of Women in Physics, whereby they offer Child Care Grants at most of their major meetings. • Small grants (up to $400); grant value does not increase for additional children or both parents attending meeting • Expenses must be documented with receipts; funds awarded based on the receipts after the meeting • Expenses can be due to bringing small children to the meeting, or extra expenses incurred leaving them at home (extra daycare or babysitting) • Open to men and women • If the number of requests exceeds the total funding available for a meeting, preference is given to early career applicants

2. Grants are requested via an online application, with deadline a couple months prior to meeting (see next slide for information requested in the form) • The APS/DPP (Div. of Plasma Physics) utilizes this program and typically gets 7-8 applicants each year, and reimbursements are usually ~$2400 (average ~$300/applicant). Other meetings are paid for by APS, but the DPP covers the grants for their meeting. DPP also has a “child care room” available. • The DPP “child care room” is a room set aside at the conference near the oral sessions that is stocked with some kid-friendly snacks, comfortable chairs, and a small collection of toys/books. They say the budget for this is ~$1000/year. They do NOT provide a baby-sitter. • The purpose is to have a place where they can take their child, meet with others while their child has something to do, a place where their child can play with other children, or have someone (that they arrange – friends, other attendees, etc.) watch their child while the parent/caregiver presents or attends presentations. • The overall intent is that the parents still control the child-care situation and are reimbursed. APS or DPP is NOT providing the actual child-care. Not providing child-care removes liability from the organization. • The program helps a small number of attendees in general (<10), but is well-received and gets positive feedback from those who use the services.

4. Recommendation: • NPSS initiative: fund a similar child-care grant program on a trial basis for conferences in 2015-2016: • Limit the grant level to $400 per recipient, and require documentation/receipts for reimbursement. • Up to 10 grants per conference • Preference to early-career applicants • Advertise in conference literature and on conference web-page (w/ link to application form, either on-line form or PDF to download) • Conferences provide a caregiver room and children’s food and beverage (estimated cost ~$1000) • Staffed by parents, with a meeting area as well as a play space. • To gauge usage • Stock with small supply of toys & books, kid-friendly snacks/drinks • If program is successful (based on response, inquiries/follow-up with those who use it), continue the effort (possibly through conference budgets or a second initiative).