Yavapai College is offering assistance to qualifying parents trying to go back to school by helping pay for their childcare starting in the fall semester.
“It’s a terrific program. We sense that there are a lot of future college grads out there, stuck because of higher childcare costs,” YC Marketing Specialist Michael Grady said.
YC’s hope is they can help parents who either struggle to attend college or would return to school but can’t because of the high cost of childcare. Qualifying parents could receive up to $725 per month, per child under the age of 12, for childcare costs.
Joan Fisher, dean of the School of Social Science and Family Enrichment Center at YC, said there is a large need for childcare among students in the county. After conducting a survey with the help of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, YC discovered that there are currently 65 parents in their programs that need childcare and probably many more potential students in the community that are held back by a lack of affordable childcare.
“We do not know how many of our county residents would like to go to college but are prohibited because of childcare obstacles,” she said. “We have enormous child-care need in our county.”
The program is funded through the Higher Education Childcare Subsidy in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Economic Security. The program has allocated a total of $150,000 per year for the stipend.
The pilot program is currently committed for three years, and YC estimates that it could help provide the funding for either the full-time care of 17 children or part-time care for around 25 children during that time.
“If we have greater need, we will do our best to pay for childcare for as many of our county parents as we can,” Fisher said. “YC [also] has other scholarship and funding options for students. Anyone wanting to attend college but are concerned about the cost should contact YC and discuss options. … If we cannot help with this particular program, we very well could have other programs that could help.”
The program is aimed at parents who are, or want to be, studying full-time in the college’s nursing, nursing intent, early childhood and K-12 education programs. They must also make 165% above the state poverty level or less and their grades must stay in good academic standing.
The intent of limiting the program to students in certain programs is to recruit more teachers and medical professionals, fields that are currently experiencing a “severe shortage” in Arizona.
“Arizona Department of Economic Security identified a shortage of nurses and educators in Arizona. This program is designed to help fill the need for a qualified workforce in those specific areas,” Fisher said.
In addition to helping fund childcare costs, YC puts selected parents in a “Parent Cohort” support program that will pair students with a coach to help them find a childcare center that is either Arizona Department of Economic Security or Arizona Department of Health Services certified.
However, because there is a lack of DES- or DHS-approved daycare centers in Yavapai County, if a child’s parent, grandparent or another family member can pass a background check and become certified, they will be eligible to receive the subsidy.
Fisher said they hope the program will help equip more parents who wish to go back to school to build a better life for their families.
“By providing eligible community members from all over Yavapai County an opportunity to have quality childcare for their children so they do not have to worry about them while attending school, we open the door to help our community parents gain an education and ultimately, a professional job,” she said. “A professional career that covers medical insurance and provides a retirement account can change the outlook and quality of life for many of our current residents living paycheck to paycheck and working multiple jobs to make ends meet. This is a unique opportunity to help our county parents get ahead.”
Those interested in applying for the program are encouraged to sign up immediately. More information, and the form to sign up, can be found atyc.edu/parentcohort.
