SHARE-UMMS

Childcare Fund & Adoption Subsidy

Childcare Fund Guidelines and Application

Nobody raises a child all by themselves. Especially if they also dedicate time to the workplace. The SHARE-UMMS Childcare Fund and Adoption Subsidy is a benefit that the SHARE union negotiated with UMass Medical School in 1999 to help SHARE members defray the costs of childcare and provide financial assistance to those with adoption cost.

Who is eligible to apply for the childcare fund and/or adoption subsidy?

All SHARE union-eligible staff at UMMS with at least three months of service are encouraged to apply and receive financial assistance.

What expenses does the Childcare Fund and Adoption Subsidy cover?

The Childcare Fund can be used for a licensed childcare center, licensed family provider, after-school programs, summer camp or snow camp, and in-home provider (with a SSN or Taxpayer ID).

The Adoption Subsidy can only be used for expenses directly related to the legal adoption of a child.

How much is the award I will get?

The awards are determined based on your household income and the number of people living in your home. Childcare awards cover only a portion of the childcare costs for each applicant, between 20-40% of your total childcare cost. This portion may vary somewhat from year to year, depending on the number of applicants in any given year. All eligible applicants who apply on time will receive an award. The maximum adoption subsidy is $5,000 per applicant.

Where does the money come from?

SHARE has negotiated for this financial support to come from UMass Medical School. The CCF is part of the agreement voted upon and ratified by the SHARE membership. These funds come from our contractual agreement, and not from union dues. For each year of our current SHARE-UMMS Agreement, UMMS will contribute a total of $85,000.

When can I apply for the Childcare Fund or for an adoption subsidy award?

The Childcare Fund has open enrollment every April and October. Those who apply in April do not need to reapply in the Fall. The adoption subsidy accepts applications on a rolling basis and they are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For more details, please see: