“Student Parents: The Power of Wraparound Supports,” a new article from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, details how three community colleges are meeting the non-academic needs of student parents.
These wraparound services — which include assistance with child care, transportation, housing and mental health services — provide critical support to students who lead busy, often stressful, lives on and off campus.
Howard Community College (Columbia, Maryland)
Thanks to a new Kids on Campus partnership, Howard Community College students, faculty and staff can access full-day child care through its newly reopened Children’s Learning Center.
Parents on campus can also use additional resources like child friendly study spaces — made possible through the Casey-supported FamilyU — and access state-based child care programs for children under 3.
Miami Dade College (Miami, Florida)
Through its Mission North Star pilot program, student parents at Miami Dade College are assigned a student parent coordinator and connected to child care, tutoring, financial aid guidance and employment opportunities. The school used focus groups and surveys to identify the specific needs of young student parents and inform the development of on-campus support.