The Ohio State University received a federal grant to support single parents pursuing higher education.
The university already has a program called ACCESS to help low-income student parents. According to the program website, more than one-quarter of all college students have child dependents.
“A lot of students who are parents on campus seem to feel like they’re the only student, so we want them to know there are many students on campus that have children and create a network and support system for them,” says ACCESS program director Traci Lewis.
Now, ACCESS will facilitate the "Child Care Access Means Parents In School" grant, which was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. Lewis says it provides $354,082 for 45 students.
“The whole point of the grant is to help them find quality childcare, as well as be able to help them be able to pay for that childcare,” Lewis says.
Recipients of the grant must choose nationally accredited daycare centers for their children.
ACCESS hopes to have applications for the grant out by December and notify recipients in January.
Partners on the grant include the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning.
