Sep 02, 2009

Grant awarded to improve accessible child care 
Posted by: Mellina Stucky

  The university received nearly $800,000 to support initiatives aimed at improving the          accessibility and quality of child care available to UNT’s student parents. 

 The grant, awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Child Care Access  Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) program, will be distributed over four years.  CCAMPIS is a program for student parents that encourages the completion of a college degree by providing funding for students’ child care expenses. 

All UNT undergraduate students with young children who receive a Pell grant or are Pell grant eligible may apply for a CCAMPIS Grant. The grant also will provide parenting workshops for parents receiving assistance.Troy Johnson, vice provost and grant author, sees the funding as a solid blend of support for students, community service and enhancing graduate education. 

“This grant demonstrates UNT’s commitment to helping our students succeed and to helping our community reach the highest standard,” says Johnson. 

The grant will allow UNT to help improve the quality of child care available in Denton. More than 50 state-licensed child care facilities are located within a 10-mile radius of the UNT Denton campus; however, none of those facilities have national accreditation. Carol Hagen, above, director of UNT’s Child Development Laboratory, and a team of doctoral students will help community facilities earn accreditation from the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs. 

Hagen says that national accreditation represents the achievement of a higher professional standard. Hagen’s team will guide qualified facilities through the NAC’s 22-month self-study program, while also offering professional training. 

“All children deserve a high standard of care and education,” says Hagen. “This program will allow our students to access excellent child care, while also improving the quality of care and education for the community as a whole.”