Orlando – Valencia College has been awarded a U. S. Department of Education grant totaling more than $1.3 million to subsidize child care for low-income parents attending college.
The new Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program will help low-income Valencia College students with the cost of child care through a network of quality, licensed child care providers in Orange and Osceola counties.
“We know it’s difficult for student-parents to juggle raising their children while trying to earn a college degree. That’s why we’re so excited that the CCAMPIS grant will enable us to help Valencia student-parents afford quality child care that will ultimately provide meaningful educational experiences for the student and their child,” said Monica Potts, project director for Valencia College’s CCAMPIS Project.
To supplement the four-year grant, the Valencia College Foundation and Valencia College will leverage an additional $150,000 to support the program.
The goal of the CCAMPIS Program is to help student-parents:
- Remain enrolled in classes
- Enroll in a higher course load to shorten the time it takes to earn a degree
- Graduate with a degree that opens doors to obtaining employment and/or transferring to a four-year institution for continued studies
Access to affordable child care is often a 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 one-third are parents, which increases the likelihood of them leaving college before they complete a degree.
Students can enroll in the program now for the Fall 2023 semester. The application closes on Sept. 25. Students may apply at https://valenciacollege.edu/childcare
To be eligible, student-parents must meet the criteria below each semester:
- Pell Grant eligible for the current year, based on the financial aid application (FAFSA)
- Enrolled in six or more credit hours of full-term courses toward a degree
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA
- Be a resident of Orange or Osceola County
If a student meets the CCAMPIS eligibility criteria, a referral will be made to Valencia’s community child care partners — Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County and Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C) – to match their child with quality child care providers that meet their specific needs. A Valencia College enrollment specialist will then contact the student-parent within three business days to complete a screening and set up an online portal for enrollment documents.
**Valencia College CCAMPIS (P335A220067) is a grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Education through a $1,364,928 award. The Department of Education funds support 100% of the total costs of the program, and $153,619 is contributed through leveraged funds by non-governmental sources.