Stephen F. Austin State University was awarded a nearly $2 million, four-year federal grant to help low-income parenting students in Nacogdoches cover childcare while they finish their degrees, the university announced Thursday, Oct. 2.
The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School program and will fund a new SFA initiative called Jacks Childcare, Academic support, Retention and Economic impact, or Jacks CARE. The project is designed to serve at least 19 parenting students per semester in its first two years and at least 22 per semester after that, through childcare financial assistance tied to demonstrated need, individualized student support, mentoring and workshops.
SFA says it has documented at least 361 undergraduate and graduate parenting students on campus and expects the real count to be higher. Dr. Heather Olson Beal, professor of education studies and principal investigator for the grant, said finding affordable childcare that fits class schedules, work and family needs is one of the biggest reasons parenting students in Deep East Texas do not finish college. Jacks CARE will connect eligible students to a network of community childcare providers that can take infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children, including care outside normal business hours.
Parenting students at SFA who want to apply, and local childcare providers who want to join the Jacks CARE provider network, can watch for program details on the SFA newsroom and the university’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
Sources:
SFA Newsroom
Shelby County Today