Basic Needs

Balancing parenthood and pursuing higher education can be challenging, but you're not alone.

The Basic Needs Department offers support and resources to help student parents succeed. Find childcare aid, grocery aid, financial help, and other resources on this page!

• Diaper Drive

  Sign up for our diaper drive that happens once a month! Registration opens every 1^st of the month. Available during the Fall-Spring Quarters. 

  Click here to fill out the form

  
• CalFresh

  Student Parents may qualify for CalFresh benefits! CalFresh provides qualifying students with up to $291 a month to buy healthy, nutritious foods. It’s a federally mandated, state-supervised, and county-operated government entitlement program that provides monthly food benefits to qualified Highlanders. 

  Click the link below to see if you are eligible and complete your application with one of our CalFresh Interns! 

  https://basicneeds.ucr.edu/calfresh  

• California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)

  The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) offers support for low-income, working Californians. You may be eligible for up to $3,529 cash back or a reduction of the tax you owe. CalEITC can either reduce your tax owed or provide a refund and it is administered by the California Franchise Tax Board. Eligible individuals can claim it when filing their state tax returns.   

  You must meet all requirements in order to qualify for CalEITC.  

   Click the link below to estimate how much you may get back from CalEITC and other cash-back credits! 

  CalEITC | FTB.ca.gov 

• Young Child Tax Credit

  The Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) provides up to $1,117 per eligible tax return for tax year 2023. YCTC may provide you with cash back or reduce any tax you owe. California families qualify with earned income of $30,931 or less. You also must have a qualifying child under 6 years old at the end of the tax year and qualify for CalEITC – with one exception: 

  For tax year 2022 forward, no earned income is required and you may have a net loss of as much as $33,497. However, you must otherwise meet the CalEITC and YCTC requirements. Note that taxpayers without at least $1 of earned income would not qualify for CalEITC. 

• California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

  The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a USDA-sponsored program designed to assist families by providing monthly food benefits to supplement their food budget. The program also supports healthy eating, physical activity, and overall wellness of growing families by providing free services that include nutrition and health information, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other community resources.  To qualify for WIC, you must meet the income guideline. 

  Apply for WIC today using the following link:  

  WIC | Riverside University Health System (ruhealth.org) 

• Additional Resources for Student Parents

  Childcare Assistance Program 

   

  Mamas y Bebes: An 8-week program to learn how to manage the joys and stress of Motherhood. Participants are provided with resources to help receive free diapers, wipes, and much more! 

   

  Riverside University Health System’s Black Infant Health Program helps to empower African American moms to make behavioral changes that lead to living a healthier lifestyle, while also empowering them to incorporate and practice effective stress-reduction strategies. 

   

  Family Service Association includes Child Development Centers across Riverside County that provide different resources for you and your child.  

   

  Concilio Child Development Centers serve income eligible families with children three years to four years of age. 

   

  First 5 Riverside County provides local community programs and services that ensure your child is healthy, happy, and ready for school.