Child Care Subsidy Now Available To USU Student Parents

Ann Austin, vice provost and professor in the department of family, consumer, and human development at Utah State University, recently received a grant to subsidize child care for student parents attending USU.

The Child Care Access Means Parents in School grant was awarded to Austin along with Carrie Stott and Leah Schilling, co-directors of the Child Care Resource and Referral program.

 

The CCAMPIS grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to assist student parents in covering the costs of child care. Recipients will have access to nationally accredited child care facilities located on or near campus, as well as parenting classes and on-campus counseling service.

 

A great number of USU students need out-of-home care for their young children, said Austin. Almost half of student parents typically interrupt their schooling, for at least one semester, because of child care needs. This grant assists student parents with child care costs thus enabling them to stay in school and graduate in a timely fashion.

 

Studies have shown that when student parents receive financial support for child care, more than two-thirds are able to continue in school and graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

 

“This grant will involve many graduate, undergraduate and practicum students and will be a definite asset to Utah State University in that its focus is to help student parents succeed and graduate,” said Austin.

 

The program includes a research component that focuses on healthy child development through the alleviation of parental stress.

 

The program will be available for student parents who are PELL grant eligible and will be implemented through the CCR&R in the department of family, consumer, and human development at USU.

 

For more information, contact Austin at 797-1527 or Ann.Austin@usu.edu.

 

Contact: Ann Austin 797-1527