MGA To Launch Program to Help Students Who Are Parents Afford Quality Childcare

Macon, GA

Middle Georgia State University (MGA) is launching a major initiative to help students who are parents overcome one of the most common barriers to completing college: finding and affording quality childcare.

Parents UKnighted, funded through the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, will provide childcare assistance and a network of academic and community support for eligible MGA student-parents. The program will serve student-parents across MGA’s campuses, with Parents UKnighted centers located on the Macon and Cochran campuses.

“We’ve been working for several years to bring CCAMPIS funding to Middle Georgia State, so we are thrilled to take this important step forward,” said Dr. Rebekah Hazlett-Knudsen, associate professor of Social Work. “Our student-parents are balancing the demands of college with the responsibilities of raising a family, and this gives us an opportunity to more intentionally support both their academic success and their overall well-being across our campuses.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administers CCAMPIS in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. MGA’s CCAMPIS award will total $1.95 million over a four-year period.

MGA serves more than 700 Pell-eligible student-parents. Through the four-year grant, Parents UKnighted (a nod to the University’s Knight mascot) expects to serve approximately 85 individual student-parents, with 36 to 48 student-parents participating annually.

Rather than operating childcare facilities, Parents UKnighted will help participating student-parents access quality-rated childcare in the community. The program will provide sliding-scale financial assistance based on need and will cover childcare registration fees, reducing both the ongoing and upfront costs of establishing childcare.

Hazlett-Knudsen was part of the MGA team that worked on the grant application. Others included Dr. Kelisa Underwood, assistant professor of Social Work, and Dr. Kelly Causey, assistant professor of Education. All three worked with MGA’s Office of Research & Sponsored Projects for several years to secure CCAMPIS funding and develop a program tailored to the needs of MGA’s student-parent population.

Parents UKnighted centers on the Macon and Cochran campuses will provide family-friendly study spaces, computers, tutoring, and other academic support. The program also will connect student-parents with family and community resources through initiatives such as an annual Family Resource Fair.

“This program reflects MGA’s commitment to transforming individuals and communities through extraordinary higher learning,” said Dr. Christopher Blake, MGA president. “By helping student-parents access affordable, quality childcare and the support they need to succeed, Parents UKnighted will help more students persist toward their degrees and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.”

Parents UKnighted will employ a dedicated program coordinator who will serve as a central point of contact for participating students. The coordinator will work with student-parents trying to balance school and family and help develop individualized support plans and connect them with academic, family, and community resources.

The program also will build on existing resources and partnerships throughout Middle Georgia. Partners will include quality-rated childcare providers, United Way of Central Georgia for 211 referrals, First Steps Georgia for developmental screenings, Parents as Teachers workshops, and Resilient Middle Georgia for trauma-informed parent training.

MGA also is committing University resources to complement the federal funding, including space, personnel, equipment, and other support.

Dr. Kelly Causey will serve as the Parents UKnighted program manager and oversee the implementation of the program and its partnerships with community childcare providers.

“One of the things I’m especially excited about is the opportunity for this work to extend beyond MGA,” Causey said. “By partnering with childcare providers already serving families in our communities, we can help our student-parents access quality care while also contributing to stronger childcare resources for families across Middle Georgia.”

MGA students interested in learning more about Parents UKnighted can email parentsuknighted@mga.edu.

October

MGA To Launch Program to Help Students Who Are Parents Afford Quality Childcare