Connect with Other Students with Families

Sometimes it can feel like you are one of only a few students caring for family members while studying. However, there are many others across the University who can relate. The FCO offers programming and provides spaces for you to connect with other student parents and caregivers.

We also connect students through peer-to-peer opportunities, facilitated by our peer mentors. 2025-2026 opportunities include hybrid peer-to-peer chats, chats with other parents/caregivers, and a Student Caregivers Study Hub.

Get involved by becoming a FCO Peer Mentor

Family Care Office Study Hub

Family Care Office Hybrid Study Hub
Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Online via Zoom or at the FCO!

The Family Care Office Study Hub is a supportive space for student parents and their friends to stay focused and motivated, balancing academics and caregiving. Whether you are reading, writing, or reviewing, this is a quiet, structured time to work alongside others who understand your experience.

Facilitated by a student mentor from the Family Care Office team, we begin with a short check-in using the SMART Goal worksheet and follow a gentle structure inspired by the Pomodoro method, offering time to focus and take mindful breaks.

In-person participants are invited to stay for a bring-you-own-lunch student parent/caregiver meet-up from 12pm – 1pm.

St. George students can count attendance at the FCO Hubs towards CCR credit as a Community Contributor. We hope that you join us!

Students from the St. George campus should register via Folio.
Students from UTM and UTSC should email family.care@utoronto.ca to receive access to the online hub.

Connect with a Peer Mentor

Would you like to be connected to a peer mentor, one-on-one? Reach out to family.care@utoronto.ca, and we’ll find someone just for you!

Looking to chat with another student parent or learn more about the FCO’s mentorship opportunities? Book an appointment to chat with a student-parent mentor today! Choose the first option, “Student Peer Mentorship Chat”.

About Peer Mentors

Does it seem like you are the only student on campus with family responsibilities? A mentor can share valuable tips and candid advice to help you balance the demands of caring for children or others with academic commitments in a safe and supportive environment. You may want to connect with a mentor to chat about:

Strategies and insights on caring for a family member
A specific question on child care
Your newly found pregnancy and a possible leave from your studies

We understand your busy life! You and the peer mentor can choose the best way to communicate; you are the one choosing the duration of the interaction: it can be once from 10 minutes to as many – and for how long – you determine. Our mentors are available to connect with you on a variety of dates and times.

Our peer mentors are University of Toronto students from diverse backgrounds – undergraduates and graduates. If the mentor is a student parent, some had children before starting their program at U of T and some during their studies here.

Our student mentorship coordinator holds weekly virtual office hours via MS Teams to connect with both mentors and mentees. Book a meeting to chat with a fellow student parent and to learn more about the mentorship program. Choose the first option, “Student Peer Mentorship Chat”.

Send us an email at family.care@utoronto.ca and we will assign a mentor to you, matching your situation as best as possible.

Meet with a Family Care Advisor

Our Family Care Advisor can help with questions on diverse topics such as balancing your studies and family obligations, childcare, schools and other family issues. Use our scheduling system to book a virtual appointment.

Book an appointment