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 program through September 2022.
The program is administered through the Center for Women and Men. CCAMPIS helps low-income, Pell grant eligible college students with the cost of child care. The student’s children need to be 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, program coordinator.
“CCAMPIS students also receive access to parenting workshops, educational resources and a supportive student parent network,” Collins said, noting that all student parents, even if they are not participating in CCAMPIS, are welcome to attend workshops and take advantage of 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 four 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.