Students: Need Child care Assistance? Apply Now

Published: July 30, 2012 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Many students struggle to adequately balance the demands of school with the needs of home and family, especially where finances are concerned. As many as 700 SUU students with families have expressed a need for assistance in managing their child care expenses while attending school, and help is close at hand. Through a federal grant, many of SUU's students with children may be eligible for child care assistance grants as early as this coming fall semester. However, the deadline for fall assistance is fast approaching: applications must be received by Wednesday, August 1.

Among other objectives, SUU’s Center for Women and Families exists for this very purpose: to help parents succeed in achieving their academic goals while, at the same time, providing for their families. In 2009, the center secured funding from the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant program and now offers assistance year round to eligible student-parents at SUU.

“The grant helps eligible parents with a percentage of their day care costs,” said Georgia B. Thompson, Director of the Center for Women and Families at SUU. “Students locate their own licensed day care provider within the community as part of the application process,” added Thompson, highlighting the program’s flexibility in allowing parents to choose the provider that they most prefer.

Eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis and parents will receive notification of their status by August 10.
In order to be considered for assistance, students must be enrolled full time during Fall Semester, 2012.

Eligibility is not based on a first come, first served basis but is determined by need and individual circumstance. In addition to the grant application, parents must complete a Utah 980 tax form which asks for the number of child care hours needed over the semester and an estimate of any other care-related expenses expected during that time.

The day care subsidy amount is based on a sliding scale which considers the parents’ adjusted gross income (AGI), the number of credits for which they are enrolled and whether or not both parents are students. The maximum award per family is $250 per month.

This year’s grant will become active in October but because of lingering resources from last year’s grant, eligible student-parents may also receive assistance for the month of September. “We are very pleased that there are additional resources to help with September child care this year,” said Thompson.

Interested students may apply online through the Center for Women and Families' web page, or in person at the Center for Women and Families in the Sharwan Smith Center, room 175. Applications are also available in the Student Support Center, room 206C of the SSSC.

Students with questions or those who need help in applying for the program may contact the Student Support Center at 435-586-7771.

---

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
Contact the Office of Marketing Communication