BYU’s Women’s Services and Resources office wants to get the word out this semester about resources available to student parents as they navigate parenthood and academic life.
According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, 26% of all U.S. undergraduate students are parents. Approximately 4.8 million undergraduates are also raising children. In Fall 2022, BYU published figures showing 23% of the student body are married.
“(Women's Services and Resources) addresses women’s issues in a positive, proactive way. As a Campus Life office, we collaborate with other BYU offices and departments, as well as the community, to best serve both the women and men at BYU … and enhance your college experience,” Women's Services and Resources assistant director Jackie Nuñez said.
The office offers one-on-one consultations to connect pregnant and parenting students with resources from basic needs to childcare to single parent scholarships.
Women's Services and Resources' Student Parent Fair, held every semester, aims to connect student parents with on-campus and off-campus resources. Student parents can bring their children for supervised activities while students explore booths hosted by organizations from the community.
All of the office's events and campaigns are open to all students, Nuñez said. Students can find more information by following the office on social media, signing up through their website to receive their newsletter or coming into their office to pick up an academic calendar listing all events and campaigns for the year.
Another resource within the community is Salt Lake City-based Pregnancy Choice Utah. The organization uses a mobile ultrasound clinic, staffed by licensed professionals, to provide services such as pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and pregnancy options counseling.
The continued support that the organization offers “may include individual mentoring, baby supplies, housing aid, legal support, and more,” according to Pregnancy Choice Utah's website. The organization also offers to connect pregnant mothers with women who have similar experiences.
Women who are in need of assistance can find more information, including the Pregnancy Choice Utah hotline and a texting option, at pregnancychoiceutah.org.
Additional community resources include 211, which is a free referral service; Utah’s Women, Infants and Children program (WIC); and more.
There are plenty of resources available to pregnant and parenting BYU students and a number of people that want to help them access those resources, Nuñez said.
“You are not alone in navigating this new life transition. There is information and resources on campus and in the community to support you,” Nuñez said.
Students can walk-in at 3326 WSC, send an email to wsr@byu.edu or call at (801) 422-4877 to get in touch with Women's Services and Resources. Links to additional resources can be found at wsr.byu.edu.