Daytona State College has been awarded a U. S. Department of Education grant totaling more than $1 million over four years to support the college’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program through September 2022.
Administered through DSC’s Center for Women and Men, CCAMPIS helps low-income, Pell grant eligible DSC students with the cost of keeping their children enrolled in an approved network of quality, accredited and conveniently located child care services throughout Volusia and Flagler counties.
“This is an excellent opportunity for Daytona State to provide low-income parents greater access to higher education opportunities,” said Erin LeDuc, the center’s director. “Child care assistance plays a vital role in helping many students stay in school and achieve academic success.”
As many as 100 students annually will be served by CCAMPIS. The program can pay up to 75 percent of the student’s child care costs, based on their enrollment status and a sliding fee scale, according to Rabecka Collins, the program’s coordinator.
“CCAMPIS students also receive access to parenting workshops, educational resources and a supportive student parent network,” Collins added, noting that all student parents, even if they are not participating in CCAMPIS, are welcome to attend these workshops and take advantage of the free resources offered by the Center for Women and Men.
Access to affordable child care is a common barrier for non-traditional college students. Nationally, nearly 4 million college students have dependent children, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Among low-income and first-generation college students, more than a third are parents, which increases the likelihood of them leaving college with no degree by 53 percent.
Originally called the Women’s Center, for decades its focus was on helping displaced homemakers with little-to-no work experience, women who because of divorce, widowhood or other circumstances would come to learn new life skills, gain self-confidence and train for employment. Today, the Center for Women and Men reflects an expanded mission and scope dedicated to serving the needs of all students seeking to find their place in the ever-changing social and economic landscapes of our communities.
In addition to anchor programs such as Fresh Start, New Directions and CCAMPIS, the center has become a hub where all students in need can seek out services and help in one central location. The center’s Falcon Fuel food pantry is helping to mitigate food insecurity among DSC students, an issue that, along with homelessness, has become a growing concern with colleges and universities across the nation. The center also provides temporary emergency bus passes to help students get back and forth to classes, and a lending library helps students offset the cost of textbooks. Further, students seeking a professional image for job interviews can use the center’s Clothes Closet to look their best.
For more information about CCAMPIS and other programs offered by the Center for Women and Men, contact Collins at (386) 506-4218 or [email protected].
