Child and Family Studies at IUP is the recipient of a competitive grant from the United States Department of Education to provide financial assistance for child care to IUP undergraduate students who are parents.

More than $450,000 will be available to IUP student-parents as a result of the grant. The grant application was authored by Dr. Fredalene Bowers and coordinated by Marion Henry, both faculty members in Child and Family Studies.

“I think we are providing a wonderful opportunity for students in two areas: first, quality care for their child while they are in school and studying, and second, a mentoring support system by connecting them with community services and providing information on child development,” Bowers said.

The grant, known as CCAMPIS, or Child Care Access Means Parents in School, is a four-year grant available to low-income IUP undergraduate student-parents for child care.

To receive grant funds, students must also be eligible for the Pell Grant, which provides need-based funding to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to post-secondary education and maintain consistent attendance and good grades.

In addition, children must be placed in an approved child care facility. To ensure students are keeping up with their requirements for the grant, they must meet with Henry four times a semester. Henry not only confirms that the students are meeting the grant criteria, but she provides them with opportunities to attend parenting workshops, support groups, and community services.

“I think it's one of the best retention tools on this campus for student-parents,” Henry said.

For more information on the grant, contact Bowers, Department of Human Development and Environmental Studies, at 724-357-4046 or by e-mail at fbowers@iup.edu.